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TABLE OF CONTENTS 6

FROM THE EDITOR | In this Issue

THE OFFICI A L PUBLICATION OF THE BOONE A ND CROCK ETT CLUB

Volume 31 n Number 1 n Spring 2015

Mark B. Steffen, M.D.

8 FROM THE PRESIDENT | Educating and Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders Morrison Stevens, Sr. Christine L. Thomas and Steven Leath Who is going to replace the experienced wildlife researchers, forestry experts, and senior managers at the state and federal level, as well as in our nongovernmental organizations?

CAPITOL COMMENTS | How the West was Lost

B&C POSITION STATEMENT | Deer Breeding and Shooting Operations

RECORDS ON THE RISE

CARTRIDGE REVIEW | .270 Winchester Short Magnum

WHY WE BUY RIFLES

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL | Silence is Golden

B&C PRESS RELEASE | Campaign for Sportsmen’s Act Underway

MILESTONES IN CONSERVATION

MARTHA IS DEAD

30. Up Close and Personal

18. Records on the Rise

Steven Williams

Daniel Andres and James A. Schaefer

Craig Boddington

Wayne van Zwoll

Chuck Adams

in New Congress

B&C Staff

Leonard H. Wurman, M.D.

It would seem impossible for a bird of such enormous numbers to be extinguished so rapidly, but the en masse roosting, nesting, and feeding facilitated the demise.

FUTURE OF WILDLIFE | Funding Conservation

BEST OF 2014 | Field Photo Contest

Gregory T. M. Schildwachter Sponsored by Leupold

26. Why We Buy Rifles

56 SCIENCE BLASTS | A Little Help from Our Friends John F. Organ 58

A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING:

Inspiring a Passion for Wildlife Conservation Amy C. Dechen Quinn and William F. Porter

We wanted to approach the course in a way that inspired and interested students, but also provided them with a skill set that would serve them well as wildlife professionals.

66 TROPHY TALK | New B&C Policies Jack Reneau

COVER Grizzly bear in northwest Wyoming. © DONALD M. JONES

@BooneAndCrockettClub #BooneAndCrockettClub

BEYOND THE SCORE | Sponsored by OnX Maps

GENERATION NEXT | 29th Awards Youth Trophy List

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES | 29th Awards Program Entries

TROPHY PHOTO GALLERY | Sponsored by Realtree Xtra Green

58. A New Approach to Teaching

64. Beyond the Score

Justin E. Spring

86 THE ETHICS OF FAIR CHASE | Honor and Respect Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5

ABOUT THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB The Boone and Crockett Club was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt. Key members of the Club have included Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, Madison Grant, Charles Sheldon, Gifford Pinchot, Frederick Burnham, Charles Deering, John Lacey, J. N. “Ding” Darling, and Aldo Leopold. The Club, through Roosevelt and these early leaders of the American conservation movement, saw a crisis in humanity’s impact on wildlife and their habitat and called people to action to change America’s direction. They initially focused on protecting wild places and impeding the killing of game and fish for markets. The result of the Club’s efforts to establish a foundation and framework for conservation in America includes what has lately become known as the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation. The Club’s efforts were aimed at the development and passage of the Timberland Reserve Act, which reserved approximately 36 million acres for national forests. The Club worked to develop the Yellowstone

Park Protection Act, which expanded the size of the Park, established laws for its protection, and became the model piece of legislation for all future national parks. The Club played a major role in establishing many other areas for use by the public, including the Glacier National Park, Mount McKinley National Park, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, National Key Deer Refuge, Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge, and Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge, to name a few. The Club played a major role in impeding the massive killing of wild animals for meat, hide, and plume markets, which resulted in the Club developing and working for passage of the Lacey Act and other modern day game laws. Other significant pieces of legislation the Club was involved in included the Reclamation Act, National Wildlife Refuge System Act, Migratory Bird Conservation Act, Federa l A id in Wildlife Restoration Act, Healthy Forests Restoration Act, and what is commonly called the “Farm Bill.” The Club and its members were also active in establishing other conservation organizations such as the New York Zoological

FAIR CHASE PRODUCTION STAFF

Society, Camp Fire Club of America, National Audubon Society, American Wildlife Institute, Save the Redwoods League, Ducks Unlimited, North American Wildlife Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, and more recently, the highlyeffective American Wildlife Conservation Partners. In 1906, the Club established the Nationa l Collection of Heads and Horns as a repository for the vanishing big game of the world and to enlist public support for their protection. In 1932, the Club published the first Records of North American Big Game. It has consistently published records books and has held big game trophy awards programs since the 1940s. Boone and Crockett Club’s highly-popular scoring system was adopted in 1950 and is still the most popular scoring system in the world and one of the few based on science and fairchase principles. The Club has long advocated for the need for science to be the backbone of professional wildlife research and management, including the establishment of Cooperative Wildlife Research Units at the nation’s land grant universities.

BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOUNDED IN 1887 BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT CLUB

Club President – Morrison Steven, Sr. Secretary – Tom L. Lewis Treasurer – C. Martin Wood III Executive Vice President – Administration Timothy C. Brady Executive Vice President – Conservation James F. Arnold Vice President of Administration Marshall J. Collins, Jr. Vice President of Big Game Records Eldon L. “Buck” Buckner Vice President of Conservation Stephen P. Mealey Vice President of Communications Marc C. Mondavi Foundation President – B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Class of 2015 CJ Buck Class of 2016 Ned S. Holmes Class of 2017 Anthony J. Caligiuri

FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

FOUNDATION

Foundation President – B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Secretary – Tom L. Lewis Treasurer – C. Martin Wood III Vice President – R. Terrell McCombs Vice President – Paul M. Zelisko Class of 2015 Gary W. Dietrich B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Ned S. Holmes Tom L. Lewis Paul M. Zelisko Class of 2016 John P. Evans Steve J. Hageman R. Terrell McCombs John P. Schreiner C. Martin Wood III Class of 2017 Remo R. Pizzagalli Edward B. Rasmuson James J. Shinners John A. Tomke Leonard J. Vallender

Editor-in-Chief – Mark B. Steffen Managing Editor – Karlie Slayer Conservation and History Editor Steven Williams Research and Education Editor John F. Organ Hunting and Ethics Editor Mark Streissguth Assistant Editors Keith Balfourd Jim Bequette CJ Buck Kendall Hoxey Marc Mondavi Jack Reneau Tony A. Schoonen Julie L. Tripp Editorial Contributors Chuck Adams Daniel Andres Craig Boddington Amy C. Dechen Quinn Steven Leath John F. Organ Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr. William F. Porter Jack Reneau James A. Schaefer Gregory T.M. Schildwachter Justin E. Spring Morrison Steven, Sr. Christine L. Thomas Steven Williams Leonard H. Wurman Wayne van Zwoll Photographic Contributors John Hafner Donald M. Jones Mark Mesenko

Fair Chase is published quarterly by the Boone and Crockett Club and distributed to its Members and Associates. Material in this magazine may be freely quoted and/or reprinted in other publications and media, so long as proper credit is given to Fair Chase. The only exception applies to articles that are reprinted in Fair Chase from other magazines, in which case, the Club does not hold the reprint rights. The opinions expressed by the contributors of articles are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Boone and Crockett Club. Fair Chase (ISSN 1077-4627) is published for $35 per year by the Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801. Periodical postage is paid in Missoula, Montana, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Fair Chase, Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801 Phone: (406) 542-1888 Fax: (406) 542-0784

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Chief of Staff – Tony A. Schoonen Director of Big Game Records – Jack Reneau Director of Publications – Julie L. Tripp Director of Marketing – Keith Balfourd Office Manager – Sandy Poston Controller – Jan Krueger TRM Ranch Manager – Mike Briggs Assistant Director of Big Game Records – Justin Spring Development Program Manager – Jodi Bishop Assistant Controller – Abra Loran Digital Strategy Manager – Mark Mesenko Creative Services Manager – Karlie Slayer Customer Service – Amy Hutchison Records Dept. Assistant – Wendy Nickelson Conservation Education Programs Manager – Luke Coccoli

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IN THIS ISSUE “The only constant is change” is a profoundly simple statement that has long been one of my absolutely favorite truisms. This painful embrace has served me well through the years, both personally and professionally. It also is the history of conser vation in Nor th America. From the decimation of our natural resources in the quest of fulfilling manifest destiny, to the realization today that many of our future wildlife professionals enter this specialty with not much more than a warm, fuzzy feeling, versus the historical upbringing being “out amongst ‘em”, out amongst ‘em has always been an apprenticeship that lends a depth of character to the wildlife biologist that is irreplaceable. “Martha is Dead” is a brilliant look back at the passenger pigeon gone now a hundred years. Dr. Wurman’s

FROM THE EDITOR

review left me to lament the remnants of another great population that once inhabited my Kansas lands. All I have left to tug at my soul and remind me of the past are the dimming buffalo wallows and the occasional boney artifact gifted to me by the banks of a constantly changing Chikaskia River. Amy Quinn and Dr. William Porter’s article “A New Approach to Teaching: Inspiring a Passion for Wildlife Conservation” provides insight into these educators strategy to expose a group of students to the complexities of wildlife management. These non-hunter students need our guidance desperately! And, we need them, too. It also drives home, for me, the significance of the student who still comes from a hunting background. They, in particular, have an inside track to conservation greatness. Let’s concertedly foster these individuals forward. We

PG. 58 A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING

FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

must think of their upbringing as an Ivey League degree and treat it accordingly. Spend time with the latest Boone and Crockett Club Position Statement on captive wildlife. I’m proud of our Club for drawing a clear and decisive line in the sand. It seems a hazy, self-serving dilemma rearing its head in many regions of our country. It really is fairly simple, but for the horse being so far out of the barn in places, yet nicely corralled in others. B&C did a nice job of taking a step back and dissecting out the best path forward. I can’t forget to mention the changes to Fair Chase. Welcome to Fair Chase 3.0; bigger and brighter, educational, and adventuresome. I hope you find it even more challenging and its consumption more rewarding than before. n

Mark B. Steffen EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From the decimation of our natural resources in the quest of fulfilling manifest destiny, to the realization today that many of our future wildlife professionals enter this specialty with not much more than a warm, fuzzy feeling, versus the historical upbringing being “out amongst ‘em”, out amongst ‘em has always been an apprenticeship that lends a depth of character to the wildlife biologist that is irreplaceable.

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FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5

FROM THE PRESIDENT

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS I thank Dr. Christine Thomas and Dr. Steven Leath for their informative articles on this very important subject. They did an excellent job of recapping the predicament that we are facing with substational retirements in the next several years of experienced wildlife researchers, forestry experts, and senior managers at the state and federal level, as well as in our non-governmental organizations (NGOs). “The big question remains: Who is going to replace them?” Drs. Thomas and Leath also discussed the change in demographics of the collegiate students who currently study natural resources and conservation. These “new” students, many of who come from suburban or more urban environments, appear to have a strong interest in wildlife and passion for wildlife conservation. However, they often lack hunting and fishing experience, exposure to rural environments, and a general appreciation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Once traditional curriculum will need to be revised to broaden the education of these new students, especially to include an investment in field research. In June of 2014, I attended a meeting in Washington, D.C. with 28 undergraduate students in the Demmer Scholars Program, an internship program sponsored by Michigan State 8

FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

University and instructed by B&C Professional Member, Mark Rey. The purpose of the program is to place advanced students interested in natural resources conservation into internship positions at the federal government or NGO level. At this meeting I had eight students at my table. Four of them grew up in a rural environment and the other four grew up in an urban environment. Four of them did not hunt. Think of the amount of field experience and training the new student will require! While these new students may be better at math, science, and communication than those of the previous generation, they may very likely lack the practical field experience that is crucial for a successful, respectable career in the natural resources arena. To address this, your Club has been investing heavily over the past several years to assist in the inspiration, education, and professional development of future natural resource and conservation leaders. In 1987, the Club initiated a program of endowed professorship positions at major land-grant universities, each well respected in the wildlife, fisheries, and forestry fields. We began this series at the University of Montana, followed by Texas A&M University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, Texas A&M at Kingsville, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, and

Morrison Stevens, Sr. PRESIDENT

most recently SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in collaboration with the Maxwell School of Public Policy. The Club will raise approximately $11.5 million in funding these programs. The purpose of these university programs are to take sciencebased students and refine their political and social skills so that they are able to become future leaders and advocates for our hunting heritage. Many of the graduates from these programs have found meaningful employment in federal wildlife agencies, relevant NGOs, state fish and game depa r tments, leg islature, forest r y, a nd w i ld l i fe committees. Another leadership initiative of your Club was the formation of the National Conser vationa l Leadersh ip Institute (NCLI) approximately 10 years ago. NCLI is now funded by many organizations and also receives financial support from the Club. The NCLI selects and trains 36 individuals each year for an intensive

eight-month experience at the National Conservation Training Center. Over 280 professionals have already graduated from this program and are working their way up the leadership ladder in the conservation community. Our Club membership as well as the rest of the conservation community is very conscious of the big changes that are forthcoming, and we know what we need to do to succeed in developing future leadership. Be assured that the Boone and Crockett Club will continue to invest in university programs and expanded field experiences for this new generation, so they can mature into the type of wildlife experts we need to maintain a healthy North American Model, and provide the very critical education that is necessary for the development of future leaders. Many of the other NGOs are doing their share as well. Broadening these initiatives to attract the best minds possible will be our ultimate avenue to success. n

The purpose of these university programs are to take science-based students and refine their political and social skills so that they are able to become future leaders and advocates for our hunting heritage.

UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS CHRISTINE L. THOMAS B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER

are interested in careers in natural resource management Dean, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, is radically different than it was in 1970. Historically, College of Natural Resources natural resource management Historically, the Boone and agencies have had many Crockett Club and the employees who cycled out of conservation movement have the military after a war, went benefitted from the expertise to school on the GI Bill and of professional members. moved into the agency on Many of them have come veteran’s preference points. from natural resource The last cycle like that was management agencies or post-Vietnam. They came from university w i l d l i f e rural backgrounds. They had management programs. woods skills, could operate These professionals provided farm or other heavy equipment, the science that club had practical knowledge and a members needed to make sense of direction, hunted, wise investments in the fished, and could find the truck p ol ic y s ide of t he at the end of the day. They conservation equation. understood the meaning of and Where will these leaders need for “management.” Today’s crop of future come from in the future? The natural resource managers changing face of the and conservation leaders is a population of North America is a major challenge the Club very different demographic. must face to remain relevant They are more likely to be suburban or even urban. While in the future. There is a perfect storm they may know their way upon us right now. We (the around all the latest electronBaby Boomers) should have ics (important skills to be seen it coming in 1960. We sure), they generally lack the know that Millenials and Gen practical woods and waters X’ers are weary of hearing skills that their predecessors about us. However, the fact is gained from the farm and the largest demographic to forest environments that they dominate the American land- grew up in. They may also have scape, the one that marched a much different view of what across the political scene in wildlife management means. the 1960s, is about to march That view may be largely based one more time. We are march- on cable television. They have ing out the door to retirement. not likely heard of the North In fact, some state and federal American Model of Wildlife agencies believe that half of Conservation, let alone subtheir work force is eligible to scribe to it. This creates retire right now. Think of the educational challenges that ramifications of losing half of did not exist 40 years ago. At the same time unithe people in any organization versity wildlife management in a short time period. The potential impact on conserva- programs are facing major tion leadership is staggering. challenges. Just when we have While the specter of a population of students who, mass retirements is upon us, while they may be intelligent the nature of young people who and willing, likely do not

possess field skills, many university programs have phased out the field studies side of their curricula in the face of budget challenges. The current trend is to “environmental science” types of programs rather than more expensive field approaches. The facilities and faculty that it takes to sponsor a rigorous field program carry a steep price tag. Finding field-based faculty is itself a major challenge. These days you cannot assume that applicants for academic positions know how to trailer and launch boats, run chainsaws, or use any field tools common to the profession. Many come from the theoretical side of things only. Fortunately, young people are still interested in the natural world. They are still idealistic and hoping to make the world a better place. Enrollment in the remaining field-based university programs is growing. Working with these young people every day is an honor and a privilege, and cause for optimism. At a time when we will need to replace more managers and leaders in a shorter time frame than we have ever had to, this is the “good news.” The challenge for the conservation community is to support programs and experiences that contribute to the growth and development of well-rounded, practical scientists and managers who can step up in this time of transition to a new generation. The need is great and the price tag significant. However, the price of not shaping the future leaders of the conservation cause is too high to contemplate. I believe the Boone and Crockett Club is up for the challenge. n

University of Montana

Texas A&M University

Michigan State University

Oregon State University

Texas A&M at Kingsville

University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS STEVEN LEATH B&C REGULAR MEMBER President, Iowa State University

The future of conservation policy and management is facing a crucial predicament: The need to train the next generation of conservation leaders and craft innovative conservation policy is more important than ever due to growing global challenges; but an increasingly urban population coupled with a lack of scientific literacy is resulting in a public that has limited knowledge to weigh complex natural resource issues. In addition, enrollments in many natural resource management fields have either remained constant over the past three decades or experienced decl i nes . Con s equently, maintaining and strengthening natural resources education has been identified by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities as one of six grand challenges for the future of natural resources. This begs the critical question: What steps can and must be taken to meet this grand challenge? To remain relevant, natural resource management programs must consider the skills and knowledge that will empower students to develop into effective leaders. While it is essential to continue rigorous scientific and technical training, programs also need more emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to solve problems.

10 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

But even more important, future leaders must be able to effectively communicate problems, solutions, and policies in ways that the general public can easily comprehend and support. Otherwise, we relegate our natural resource policies to emotion and misperception. Furthermore, to successfully take on the global issues affecting our environment, the workforce must represent the global populace. Programs must do a better job of engaging women and minorities as recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows the field of agriculture and natural resources has the second lowest percentage of women in the workforce and it ranks at the bottom in percentage of minorities compared to 14 other major disciplines. The year 2015 is expected to mark a major turning point in the employment outlook for natural resource and wildlife professionals. A 2004 survey of state fish and wildlife agencies reported that almost half of their employees and three-quarters of those in leadership positions plan to retire by 2015, resulting in the greatest employment demand in the field in the past 30 years, a situation referred to as “the graying of the green.” However, certain disciplines are seeing greater needs than others. Currently there is a surplus of students in environmental studies and conservation biology; but according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are lagging numbers of students in areas such as

human dimensions of natural resources decision-making, quantitative modeling of natural resources, and natural resource managers. A sufficient number of well-trained conservation le ader s f r om d iver s e backgrounds is vital in order to successfully address the five remaining grand challenges identified by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities: sustainability; impact of climate change; agriculture; identifying new and alternative renewable energ y resources; and restoring and protecting water quality. Given the urgency and complexity of these challenges, we need to accelerate the development of the next generation of leaders; but we must also act now. Both the state of Iowa and Iowa State University are making significant contributions to confront these matters. The state of Iowa is investing more than $270 million this year in infrastructure, waterway and watershed restoration and protection, and upgrades to drinking and waste water systems to support proper water quality. Iowa State University is moving forward on several natural resource initiatives to stimulate this and related fields: n

I have allocated presidential discretionary funds to launch nine research projects to advance fisheries and wildlife research on topics, including chronic wasting disease; trophy deer

management, habitat, and dispersal; the impact of wind farms on ring-necked pheasants; and the influence of environmental and human factors on largemouth bass populations. n

Iowa State is establishing a research and teaching center named after Iowan and Boone and Crockett member, Jay N. “Ding” Darling, to provide opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation across several departments, including natural resources and ecology, agriculture, art and design, journalism, and political science. These disciplines represent Darling’s legacy of achievement and will form a basis for effective development of conservation policies.

The university is also developing a residential field laboratory in Montana that will offer hands-on, experiential training to the next generation of forestry, wildlife, fisheries, biology, and ecology professionals. Undoubt e d ly, t he development of effective conservation leaders to create and carry out innovative conser vation policy is necessar y to ensure a sustainable future; but ultimately, everyone must take ownership, meaning we all have an obligation to protect the environment we cherish. As local stewards of our natural resources and wildlife, responsible conservation can and must start with us. n n

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HOW THE WEST WAS LOST Two conservation challenges facing the American West could dramatically alter the western way of life. One is the result of human development in the West and the other is the result of a misguided public policy proposal that would transfer or sell our public lands. Both challenges are bellwethers of our resolve to conserve the western landscape for its lifestyle and for future generations. Ranching and farming operations, energy development, invasive species, roads, transmission lines, and wildfires threaten the long-term survival of the greater sagegrouse. By law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must decide if it is necessary to provide protection for the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Congress has temporarily halted that decision but it will be made at some point in time. This decision will hinge on five factors: 1) the condition of the species’ habitat, 2) the use of the species for commercial, recreational, and scientific purposes, 3) the impact of disease and predation, 4 ) the adequacy of regulatory mechanisms to protect the species and its habitat now and into the future, and 5) other manmade or natural factors that may affect the future existence of the species. There are concerns about the listing of sage-grouse under the ESA and its potential impact on the economy and on individuals’ ability to operate land the way they would like— the concerns are real. However, these concerns 12 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

CAPITOL COMMENTS

cannot be considered when making a listing decision. When the FWS makes its decision, it must be based on the best available scientific information with respect to the five factors enumerated above. Stated another way, the FWS must consider the species’ relative threat of extinction based on the ecology of the bird and its habitat. Legally, the FWS cannot reach a listing decision based on popular or political opinions nor on economic considerations. The ESA language does not address those issues nor does the judicial system take them into account when ruling on a challenge to a listing decision. State fish and wildlife agencies, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and private landowners have developed conservation plans that should improve the species’ survival. More than a decade ago, the FWS developed the Policy for the Evaluation of Conservation Efforts (PECE). This relatively little-known policy does allow the FWS to consider conservation plans when making a listing decision. The importance of the PECE and conservation planning cannot be overstated. As opposed to considering only current conservation efforts and current habitat conditions, the FWS recognized that future commitments to conservation might improve the status of species and its habitat. Not surprisingly, in order for the FWS to seriously consider conservation plans, they must be effective and implementable. That is, the plans must lead to sage-grouse numbers improving and they must

be carried out into the future. PECE provides the FWS an opportunity to consider what would be done correctly in the future even if it has not been done correctly in the past. Ultimately, the FWS will have to decide if the cumulative ef fect of a ll conservation efforts—current and future—will enhance the survival of the species. These analyses and decisions will be based on biology, but they are constrained and measured by the judicial system. A decision one way or the other, which cannot be successfully defended in a court of law, is a waste of money, time, and effort. It won’t be easy, but we can conserve sage-grouse and the multitude of other species that inhabit sagebrush habitat and continue to ranch, farm, and develop energy. In striking contrast to the court-mandated decision on sage-grouse, some federal and state legislators have proposed the transfer and/or sale of portions of the 640 million-acre federal land system to state governments for their management. Nothing

Steven Williams, Ph.D. B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER PRESIDENT Wildlife Management Institute

mandated this proposal except for ideology, but its potential implications for western landscapes and way of life could be dramatic. These lands require funds for operation, management, and enforcement. Where would states acquire that additional money? Furthermore, it is hard to imagine that cashstrapped state budgets would be better able to address the “maintenance backlog” (often quoted as the reason not to acquire new federal lands) than the federal government. Congress should demonstrate business sense and invest funds in infrastructure improvements on public lands. The return on investment is measurable and significant. Often derided by federal, state, and local governments, public lands have proven to stimulate local economies at little or no

So much is changing in this hectic and increasingly developed world it is nice to know that there is still solitude and strength in the western landscapes. Selling off land to make ideological statements and not improving sage-grouse populations are insults to those who fought so mightily to establish and protect our conservation legacy.

cost to local businesses. In addition, they could even create jobs for rural communities by investing in maintenance and capital improvements on federal lands. My concern is not BLM lands that lie within the city limits of Las Vegas or small tracts whose transfer would reduce operational expenses for federal agencies. Nor do I object to land transfers that enhance management and access to other federal lands. My concern is the transfer or sale of lands that are of commercial interest to states and private investors.

If federal lands are better managed at the state level, then following that logic, the next argument would be that they would be even better managed in local and private hands. It is not dishonest to assume that the most valuable of these lands—those that produce timber, forage, water, or minerals - would eventually be auctioned to private interests. This may be fine for states that want to generate one-time revenue and wonderful for wealthy investors. There are numerous examples of wealthy individuals, some of whom are foreign to this country, who

bought large tracts of land to secure it for their own private use or to subdivide it into “ranchettes.” The intersection of these two issues may result in the loss of parts of the American West and of the western way of life. Hunters, anglers, ranchers, farmers, energy developers, tourists, local economies, and on and on have a significant stake in these issues. So much is changing in this hectic and increasingly developed world it is nice to know that there is still solitude and strength in the western landscapes. Selling off land to

make ideological statements and not improving sage-grouse populations are insults to those who fought so mightily to establish and protect our conservation legacy. The Boone and Crockett Club was instrumental in establishing National Parks, National Forests, and federal public lands. We’d better be instrumental in standing tall to protect them and the species that rely on them. n

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FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 13

We take up the pursuit,

BUT WHAT WE FIND IS OURSELVES.

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How can we distinguish progress from chance? The key lies in looking at the past. By knowing how records changed previously, we can predict how records will emerge in the future, if subject only to chance. Then, much like scientists do, armed with this forecast, we can compare prediction to reality. If for instance, the records prove much higher than expected, we can conclude that something other than chanceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;better management, better access, or better techniquesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;has caused the prospects of record-breaking to improve. PG 18. RECORDS ON THE RISE by Daniel Andres and James A. Schaefer

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 15 15

TITLE:

DEER BREEDING AND SHOOTING OPERATIONS EFFECTIVE DATE: JANUARY 8, 2015

SITUATIONAL OVERVIEW: There are currently commercial deer breeding farms that raise in captivity native, North American cervids (primarily white-tailed deer and elk) for sale to escape-proof, fenced, put-and-take shooting operations, often called hunting preserves by this industry. Through selective breeding and artificial manipulation, these animals are raised to grow unnaturally large sets of antlers. For years, hunters and non-hunters alike have questioned the appropriateness of such breeding and shooting operations and the motives and ethics of people who choose to shoot these animals. The recent growth in this trade of captive-reared wildlife is testing the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic support of hunting, has revealed new and growing threats to the health of wildlife at large, and is raising urgent questions as to how these captive animals should be managed and the industry regulated. The majority of North American sportsmen and sportswomen adhere to the belief that hunting should involve a challenging and respectful pursuit of wild, free-ranging animals attuned to their natural environment. These sportsmen appreciate their opportunity to hunt and recognize both the diversity of local customs within the hunting community and the rights of others to choose how they wish to hunt. The wildlife conservation and management 16 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

community is becoming inc r e a s i n g ly c onc er ne d , however, that raising trophy deer and elk and then shooting these animals in fenced shooting facilities reflects negatively on hunting and will weaken the public support for the type of fair chase hunting they cherish. In our democratic society the majority of citizens must be supportive or at least neutral toward any activity, including hunting, in order for it to be allowed to continue. Historically, non-hunters have proven to support hunting when it is conducted ethically and show less support for hunting when it is viewed as unethical or just killing for a trophy. The purpose of breeding and shooting operations is to provide their customers with more assured kills of unnaturally grown, large-antlered trophies; their motivation is profit. The customer pays based on antler size; their motivation is collecting trophies. Anti-hunting groups, in order to confuse and rally the public to accept their views, often misrepresent hunting as the shooting of penned deer and elk; their motivation is the elimination of all hunting. There is a distinction between breeding and shooting operations and the ethical hunting of wild, free-ranging game that needs to be made clear to the nonhunting community. The captive-cervid industry uses selective breeding, artificial insemination, regimented feeding, and pharmaceutical drugs to achieve unnaturally large antlers. Such intensive manipulation of the natural characteristics of a

wild deer and elk is a major departure from what occurs in nature, and it challenges our common understanding of the terms wild and wildlife. It does not appear that breeding and shooting operations considered the ethical implications of how far they should go in manipulating wildlife to satisfy the desires of a few. Nor did they think about the value the rest of society places on wild creatures and natural systems. The sole purpose for vastly exaggerating antler size to reach proportions that could never be attained in nature was commercial gain. The decision to drug wild animals also raises a valid question if this meat is safe to eat. In North America the number of breeding and shooting operations has increased to such an extent that traditional wildlife management, jurisdiction, and regulatory authority are all being challenged. Since the early 20th century, wildlife has been considered not a private, but a public resource that belongs to all citizens equally. This concept arose from a U.S. Supreme Court decision and is known as the Public Trust Doctrine. In recent years, the deer breeding industry has lobbied for whitetail deer to be reclassified from wildlife to

livestock, with the objective of privatizing a public resource and transferring regulatory authority from fish and game departments to departments of agriculture to obtain oversight more favorable to their industry. In jurisdictions where such transfer has occurred, regulation and oversight of captive-cervid facilities has deteriorated, which has led to increased escapes and enhanced risk for transmission of diseases to free-ranging wildlife.Â Converting a public resource like wildlife into a commodity has long-term ramifications and is a decision that deserves broader input and consideration. Another significant threat to wildlife is the transport of captive cervids within a state or across state or provincial lines. Such transports have been linked to the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). There is currently no practical live animal test for CWD and symptoms can take over a year to manifest themselves, therefore captive animals cannot be effectively tested for infection prior to transport. Furthermore, there is no cure for CWD and yet increasing reports of the disease infecting new regions leave little doubt that CWD is expanding its range in North America.

Deer Breeders, Privatizing Wildlife, Draws Criticism from the Boone and Crockett Club

Conservation organizations signing on in support of the new B&C position include: Wildlife Management Institute, Pope & Young Club, and Bear Trust International

POSITION: The Boone and Crockett Club maintains that selective breeding and artificially growing deer and elk with unnaturally large antlers to be sold and then shot in a putand-take situation is not representative of traditional hunting, and these practices should be discouraged. The captive-cervid industry is ignoring the fact that society rightfully expects hunting to be conducted ethically. If hunting is perceived as less than fair (i.e., less than desirable, reput able, a nd legitimate) our society may no longer tolerate hunting in any form. Those who choose to pay a fee to shoot captive animals in put-and-take shooting operations are free to make that choice where such shooting facilities are legal. Even though the Club believes the shooting of selectively bred and artificially enhanced, captive wildlife is not ethical, is not hunting, and serves no useful public purpose, it has no desire to dictate choices and behavior for every person or industry. The Club will speak out when necessary to defend hunting and its value to conservation. This includes pointing out activities that undermine the public support of hunting.

The Boone and Crockett Club supports the Public Trust Doctrine and opposes any legislation sponsored by the captive-cervid industry that allows them to privatize native wildlife or transfer management authority over their industry from state, provincial, or tribal wildlife agencies to other management authorities such as agriculture departments. The Club recognizes and endorses the importance of private property rights, but maintains that what is best for wildlife is for it to remain a public and not a private resource. The Boone and Crockett Club maintains that the threat of spread of CWD by the escape and/or transport of captive animals is a real and documented problem. The Club seeks to reduce the spread of CWD and other diseases to both captive and wild cervid populations, and consequently supports those states and provinces attempting to do so by: 1) prohibiting or restricting the establishment of new breeding and shooting operations; 2) adopting stricter regulations, including importation bans, governing the transport of captive cervids; and/or 3) prohibiting the release of captive animals from fenced breeding or shooting

This position statement incorporates and supersedes the Club’s previous position on the regulation of game farms. Related Club position statements include: genetic manipulation, canned shoots, fair chase, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and record entry requirements.

operations into wild, unfenced habitat as the danger to native w ildlife from CW D is overwhelming. The Boone and Crockett Club recognizes that not all deer and elk raised in captivity are artificially enhanced to create trophies or are sold to put-and-take shooting facilities. The Club further recognizes that an escapeproof fence around a property does not in itself imply, unethica l intentions by the landowner regarding the condition or treatment of the wildlife contained there, or how animals are pursued. The Boone and Crockett Club contends that wildlife has far greater value to more people if it remains an untamed expression of the natural world. There is a distinct difference between the altering of wildlife and natural systems by the captivecervid industry and managing w ildlife in ser v ice to conservation, and the two should not be confused. The practices of deer breeding and shooting operations should not be accorded the same level of public acceptance as the ethical hunting of wild, free-ranging game that is the foundation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and forms the tradition of the Club and the majority of hunters. The benefits that hunting brings to conservation, wildlife management, wildlife health, and land stewardship, and the opportunity for future generations to freely hunt wild species is worth much more than an industry seeking short-term profits. n

IN THE PRESS 1/14/2015

MISSOULA, Mont. – Once a wild game animal, now a product of commercialism and chemistry. Today’s upward trend in deer (and elk) breeding and shooting operations is reaching critical mass, compromising traditional hunting and conservation, and fueling a strong new response from America’s first conservation and hunter advocacy organization, the Boone and Crockett Club. The Club today published a new position statement outlining its concerns. “We encourage every hunter to read this position in its entirety,” said Morrie Stevens, Sr., president of the Club. “The core topic – privatizing a public resource for individual profits – has the power to change the foundations of hunting and its historic ties to conservation. And crossing the line from wildlife to agricultural commodity represents a fundamental shift in American culture. We think the ramifications are worth considering carefully.” The position statement also addresses: Selective breeding, artificial insemination, regimented feeding, and pharmaceutical drugs to achieve unnaturally large antlers in deer and elk. Commercial values based on artificial trophy size. Ethics of altering native wildlife and then shooting these animals in escapeproof, fenced enclosures. Breeding operations’ potential for transmitting diseases to wild herds. Risk of weakened public support for hunting. In a democracy, hunting exists only at the pleasure of voters. Hunting’s public image matters more than ever. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 17

RECORDS ON THE

DANIEL ANDRES Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan JAMES A. SCHAEFER Professor, Department of Biology, Trent University

RISE By knowing how records changed previously, we can predict how records will emerge in the future, if subject only to chance.

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Records, they say, are meant to be broken. In time, even the most exceptional performances are bound to be eclipsed. One of the greatest feats in athletic history occurred at the 1968 Olympics when Bob Beamon smashed the world record in the long jump —a leap of 29 feet, 2¼ inches—nearly 2 feet further than anyone had ever achieved. Some analysts predicted this record might never be outdone. But over the years, athletes edged ever closer to it. Finally, at the 1991 World Championships, Mike Powell surpassed it. His new mark stands unbroken —for now.

LEFT: In 1993, after 29 years at the top of Boone and Crockett records, the Jordan Buck is overtaken by Milo Hanson’s 213-5/8 buck from western Saskatchewan, Canada. BELOW: Ninety-nine deer seasons have passed since James Jordan pulled the trigger on a gargantuan whitetail that would become one of the best-known trophies of all time—and still stands as the biggest typical buck ever taken in the U.S. With the 100th Anniversary coming up in November, the Boone and Crockett Club is pausing to remember a tale that remains the stuff of legends.

Alongside athletic feats, the Boone and Crockett Club’s Records of North American Big Game represent one of the most intriguing compilations of records of any kind in the world. Each hunting season, we hear of colossal big game taken across North America, and rumors abound of new contending records in one trophy category or another. Some reports, like the massive Alaska-Yukon moose in autumn 2013, stand the test of the tape; others fall short of making their mark in the book. In all, 11 new records have appeared since 2000. And whatever the sport, it’s tempting to attribute a succession of new records to an underlying cause. But we may forget that record-setting events always contain an element of chance; and sometimes chance is all that is needed. As an illustration, let’s return to the field of athletics. Imagine a competitive sprinter trying to improve upon a personal best in the 100 meters. Even when the athlete’s runn i n g abi l it y r em a i n s unchanged, he or she can expect to set a new best performance from time-to-time —just as a gambler might have

a run of luck in roulette. In other words, progress in record-breaking could happen due to chance alone. The question of mere chance or systematic improvement is not trivial. The answer might reveal whether there are real shifts hidden under the pinnacle of sporting performance, swings in stock prices, extremes of weather—as well as Boone and Crockett records. How can we distinguish progress from chance? The key lies in looking at the past. By knowing how records changed previously, we can predict how records will emerge in the future, if subject only to chance. Then, much like scientists do, armed with this forecast, we can compare prediction to reality. If for instance, the records prove much higher than expected, we can conclude that something other than chance —better management, better access, or better techniques —has caused the prospects of record-breaking to improve. Similarly, records broken only as expected can be ascribed to mere randomness; those that remain stagnant and fall below expectations may be cause for concern.

TOP: Mike Gallo took this huge buck, hunted in Socorro County, New Mexico, in 2013. It scores 96-4/8 B&C points. Overall, New Mexico is second in pronghorn entries in Boone and Crockett records with 627. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 19

As some enthusiasts know, the Boone and Crockett Club offers access to their database through their online Trophy Search. In this study, we delved into these records and analyzed the annual best scores from 19 trophy categories representing 13 unique species. The categories are summarized in Table 1. Because we needed an unbroken time-series for the analysis, not all B&C records could be used; species that lacked entries in one or more years were not included. For each t rophy category, we extracted the highest record (B&C score), each year, over the span of a half-century. We focused on the postwar period, when the C lub’s ac t iv it ie s a nd measurement system had become more-or-less stable and standardized. We used the first 25 years (1960-1984) to generate predictions for the next 24 years (1985-2008). We then compared forecast to observation. Thus, we were able to identify species and categories that have been progressing at an unusually

fast or slow pace, patterns different than predicted by chance. The results were surprising. In the course of our analysis we uncovered significant improvements in the records of many North American big game animals. In particular, we found that 6 out of the 19 trophy categories during 1985-2008 displayed records sharply above forecast. These included the Alaska-Yukon moose, Alaska brown bear, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, typical whitetail deer and typical Coues’ deer (Table 1). Bighorn sheep serve as an interesting illustration of the chronology of record breaking (Figure 1). Since 1960, the World’s Record has been broken seven times, but this progression in top scores was unremarkable until relatively recently. It was not until the late 1980s and particularly in 2000 when the theoretical, random expectation was exceeded. Records for pronghorn show a similar trend (Figure 2), nudging just above expectation in 2000 and again in 2002.

WORLD’S RECORD BIGHORN SHEEP

Trophy Sidebar

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TABLE 1.

OBSERVED AND FORECAST BOONE AND CROCKETT WORLD’S RECORDS, 1985 TO 2008 Where the observed records fall outside the forecast bounds (below the lower bound or above the upper bound), we conclude that record breaking was not simply a result of chance. Systematic improvements were observed in six species. They appear in orange. Species

Lower bound of forecast

Observed record

Upper bound of forecast

black bear

23 0/8

23 4/8

23 7/8

grizzly bear

27 1/8

28 1/8

Alaska brown bear

28 7/8

30 2/8

29 6/8

cougar

15 6/8

16 2/8

typical American elk

411 6/8

428 6/8

437 3/8

typical mule deer

215 0/8

216 2/8

225 7/8

non-typical mule deer

281 0/8

306 3/8

314 4/8

Columbia blacktail deer

169 3/8

170 4/8

181 1/8

typical whitetail deer

197 2/8

213 5/8

208 0/8

non-typical whitetail deer

280 0/8

307 5/8

319 2/8

typical coues’ whitetail deer

123 7/8

143 0/8

133 5/8

Canada moose

225 7/8

240 6/8

245 6/8

Alaska-Yukon moose

247 6/8

261 5/8

259 6/8

Shiras’ moose

184 6/8

199 6/8

201 4/8

barren ground caribou

459 2/8

477 0/8

485 0/8

pronghorn

90 4/8

95 0/8

94 5/8

Rocky Mountain goat

54 5/8

56 6/8

57 1/8

bighorn sheep

196 1/8

208 2/8

204 4/8

desert sheep

190 6/8

197 1/8

203 1/8

In addition to these six trophy categories with records well above prediction, another ten categories showed a tendency that was similar, albeit less striking—records broken at a pace slightly above expectation (Table 1). These patterns of improvement were not restricted to any particular groups; they included three carnivores, nine cervids, and four bovids. In contrast, only three categories (typical Columbia blacktail deer, typical mule deer, and grizzly bear) fell slightly below expectations (Table 1). Taken together, these results support the general notion that recordclass animals are appearing at an unusually high rate. But why are we seeing a surge in these records?

FIGURE 1.

Changes in the annual top scores of bighorn sheep, 1960 to 2008 (world records shown with red circles, other annual best results shown in blue), compared to the forecast change. Records that fall above the shaded area are those particularly unlikely due only to chance. A pattern of rapid increase first appears in 1992.

WORLD’S RECORD BIGHORN SHEEP

SCORE: 208 3/8 LOCATION: Luscar Mt., AB HUNTER: Guinn D. Crousen DATE: 2000 KEY MEASUREMENTS: Length of horn: Right 47 4/8 - Left 46 5/8 Circumference of base: Right 15 7/8 - Left 15 7/8 Circumference of 3rd quarter: Right 12 - Left 11 3/8 Greatest spread: 23 1/8 Tip to tip spread: 23 1/8

TROPHY SEARCH

Everything you could ever want to know about recordclass animals, where they are coming from or have come from, when, how big, and how one area might stack up against another area is all just a few key strokes away. Trophy Search is available as a yearly subscription. For just $40 a year you can have unlimited access to the Club’s trophy database.

FIGURE 2.

Another example of record development unlikely driven by chance: Pronghorn, 1960 to 2008 (World’s Records as red circles, other annual best results in blue), compared against the forecast change (blue shaded area). The records appearing above the shaded area in 2000 and 2002 were particularly unlikely the result of mere chance, given the pattern from 1960 to 1984.

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WHY THE RISE IN RECORD-BREAKING?

Our study confirms Boone and Crockett records are being broken at an unprecedented rate. While we can discount chance as the sole cause, the trend itself does not give us a definitive answer underlying this progress. To some, our results might seem to contradict the existing evidence that harvestinduced selection for trophy animals is causing a reduced capacity for growth; however, this view is based on an oversimplification of a complicated reality. Importantly, we know that the size of an animal and its weaponry is a complex function of age, genetic, and environmental effects, including nutrition and weather. In addition, record-breaking events can become more common even when the average size of a game population remains static. For instance, a shift toward more selective hunting of trophy animals could by itself drive up the likelihood of a new recordclass animal being taken. The pattern could also follow from increases in hunting activity, such as when formerly inaccessible areas are opened up through improvements in technology (ATVs, float planes), new infrastructure (roads, trails), or changes in hunting regulations. The potential effects of new hunting regulations are pa r t icu la rly revea l i ng. Consider again the history of records of the bighorn sheep (Figure 1). Over the last decade, some of the largest rams in history have been taken in Alberta, Canada. Part of this surge has likely been driven by the introduction of special licenses, which allow winners of an auction or random draw to hunt bighorn sheep outside the regular hunting season.

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Some of the recent trophy rams have ordinarily found themselves in sanctuary areas and emerged from these zones to breed only once the regular hunting season had ended. Interestingly, two of the largest bighorns taken in Alberta since the year 2000 have been direct outcomes of these special license programsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the largest of these, a ram measuring 208-3/8 inches, now sits as the current world record. Similar stories emerge from other jurisdictions. For instance, in 2008, a non-typical American elk was shot under a special license in the state of Utah; this elk scored 478-5/8 inches and toppled the previous record by an extra 13 inches. In Arizona, the prior world record pronghorn, tied with another pronghorn from the same state, was also killed under a specially auctioned license. Perhaps the rapid progression of records is not such a surprise. Indeed, careful inspection of general book entries (not just world records) quickly reveals at least several other entries linked to special license hunts. But this is one of myriad possible causes. Like hunting itself, big game records represent a complex interplay among biological, regulatory, and cultural influences. Although Lady Luck may play a hand too, our analysis underscores that she is not the sole actor on this complex stage. Records delight and excite us; the progress in record-breaking of trophy big game in the past three decades adds another dimension to this intrigue. n

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank the Boone and Crockett Club for its careful and comprehensive tabulations upon which this analysis was based. In addition, we are grateful to Dr. Daniel Gembris for his advice on

Like hunting itself, big game records represent a complex interplay among biological, regulatory, and cultural influences.

ABOVE: A Special Judges Panel to verify the score of Heinz E. Naefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alaska-Yukon moose was convened at the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention, on January 24, 2014, in Reno, Nevada (above). The bull was declared a Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Record with a final score of 263-5/8 B&C points. Naef of Dawson City, Yukon Territory, (shown below with his trophy) harvested the moose while hunting along the Yukon River near Stewart Island on September 22, 2013. Naef was carrying a .303 British with open sights and 180-grain Winchester ammunition when he stalked to within 35 yards of the big moose before taking the shot. The bull has the largest antlers ever recorded for the Alaska-Yukon moose subspecies. The previous record, taken in Alaska in 1994, scores 261-5/8. These are the only two specimens on record to score over 260. The third-largest bull scores 256-6/8.

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FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 23

.270

CARTRIDGE REVIEW CRAIG BODDINGTON

WINCHESTER

PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

SHORT MAGNUM We all remember

where we were on September 11, 2001. Scott Grange and I had just separated to work a system of breaks in eastern Utah. He paused on the knoll to take advantage of some cellphone coverage and called his wife. I probably hadn’t gone a hundred yards when I heard him pounding after me, saying, “You need to hear this.”

We were on an earlyseason mule deer hunt debuting both the .270 and 7mm Winchester Short Magnums, two cartridges whose year of introduction I never need to look up! The .270 and 7mm were the second and third members of the Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) family: They followed the .300 WSM by a year, and preceded the fourth (and still last) sibling, the .325 WSM. Case length is 2.1 inches; base diameter is .5550-inch. We Americans love our .30-calibers, so the .300 WSM has been the most popular of the series. Inexplicably, the 7mm WSM has not done well 24 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

at all. The only explanation I can give is that perhaps we already have too many good 7mm cartridges. The .325 hasn’t burned up the world either, but that I sort of understand: Above .30-caliber cartridge sales always drop off dramatically simply because of limited need. A lso, realistically the 8mm bullet diameter has never been popular among American hunters. Although not as popular as the .300 WSM, the .270 WSM appears to have garnered a considerable following, and is easily my favorite of the group! The .277-inch bullet diameter has been an American standby since the .270 Winchester came out in 1925, but there are very few .270 cartridges. The only factory cartridges in addition to the .270 Winchester are Remington’s 6.8mm SPC - a small-cased, moderate velocity round designed for the AR15 action; the .270 Weatherby Magnum; and the .270 WSM. Though not quite as fast as the .270 Weatherby, the .270 WSM is considerably faster than the .270 Winchester. The concept came from military experimentation in tank cannons, where it was learned that shorter, fatter cartridges burned powder more efficiently and developed more energy per grain of powder burned. At least theoretically, this is because upon ignition, the primer flame accesses a greater percentage of

the powder charge. Like all the new short magnums, the .270 WSM is designed to fit into a short (.308 Winchester-length) action, so the short case offers the advantages of a shorter bolt throw and a shorter, lighter action, which saves a bit of weight as well as overall length. The smooth burning curve of the short case does tend to promote accuracy. I have found the various short magnums to be quite accurate on average, but quality of

.270 Winchester

barrel, true action-to-barrel mating, and good ammo are more important factors in accuracy than case design. More importantly, at least to me, is that the efficient burning yields more velocity and energy from the powder charge and allows higher velocity from shorter barrels. There is one inherent disadvantage to this and all the other “short, fat” cartridges of extra-large base diameter, which should be addressed:

.270 Winchester Short Magnum

.270 Weatherby Magnum

The .270 WSM is considerably faster than the .270 Winchester, but not quite as fast as the Weatherby .270. It is among the flattest-shooting of all factory cartridges, and although the .277-inch bullet diameter is popular, these are the only general-purpose .270 cartridges.

Few actions have been designed to feed cartridges shaped like a fireplug. The shorter and fatter, the more dramatic the problem becomes. I believe feeding problems contributed to the rapid demise of the Winchester Super Short Magnums, and feeding remains a problem with both Winchester and Remington lines of short magnums. Some actions feed better than others, but “stovepipe” and “doublefeed” jams are not uncommon with many rifles. Sometimes some gunsmithing work on the rails or magazine feed lips can help, but despite these cartridges’ great capabilities and significant advantages, you sort of have to accept that it’s pretty rare for them to feed as smoothly as cartridges of the .30-06 (standard cartridges) and .375 H&H (belted magnums) case diameters. The reason is simple: These are the cases bolt-actions have been designed around for a century! Make no mistake, the .270 WSM is fast. Factory velocities are 3,275 feet per second (fps) for a 130-grain bullet; 3,200 fps for a 140-grain bullet; and 3,120 fps for a 150grain bullet. Across the board this is 200 to 250 fps faster

than standard loads for the .270 Winchester (which no one has ever considered slow). While not quite as fast as the .270 Weatherby Magnum, these ballistics make the .270 WSM one of the flattest-shooting factory cartridges. It is popular enough that a reasonable selection of loads is available, and popular enough that it is chambered in quite a few factory rifles. For me, its distinct advantage is not that it shoots flatter than the .270 Winchester. It does, but not by so much as to significantly extend range. The formula used to derive kinetic energy in foot-pounds takes the square of velocity, so as velocity goes up energy goes up exponentially. So the .270 WSM delivers significantly more energy than the .270 Winchester, enough of an increase that I actually believe I can see it in impact on game. Even if I really can’t see the difference, I think I can… so the .270 WSM gives me a lot of confidence. It is without question one of our very finest cartridges for mountain game. I’ve used it for North American wild sheep and Rocky Mountain goat, and also taken it to far-flung places

such as Mongolia and Tajikistan for sheep and ibex. The .270 WSM is not, however, purely a specialized cartridge for mountain game. Because of the higher energy yield it is actually more versatile than the .270 Winchester (which is saying quite a lot). Although I once questioned it, today I believe that the .270 Winchester is plenty adequate for elk, but the .270 WSM is even more adequate for elk and larger game. I’ve taken and seen others take elk and elk-sized game with the .270 Winchester, and it works just fine. But in my experience the .270 WSM delivers more dramatic results. A few years ago, on a hunt in southern Yukon, I had an option to hunt grizzly bear after I took my ram. With that combination in mind I probably wouldn’t have chosen a .270 Winchester, but with tough 150-grain bullets I was perfectly comfortable with a .270 WSM. I didn’t take a bear, but we made several stalks and I was ready. The .270 WSM is also excellent for the full run of deer hunting, but it is

especially good in big, open country. Honestly I’ve taken a lot more mountain game than deer with the .270 WSM, but here’s an odd statistic: Down in southeast Kansas this year, neighbor Chuck Herbel and I hosted 12 hunters during the 2014 rifle season; three hunters—a quarter of the total —carried .270 WSM rifles. One, Derek Barnes from Alberta, couldn’t bring a rifle in from Canada. He’s left-handed, so he borrowed my short-action Model 70 in .270 WSM. But I can’t discount his choice because I had other left-hand rifles available and he selected that one. Considering the vast array of suitable whitetail cartridges, I think three out of twelve—25 percent—is a whole bunch. It could be pure coincidence, and is certainly too small and isolated a sampling to have any validity, but to me this suggests that the .270 WSM is here to stay— unlike several of the (too many) brave new magnums introduced in the late 90s and early 2000s. I hope so, because the .270 WSM is a really fine cartridge! n

In a short-action and a slightly shorter barrel (22 or 23 inches) the .270 WSM can be made into a fairly light rifle. This .270 WSM has a big scope to take advantage of its ranging abilities, with total weight at a manageable eight pounds.

Albertan Derek Barnes borrowed Boddington’s left-handed Winchester Model 70 in .270 WSM to take a Kansas whitetail. The shot was at close range in thick timber, and the buck dropped in its tracks.

As Jack O’Connor taught us, the .270 Winchester is a great mountain cartridge…but the .270 WSM is even better. Boddington took this light-colored Stone’s sheep in southern Yukon with a Kimber .270 WSM.

A good Rocky Mountain goat from British Columbia’s Chilcotin region, taken with a Kimber in .270 WSM.

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 25

Why We Buy Rifles

WAYNE C. VAN ZWOLL

B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

Back in the ‘70s I saved enough scratch living in a 28-foot trailer and supping on tomato soup to beef up the four-gun arsenal I’d crammed, with all else worth moving West in the back of my Mustang. The trailer languished in a filbert orchard on the skirts of the Willamette whose shadowed sloughs lured broken lines of Canadas from November skies. Winter evenings, wood ducks fluttered in from nowhere, and teal strafed my rudimentary blind, zipping downriver like dog-fighters suddenly out of ammo. A few lost their grip to the bump of my Remington 870. Jump-shooting for mallards and pintails improved when smaller water iced over.

“I could be very happy up there and my fine wife thinks we would be too. Besides her I’d bring my dog.” 26 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

Rifles worth keeping aren’t all costly. This Mossberg .30-30 is a wand in hand, outperforms its price.

On Scottish moors, Wayne shot grouse with this lovely Holland & Holland. He had to leave it there!

Come summer, I prowled river’s hem with an iron-sighted Browning BL-22. It drilled a crow for me at an honest 145 steps—and pestered an astonishing population of skunks. “They’ll get the quail and duck eggs if we’re not vigilant,” warned my landlord. To him hunting was a pastime, but he relished my enthusiasm and proudly showed off a shoulder-mounted blacktail with huge antlers. “Got it with this,” he handed me a long, octagon-barreled Winchester 1894 with almost no blue and just enough varnish to distinguish the stock from firewood. He’d poached the animal, but given the crude sights and the age of the soft-points I popped from the magazine, I assumed this deer guilty of a capita l transgression. Shortly thereafter I found a table of rifles dating back several decades at a local gun show. The well-dressed fellow tending the lot obviously didn’t need the Mark X in my hand. “It’s a .264 Magnum,” I stammered. There was nothing wrong with the cartridge or the Mauser, but it was on its second stock, the first having walked through the grip, courtesy my failure to ensure lug contact. Also, on its first deer hunt I’d missed four easy shots at a buck that mercifully vanished before I could miss five. I wanted the beautifully crafted .270 that lay between us. “Will you trade?” Lou didn’t need the .270 either. Charitably, he swapped straight across. I don’t miss the .264. I do miss that .270. It left this world when a pal grabbed cartridges in haste and triggered a .308 load that took the rifle apart. You mustn’t get too attached to rifles. If the .270’s destruction didn’t imbed that caveat, the theft of a truckload of firearms from my home decades later

certainly did. Such losses don’t just drain your net worth; they hit you in other ways. Rifles aren’t just tools. One of your rifles might qualify as an heirloom, another as art, and another as a historical treasure. Another may fit you uncannily well or hit when you expect to miss. Surely you have the rifle that downed your first deer. Perhaps another was given you by a friend now gone, another built to order by a talented gun maker. Another may have filled a void in a series. There’s probably one that’s become a go-to rifle for reasons you’ve yet to articulate…. “You don’t need all those guns,” say people who’d as soon you had none. Of course you don’t—not in the way you need vitamin C, corrective eyeglasses or a Social Security number. Firearms rank well below indoor plumbing on most lists of must-haves. But to activists whose oxen aren’t gored by onerous gun regulation, a firearm has only lethal purpose. There’s no value save utility or a price inflated by time, scarcity or the infamy of a dead owner. How myopic! The shooting and hunting industry is hardly fueled by shoppers buying guns as they might tire chains, or storing them as they do the gas grill in the garage. People acquire and keep firearms for various reasons. Given sales figures, I suspect utility is not the most compelling. Hunting rifles tagged at $400 can shoot as accurately and cycle as reliably as those costing much more. But expensive models sell briskly, many to hunters already well equipped! One salient virtue of rifles is their link to other people and places and times. “Dear Sir, I’ll just bet that you think I’m one funny nut for writing you, but so many of your fine friends are my best

friends…. You know Bob Brownell, Thomas Shelhammer, Keith Stegall, Bill Sukalle and Jack O’Connor….” So began in January, 1948, Wisconsin physician Russell C. Smith’s letters to Hosea Sarber, an Alaska game warden and bear guide, gunsmith, and sometime contributor to hunting publications. Smith concluded this name-dropping missive by making plain his dream: “I’m 43 years of age and for the past 15 years have worked like hell. The past year I’ve averaged 105 patients daily plus 265 major surgical and 65 minor operations. Now I’d like to [establish a practice in Alaska] where I could hunt big game and fish….I could be very happy up there and my fine wife thinks we would be too. Besides her I’d bring my dog and my technician.” In March, Dr. Smith urged Sarber to visit his home and take full advantage of his 400-yard range. “…Spend all the time you want to with my guns and shoot them….” With no children and a profitable practice, Smith indulged his passion for fine rifles. By 1951 he was sending some to Sarber. In April he wrote of shipping north a Remington 721 in .300 H&H Magnum. “I thought you would like one.” Smith had already gifted his idol a 721 and a Winchester Model 70 in .270, and another 70 in .220 Swift. “These are all going to you as presents….” The following March he wrote: “Won’t be long before that 23inch .375 Magnum is in your hands, Hosea….” In July, 1950, he ordered from Winchester a pair of Model 70 target rifles in .220 Swift, “one for you and the other for me.” Sarber evidently stocked some rifles for the physician, but letters I’ve found are all from Smith. The last, dated 14 May, 1951, FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 27

signaled his imminent departure from Wisconsin: “Dear Pal Hosea…. Last Thursday shipped 19 boxes of rifles via express and the Alaska Steamship Company. Twelve boxes are light but seven [average] 300 pounds or more….” Despite his adulation for Hosea Sarber and commitment to an Alaska sojourn, Dr. Smith had little interest in piling up big game. “I’m not killing another big brownie unless he is a record…. I’ll shoot him with my camera and movie outfit.” Some time after the doctor opened an office in A la sk a, Hosea Sa rber disappeared in the bush. He was never found. Smith’s firearms collection sold in 1972, when his widow Mary decided she no longer wanted to share her Petersburg apartment with 37 dozen rifles, shotguns, and handguns. A fellow servicing the furnace had said he needed easier access, and that the hundreds of boxes of ammunition stacked there would be better stored in another corner. The .270 that came my way in trade for the .264 was one of Dr. Smith’s 419 firearms. It took my first mule deer. A .300 H&H, bought later from that lot, killed my first elk. Both these Mausers had been stocked by Montana gun-maker Iver Henriksen. So too the rebarreled 98, another .270, that downed the only bighorn ram I’ll shoot in Oregon. As Russell Smith had lived vicariously through Hosea Sarber in another place, I found in those rif les another era. They

brought to life people long dead, adventures never to be relived. Those postwar sporters—and others—have since departed in ill-advised trades. Too late I learned that value in firearms has less to do with function than with dreams and memories. During small-bore matches in the ‘70s I shared the line with a fellow who’d exclaim when a shot strayed: “And they were going in like trained pigs!” Dick fired good scores. More importantly, he was a gentleman as ready to compliment as to beat his competition. A great, round-bellied presence, he laughed through an impish grin that belied his age. Dick was smart. At Boeing in Seattle, his projects included the first moon vehicle—real rocket science. Still he demurred when asked about his pioneering work. “I’m a slave to physics,” he’d grin. On the range, Dick accepted humbly the wind-driven 9. And when my scores captured two state prone titles, Dick was among the first with congratulations. He enjoyed seeing others succeed. Early on it was clear he hadn’t a selfimportant bone in his body. Dick was truly modest. On the eve of one match he stepped over to the bench where I was tending my Anschutz. “You’re on the first relay,” he grinned, “me too.” Then, leaning forward, he whispered, “morning air won’t move until the fog lifts, they’ll go in like trained pigs!” And they did. A couple of years later after another Seattle shoot I joined Dick for lunch at his LEFT: Refinish the metal and replace the stock and you’ll rob this Winchester 94 carbine of its character! RIGHT: Wayne killed this buck with a Savage rifle in .243, which now has personal value beyond its utility.

28 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

home. There was an odd tension in his smile. “I’m peddling some guns,” he said. “Want to look?” The rifles were midlevel in price, ordinary, but well maintained. Dick’s affinity for accurate small-bores was evident. “This one will smash flies,” he said handing me a late-sixties Remington 700 in .22-250. I bought it. Dick was gone within the year. The next Seattle match seemed eerily silent without his booming laugh. Again on the first relay, I watched my crosswire quiver against dead air as the range officer barked, “Commence firing!” An arc of pigs ghosted with absurd grace through the X-ring. Dick’s .22-250 is still with me. It’s not going anywhere. I’ve rued my decision to sell the Anschutz 1413 that kept my tallies near the top of the board in college and, later, in open competition. That rifle had cost $300 new, a staggering sum when tuition put a hole in my pocket that farm wages, at $2 an hour, couldn’t plug. I’d ponied up more for iron sights, $125 for a 20x Redfield 3200 scope. Thirty years hence, a similar package would cost 10 times as much. But the rifle’s greatest value lay in memories of matches with people now gone. Not long ago I spied on a gun show table a Remington 121 .22 pump, at double the price of a new one in the 1960s, when I borrowed a farmer’s to kill barn rats. The Weaver J4 on that rifle introduced me to scopes. I had thrilled to the milky view through its skinny

steel tube! A wad of bills thumbed onto the show table brought me at last, my own 121—a portal to gentler times. Even damaged rifles can be worth keeping. A .30-30 I was zeroing prone in a meadow was about ready for the hunt when I laid it on the matt to change targets. A pal hopped in his Suburban to set a gong farther out. He drove over the matt and the rifle, narrowly missing my spotting scope. We duct-taped the splintered butt-stock, the zero hadn’t changed. I regret replacing that walnut, wrapped grip and all. Many moons ago, I spied an ad in Shotgun News for a custom-stocked Mauser; I phoned. “Sorry, that’s gone,” was the reply. “But I have an ‘03 Springfield, .30-06 Improved. New bolt and barrel, Canjar trigger; good work.” When he rang off, I wrote a check for that rifle and another like it. Both exceeded expectations. With the first, I slipped through a Wyoming dawn to intercept a bull elk. Antlers winked in the Doug-firs; I knelt and found shoulder in the 3x Leupold. My Partition floored the bull. He struggled to make short steps into heavier cover, where I killed him with a follow-up shot. That long-tined six-point is one of my best bulls, and the last I’ll likely shoot sharing camp with one of my best friends. Want a .30-06 Improved on Springfield metal? You’ll have to find one elsewhere. n

Rifles aren’t just tools. One of your rifles might qualify as an heirloom, another as art, and another as a historical treasure. Another may fit you uncannily well or hit when you expect to miss.

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Find the bullet that ﬁts your hunt at hornady.com. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 29

SILENCE IS

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL CHUCK ADAMS B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

GOLDEN “Keep your voice down,”

Fred muttered as we watched the herd of elk. “They might hear you!”

I chuckled at my friend’s nervous reaction. He had never shot an elk, and I was trying to help him bag one with a bow. The closest animal was over 300 yards away and the herd was swirling like leaves in a tornado as the dominant bull bugled, sniffed cows, and chased smaller males away. I was talking to Fred in a whisper, and there was no way those elk could have heard us…even at half the distance. It has been my observation that hunters most often underestimate an animal’s ability to hear. They talk too loudly, drive vehicles too close, wear clothes or footwear that is too noisy, or move too quickly without choosing a silent route. But on the flip side, it is also a mistake to give critters too much credit. You need to know the proper balance between complete silence and too much noise. In other words, you need to know what you can get away with. The human voice is one good example. In my experience, you can softly whisper within 40 or 50 yards of an alert deer or elk without being heard. But if you use your vocal cords, you might scare animals hundreds of yards away. I have

Chuck stalked his 2014 blacktail deer across near-solid rock—a perfect situation with soft-soled boots.

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Wild animals in dense woods are attuned to the slightest foreign sounds made by fabric or boot soles.

listened to hunters talking on distant ridge lines and clearly understood the conversations. And the human ear is not nearly as keen as that of a big game animal. The sound of a vehicle engine carries fairly well, but the crunching of tires on rocks, gravel, and other road debris is far noisier. “Road hunters” sometimes bag game during the rut or in areas where animals are accustomed to vehicles. But in most cases, you should leave your rig behind and walk if you want to get really close to animals with gun or bow. Footwear makes a huge difference in close-range stalks. Most mountain hunters opt for hard, durable boot soles like Vibram because these grip well and last a long time. But such soles are a severe handicap when you are sneaking. If you cannot easily indent a sole with your thumb, it will not flex with underfoot debris like twigs, leaves, pebbles, dry grass, and pine needles. A proper sole will cushion your footsteps and let you “feel” your way over noisy terrain. Soft soles are also best if you are sitting in a tree stand or ground blind. The slight tap of a hard sole against a tree platform can scare a deer as surely as a gunshot. Suitable boot soles for close-range hunting include soft neoprene, gum rubber, and thin chain tread on pac boots. In cold weather or snowy conditions, classic airbob soles are also flexible enough to work. Such soles might not grip or resist wear as well as harder hiking soles, but they will definitely help you perform better in close proximity to game. There is an on-going

debate in the hunting community about whether or not to remove your boots for a final stalk. I am firmly against a sneak in stocking feet. It takes time to remove boots, and creates game-spooking noise and movement in the process. You will probably end up with dirty and rock-bruised feet, and another problem arises if your target animal suddenly moves away. You will need to take more time to put your boots back on while the critter possibly escapes. With the right softsoled footwear to begin with, there is never a need to remove your boots. Clothing can also make or break a stalk. As with boot soles, durability seldom equals silence. Hard-weave fabrics like cotton canvas and ripstop nylon will last for years, but these whine and shriek upon contact with brush or trees. Many laminated waterproof garments are also noisy, even when you slightly move. Two years ago, I sat in a tree stand in New Brunswick for black bear while wearing a prototype fleece outfit to test for a major clothing manufacturer. A bear appeared below me, and ran like heck when I raised my camera to take a photo. That bear did not see me, but the inner waterproof membrane in the jacket had crinkled like a newspaper. I never wore that outfit again! The best fabrics for pants, shirts, and jackets are made of soft synthetic fleece, loose-weave cotton, or wool. You should test every closerange garment before you buy. Simply drag your fingernails across the surface with light pressure. If you can hear a scraping or scratching sound,

the fabric will probably alert close-range animals. Before you buy any laminated garment, be sure to try it on and move around to determine if you hear noise. What you hear in a retail store will sound ten times as loud in the woods! It seems obvious that a close-range hunter needs to choose his travel route with care, but I often see this ignored. Very soft and very hard terrains are easiest to navigate without noise. Loose dirt and solid rock are the best. I would rather travel twice as far during a stalk to ensure quiet walking. If you barge across pine cones or needles, clumps of dry leaves, areas littered with sticks, or places choked with close-hugging brush, you probably will not get close enough for a shot. Just last fall I hunted a big, 5x5 Columbia blacktail deer for several days. I finally found the buck in a place I could stalk, mapped out the approach route in my mind’s eye, and started slipping ahead. My well-washed, allcotton camo and thin neoprene soles were very quiet

as I stepped from lava rock to lava rock. In one place, I had to backtrack and circle a thicket of manzanita brush to avoid noise. Finally, I peeked beyond a rise, saw the buck’s antlers, and took the shot when he stepped into the clear. He never heard a dangerous noise during that entire stalk or he would have been long gone. Being quiet is one huge key to bagging animals up close! n

It has been my observation that hunters most often underestimate an animal’s ability to hear. They talk too loudly, drive vehicles too close, wear clothes or footwear that is too noisy, or move too quickly without choosing a silent route. But on the flip side, it is also a mistake to give critters too much credit. You need to know the proper balance between complete silence and too much noise. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 31

CAMPAIGN FOR SPORTSMEN’S ACT UNDERWAY IN NEW CONGRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2015

The Boone and Crockett Club applauds the introduction in the U.S. Senate of the Sportsmen’s Act of 2015—a bipartisan proposal representing years of focus on pressing issues in conservation. The measure promotes conservation, hunting, angling, sport shooting, and traditional outdoor lifestyles. The bill’s lead sponsors are Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and the Senate leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb). The Club supports the senators’ focus on access to public lands as the driving issue for the bill, which is a package of several bipartisan measures to enhance access and habitat management for the benefit of hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The package bill also reauthorizes key conservation programs, improves access to public lands, and helps boost the outdoor recreation economy. “The successful negotiations that produced this bill are a testament of the strength and unity of the sportsmen’s community in Washington, D.C. We would not be able to do this without the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the American Wildlife Conservation Partners,” said Bob Model, chairman of the Boone and Crockett Club Policy Committee. This year’s Sportsmen’s Act is built upon previous versions in the last two Congressional sessions. “The new bill will differ from last year only in dropping a couple provisions that have been enacted separately, and in adding a couple issues that have ripened in the past year,” said Morrie Stevens, Sr., president of the Club. At the top of the “ripened” list is a Boone and Crockett priority measure, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. This bill passed the House last year with no dissent. It was then added as an amendment to the Sportsmen’s Act. The measure would create an online public database of info on court cases against the U.S. government. Federal agencies do not keep usable data on cases brought against them, according to investigations by the Government Accounting Office. Stevens explained, “We’re concerned that litigation too often needlessly impedes the work of conservation agencies. After all, litigation is now a regular feature of environmental policy. Therefore, in the public interest, the full impacts of litigation must be transparent and understood and guided—as all public policy should be.” Numerous sporting conservation groups have worked together to make this bill possible and that have banded together to support its passage and enactment.

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The successful negotiations that produced this bill are a testament of the strength and unity of the sportsmen’s community in Washington, D.C. We would not be able to do this without the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the American Wildlife Conservation Partners.

THE SPORTSMEN’S ACT BILL SUMMARY Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reauthorization (FTFLA): This section reauthorizes the BLM’s authority to sell land to private land owners, counties, companies and others for ranching, community development and various projects. This “Land for Land” approach creates jobs and generates funding for BLM, USFS, NPS and USFWS to acquire critical in-holdings from willing sellers. The sales revenue allows agencies to acquire high priority lands with important wildlife habitat value and recreational access for hunting and fishing. Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act: This bill allows for the Secretary to authorize permits for re-importation of legally harvested polar bears from approved populations in Canada before the 2008 ban. Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act: This legislation would grant the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps. It also outlines electronic duck stamp application requirements. North American Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization (NAWCA): This section reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act for another five years. NAWCA is a voluntary landowner-friendly initiative that uses incentives

to provide valuable matching grants that leverage federal dollars to protect habitat that is critically important for migratory birds, such as ducks and other wildlife. Over the last 20 years, NAWCA has completed over 2,000 conservation projects to protect 26.5 million acres of habitat. This voluntary program has over 4,500 partners and has leveraged nearly three dollars for every dollar spent by the federal government. The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act: This section specifically excludes ammunition and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), leaving decisions about tackle to state fish and game agencies and the Fish and Wildlife Service, who currently regulate ammo and tackle. The EPA has denied petitions to regulate tackle and ammo under TSCA in 1994 and again in 2011. This codifies that the EPA does not have the ability to regulate tackle. This includes a savings clause for local, state, and other federal regulations. Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act: This provision would protect the public right to engage in recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting on federal lands. It mandates that lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service be open to recreational hunting, fishing, and

shooting unless specifically closed by the agencies. It also supports Executive Order 13443, which directs federal land management agencies to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting on federal lands, and ensures sound scientific management of wildlife and their habitat.

firearm at a water resources development project administered by the Chief of Engineers if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.

Bows Transported through National Parks: This provision clarifies the 2007 legislation, and will allow bows to be transported across national park lands. Currently, firearms can be legally transported, but not bows. This poses a practical problem for bow hunters who want to legally hunt on Forest Service or BLM lands, but must cross National Park Service lands.

Duck Stamp Subsistence Waiver: This provision would grant the Secretary of the Interior the authority to make limited waivers of duck stamp requirements for certain subsistence users.

Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act: Amends the Pittman-Robertson Act by adjusting the funding limitations. This allows states more funds available for a longer period of time for the creation and maintenance of shooting ranges. The bill encourages federal land agencies to cooperate with state and local authorities to maintain shooting ranges and limits liability for these agencies. Recreational Lands SelfDefense Act: This legislation prohibits the Secretary of the Army from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a

Public Lands Filming: This legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary), for any film crew of five persons or fewer, to require a permit and assess an annual fee of $200 for commercial filming activities or similar projects on federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. Prohibits the Secretary, for persons holding such a permit, from assessing any additional fee for commercial filming activities and similar projects that occur in those areas during specific hours. Bars the Secretary from prohibiting, as a mechanized apparatus or under any other purposes, the use of cameras or related equipment used for commercial filming activities or similar projects in accordance with this Act on federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. n FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 33

The history of the Boone and Crockett Club is a tale of over 127 years of measured and thoughtful commitment to conservation. It is a commitment that balances human needs with wildlife needs.

Milestones in Conservation

We will be celebrating the anniversaries of the passage of laws, the establishment of institutions, and the designation of wildlands, which exist today in large part because of the extensive efforts of the Club and its dedicated membership.

Boone and Crockett Club 2015

WILLIAM T. HORNADAY BORN 160 YEARS AGO

William Temple Hornaday was born December 1, 1854. He was an American zoologist, conservationist, taxidermist, author, and he was a pioneer in the early wildlife conservation movement in the United States. In 1882 he was appointed chief taxidermist of the United States National Museum. In his position at the museum, Hornaday was tasked with inventorying the museum’s specimen collection of American bison, which was meager. He then undertook a census of bison by “writing to ranchers, hunters, army officers, and zookeepers across the American West and in Canada.” Based on firsthand accounts, Hornaday estimated that as recently as 1867 there were approximately 15 million wild bison in the American West. Through his census, he ascertained that those numbers had rapidly depleted. The decimation of the species that Hornaday witnessed had a profound effect on him, transforming him into a conservationist. In addition to the specimens for the collection, he acquired live specimens that he brought back to Washington, D.C. The bison which formed the nucleus of the Department of Living Animals he created at the Smithsonian, the precursor to the National Zoological Park, which he helped establish a few years later in 1889. Hornaday served as the zoo’s first director. In 1896, the newly chartered New York Zoological Society (known today as the Wildlife Conservation Society) enticed Hornaday back to the zoo field by offering him the lead role in building a new world-class zoo in New York, the Bronx Zoo. Hornaday served as the zoo’s first director from 1896-1926. Hornaday’s advocacy is credited with preserving the American bison from extinction. He was one of the early members of the Boone and Crockett Club. During his lifetime, Hornaday published almost two dozen books and hundreds of articles on the need for conservation, frequently presenting it as a moral obligation. By 1915, the American Museum Journal declared that Hornaday “has no doubt inaugurated and carried to success more movements for the protection of wild animal life than has any other man in America.”

1850 1854

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1875

THE AMERICAN BISON SOCIETY FOUNDED IN 1905 During a meeting 110 years ago at the New York Zoological Society, the American Bison Society is formed with Club member William T. Hornaday serving as the president and President Theodore Roosevelt as honorary president. The early American Bison Society launched a campaign to raise funds to create wild bison reserves and stock them with bison from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. In 1907 the ABS shipped 15 bison to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and Game Preserve in Oklahoma by cart and rail. This was the first animal reintroduction in North America. In 1910, the ABS helped buy the nucleus herd for the National Bison Range in Montana, and in 1913, ABS donated 14 bison to Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Counting on the successful reproduction of the species, the ABS considered their work done, and the organization was disbanded in 1935. In 2005, the American Bison Society was re-launched by the Wildlife Conservation Society to secure the ecological future of bison in North America.

1900

1905

1925

1935

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION In 1935 the National Wildlife Federation was founded by Club members J. N. “Ding” Darling, C. R. Gutermuth, Ira N. Gabrielson, and Karl T. Frederick. Darling was its first president. Ding Darling saw the impacts from the Dust Bowl firsthand as an avid waterfowl hunter and he began letting people know about it. His cartoons and conservation ethic caught the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who appointed him the head of the U.S. Biological Survey in 1934 (the forerunner to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Darling convinced President Franklin Roosevelt to invite over 2,000 hunters, anglers, and conservationists from across the country to the first North American Wildlife Conference in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel.

1950

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLT COLLIER NATIONAL REFUGE

ABOVE: One of Darling’s best-known conservation illustrations. BELOW: When Ding Darling (left) resigned as chief of the Biological Survey in November 1935, his colleagues and friends in the department presented him with a new shotgun. Ding is shown with his successor, Ira Gabrielson.

1975

Club member James L. Cummins worked with Congress to authorize and fund the Holt Collier National Refuge. The refuge is located on Holt Collier’s historic hunting grounds near Darlove, Mississippi, about 29 miles southeast of Greenville. Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge is the first refuge named to honor an AfricanAmerican. Collier was Roosevelt’s guide on the 1902 black bear hunt, which raised the national consciousness of the principles of fair chase. Born a native Mississippian in 1848 to a slave family, Holt Collier led an extraordinary life. He fought in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier and later became famous throughout Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas as a legendary bear hunter and sportsman. Although the Louisiana black bear is now on the endangered species list, during his lifetime black bears were plentiful. Collier died in 1936 and is buried in Greenville, Mississippi. In addition to the 1,400 acres of refuge lands designated in Senator Cochran and Congressman Thompson’s legislation, Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge will soon grow to 2,033 acres thanks to a donation of 633 acres of mitigation lands from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This expansion was made possible by partnerships between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Corps of Engineers, and is a good example of the Refuge System’s “conservation in action” initiative.

2000

2005

2025

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 35

LEONARD H. WURMAN, M.D. B&C REGULAR MEMBER Photos Courtesy of B&C Permanent Collection and Smithsonian Institute

Martha is Dead Just over 100 years ago, on September 1, 1914, the elderly lady known as Martha breathed her last. She was living in Cincinnati at the time, but no one knew her birth year or her travels prior to arriving there. She was thought to have moved from Chicago a dozen years earlier. George, her last companion, had passed on four years before, and Martha spent those final years alone. She and George have been named after the nation’s first family.

Passenger pigeon Martha (named after Martha Washington), the last survivor of an American species that numbered in the millions prior to the 1880s, died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. Her body was donated to the Smithsonian Institution and brought to the United States National Museum, now the National Museum of Natural History, for permanent preservation. Mounted in a display case with this notation: “MARTHA, last of her species, died at 1 p.m., 1 September 1914, age 29, in the Cincinnati Zoological Garden. EXTINCT”, this bird documents an unhappy chapter in the conservation of wildlife. 36 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

Martha, as it turns out, never experienced freedom. She was thought to have been born either in Chicago or perhaps Milwaukee, and had lived her whole life fenced in. During her last years, despite obvious physical deterioration, she had become well known and popular, and visitors made special efforts to meet her. Her death received national recognition. It wasn’t always that way. Martha was tragically the last living member of a species whose prodigious numbers blackened North American skies only a few decades earlier. Martha was a passenger pigeon that had been bred in captivity and for the past dozen years had resided in a 12-foot cage at the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens. She had no funeral; rather, she was unceremoniously packed in a large block of ice and shipped to the Smithsonian Institution for necropsy and mounting. NUMBERS

The passenger pigeon population estimates in the mid-19th century were enormous. Some thought they comprised as much as 40 percent of all North American

birds. Estimates range well into the billions, but because no accurate survey could be done in any one-time period across the continent, total population numbers were unattainable. However, many observers made educated assessments of flock size and those numbers were gargantuan. Alexander Wilson, a scientist and artist who immigrated to America from Scotland and is consider e d A mer ic a’s f i r s t ornithologist, published his nine-volume American Ornithology in the early 1800s. Wilson timed a one-mile wide Kentucky flock that passed overhead for over four hours. Estimating their speed to be one mile per minute, he reasoned the flock was 240 miles long. Judging by the density, he calculated that this one flock on this one day comprised well over 2 billion birds. The better-k now n avian artist John James Audubon a few years later observed a flock also in Kentucky that blotted out the sun and from which droppings fell like melting snow flakes. That flock filled the air for three days; and Audubon also estimated his flock to be well over one

billion. Numerous observers made similar estimates in New England, southern Canada, the upper Midwest, and the south-central states. The huge flocks migrated south for the winter, north for the summer, and in all directions seeking food sources. DESCRIPTION

Somewhat resembling the relatively drab mourning dove, the male passenger pigeon was larger, far more colorful, and sported a long split tail. The slightly smaller female, like most avian distaffs, was not as attractive. Descriptions give the male a slate blue head, a grayish-blue back, and a ruby-orange neck and breast. Because no one ever expected the extinction, relatively few skins were saved or mounted. The birds were e x t i nc t b e fo r e c olo r photography, and not being a game bird, few found their way onto the artist’s canvas. They were just too numerous for anyone to care. The males’ iridescent coloration took on different hues as the flocks turned and banked, or dropped into and climbed out of a valley. Reading these descriptions curried

up images of airborne rivers of changing color descending, ascending, juking right, then left. A low-flying flock would split coming to an obstacle and join together once passed. An avian predator might momentarily divide the flock much as a finned predator would a school of fish. Passenger pigeons with their large and powerful breast muscles were built for speed. It was not uncommon for the birds to fly 80 miles from their roost to their food source, their predominant food being beechnuts or small acorns. When nesting, the flock’s males would feed on the morning shift, then females during the early afternoon, and then the males again in the evening, each shift sometimes flying an hour in each direction, while their mates attended the nest. ROOSTS AND NESTS

It would seem impossible for a bird of such enormous numbers to be extinguished so rapidly, but the en masse roosting, nesting, and feeding facilitated the demise. It is generally agreed that females laid only one egg and generally nested just

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 37

once each year. The nests were flimsy and often not very high in the trees; egg incubation lasted two weeks. The young squabs drank “milk,” regurgitated from either parent, which had a higher concentration of both fat and protein than bovine milk. They grew rapidly and were nearly adult size after two weeks, at which point all of the adult birds as a group left the nests permanently, leaving the squabs to fly down to the ground and fend for themselves for another 10 to 14 days, until they too were able to fly off and join the adult flock. The density of the birds when roosting or nesting was intense. Branches would snap and even trees might fall from the weight. Birds alighted in high and lower branches, making somewhat easy pickings for night hunters with torches. The flock, having left the nesting area, would then roost in a new site, and once again might travel long

Somewhat resembling the relatively drab morning dove, the male passenger pigeon was larger, far more colorful, and sported a long split tail. The slightly smaller female, like most avian distaffs, was not as attractive. Descriptions give the male a slate blue head, a grayish-blue back, and a ruby-orange neck and breast. Because no one ever expected the extinction, relatively few skins were saved or mounted. The birds were extinct before color photography, and not being a game bird, few found their way onto the artist’s canvas.

38 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

distances daily to a food source. From the standpoint of the evolutionary need to conserve energy, one would think such long flights would be counter-productive. The technology available did not allow tracking of a flock when they flew to the new roost, so folks back then often did not know where the flock’s new roost occurred. THE SLAUGHTER

Passenger pigeons had large flight muscles and were hunted intensively for subsistence and market. Native Americans simply used long sticks as clubs to knock down roosting birds or even low flying flocks. The squabs, unable to fly their first month, were especially easy to obtain. With the arrival of Europeans, shotguns were used effectively; many birds, either flying or roosting, were obtained with one shot. Heavily nested trees were cut down to collect the squabs and injured parents. The most effective methods were the net traps

set up alongside a patch of ground that had been seeded with grain or corn for several days. Nets up to 40 feet in length and 20 feet in width were attached to spring poles released by a hunter hidden in a nearby blind. Captive pigeons were placed in the seeded grain patch on a platform whose vertical motion was controlled by the hunter in the blind, and which caused the decoy to flap its wings. When enough birds were on the grain, the net was released. A good single haul was 100 dozen birds. Well-trained stool pigeons were valuable and expensive. The numbers of birds sent to major cities for food was astronomical. From the Petosky, Michigan area in 1878, over 1.5 million dead birds were sent to both regional cities as well as those on the eastern seaboard. Transportation initially included wagons, then Great Lakes steamers, and finally rail. Pigeoners—a seasonal occupation for thousands

—when informed by telegraph would travel via railroad as much as 1,000 miles to a newly discovered roost. Wisconsin and Michigan had the greatest roosts. As the railroads penetrated deeper into rural areas, transporting the dead birds without them spoiling became easier. At first the birds were packed in ice, but after 1878, refrigerated railroad cars were used. In addition, hundreds of thousands of live pigeons were shipped yearly for live pigeon shoots. One 1874 New York venue alone used 40,000 live birds, eventually leading to the ban of the sport in that state. CONSERVATION TOO LATE

Michigan was the first state to pass pigeon regulations. Initially, netting was not allowed within two miles of a nesting site, and shooting not within five miles of a nesting site. But without wardens, such rules were little followed. William B. Mershon, a wealthy Michigan sportsman and conservationist, and at one time

“Viewed from all angles, the passenger pigeon was the most impressive species of bird that man has known. Elegant in form and color, graceful and swift of flight, it moved about and nested in such enormous numbers as to confound the senses.” – A.W. Schorger, 1955

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 39

Martha is Dead the Mayor of Saginaw, became an early proponent of pigeon law enforcement. He published in 1907 The Passenger Pigeon, the first book on the subject, and was admitted to the Boone and Crockett Club four years later as an Associate (now called Professional) Member. But his efforts, along with many others, were too late. The last great nesting of the pigeon was in Petosky in 1878. From that point on, few and much smaller roosts and nests occurred, and market hunting soon was no longer worth the effort. Hunters occasionally shot birds, the last confirmed specimen in 1902. Periodic sightings were claimed for another half-dozen years, but without documentation, most if not all, were probably mourning doves. Theories on the extinction abound. Many other American species were pulled back from the brink of extinction by conservation efforts. Why not also the passenger pigeon, whose numbers were still in the millions in the 1880s? Besides hunting, lumbering took its toll on the American forests decreasing roosting and nesting areas, and also diminishing the huge mast supply needed to sustain the flocks. However, it seems there must be more to it. Perhaps the birds’ social characteristics had an influence. After all, one pair of birds produced only one egg per year. This apparently sustained the species until the slaughter began. Perhaps also as hunting pressure increased, the jittery adults were prone to abandon their nest before the chick arrived, or even after the squab was present. Joel Greenberg in his 40 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

recently published, A Feathered River Across the Sky offered an interesting theory: After the adults permanently left the nest for a distant roost, their youngsters were only two weeks old, the squabs were on their own for two more weeks before flying off to rejoin the parent flock. That seems a tenuous parenting method, and if altered for any reason, the flocks could never replenish their numbers. Perhaps the passenger pigeon’s evolutionary survival required huge social masses. The flocks themselves became a living organism, and the extinction followed. The westward logging and agricultural migrations eradicated the vast forests that were the lifeblood of the flocks. As flocks diminished in size, the probability of survival waned. Whatever the combination of causes, it is apparent that the critter just couldn’t adapt to the high-density settlement of the New World. LESSON LEARNED?

The demise of the passenger pigeon could be considered our country’s greatest conservation disaster, and is often given as an example of why after 42 years the Endangered Species Act (ESA) should not be modified. Like so many rules and regulations, some parts work, and others not so well. Emotion rather than reason dominates much of the discussion about improving the ESA. The act is often used as a metaphoric “stool pigeon,” attracting lawsuits based on legal semantics rather than legitimate science to advance a different agenda, such as limiting logging on our national forests.

As I write this, a Washington, D.C., district judge, citing the ESA, has thrown out the gray wolf management plans for Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota—a plan which the U.S. Fish and Wildl i fe S er v ic e a nd t he Departments of Natural Resources of all three states have approved, and which has worked well since its inception three years ago. She opined that removing the wolf as an endangered species was “arbitrary and capricious” because the wolf inhabits only a fraction of its former range and the wolves in those three states cannot be considered a Distinct Population Segment (a biological parameter of the ESA). Wolves are apex predators – a marvel of evolution, the biggest dog out there, and a posse of attack. Unless deterred, they don’t discriminate; deer, cows, dogs, they’re all prey. In the fresh fallen snow of northern Wisconsin, I count more wolf tracks than grouse prints. The great fear among the Wisconsin grouse hunters is to lose a beloved dog to wolf predation, yet it now would be illegal to protect one’s dog during a wolf attack. Judge Howell (interesting play on words, “howl”) may not fully appreciate what Boone and Crockett member Aldo Leopold emphasized, that

wildlife and forest management are scientific disciplines best practiced locally, on the ground, based on research and sound reasoning. She also may not understand that predators not hunted lose the fear of man, leading to more, not less conflict. No matter how well intentioned, it is not productive when an urban appointee a half-continent away informs the scientists that their facts, methods, and conclusions are “erroneous” and “incorrect.” Does anyone truly believe that the wolf will once again be able to inhabit its historic range in a 21st century agricultural, human populated landscape? The lessons of the passenger pigeon should be to use science and common sense, as well as caution, when dealing with environmental and wildlife issues. The passenger pigeon is gone, but it would be most satisfying to see scientific inquiry and sound judgment used to resolve contemporary issues. SOURCES Greenberg, Joel. A Feathered River Across the Sky. New York: Bloomsbury, 2014. Mershon, W.B. The Passenger Pigeon . New York: The Outing Publishing Company, 1907. Schorger, A.W. The Passenger Pigeon Its Natural History and Extinction. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1973.

The last great nesting of the pigeon was in Petosky in 1878. From that point on, few and much smaller roosts and nests occurred, and market hunting soon was no longer worth the effort.

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If you find yourself sometimes longing for the days when outdoor magazines and books were devoted to telling stories about challenging and exciting hunts, you’ll love the new book just released by the Boone and Crockett Club. It’s called “Big Trophies, Epic Hunts.” That’s a grand title, but the contents live up to the billing. – GER ALD A.

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FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 43

CONSERVATION

FUTURE OF WILDLIFE

GREGORY T. M. SCHILDWACHTER B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER

FUNDING

Any discussion of money should begin with a clear understanding of why it is needed or wanted. From this responsible start, it is easier to raise money in disciplined and successful ways. Prudent plans, such as increasing production and profit from bigger or better equipment, call for borrowing money in exchange for a return on capital. Riskier situations may arise from immediate needs, burning desires, or desperate straits, for which riskier financing is needed, and must be governed by a clear sense of need and purpose to avoid the spiral into credit cards, payday loans, and Tony Soprano. In conservation, the cold core need for financing is to sell conservation and deliver it to conservationists and the

44 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

public. We must recruit and keep people involved and organized as a strong customer base so there is always strong demand for lands and waters as habitat for fish and wildlife. We have reached a point where delivering the goods requires taking better care of public lands, enhancing conservation on private lands, and arranging more access. Wildlife populations need constant management and some need restoration or control. For f unding this enterprise, we have raised money largely through general taxes for federal agencies, charitable contributions for private groups such as the Boone and Crockett Club, and license fees and excise taxes on hunting and fishing gear that ultimately fund state wildlife agencies.

Our bottom line is taking hits from failures to deliver our goods. For example, Oregon has documented a decline in participation in the blacktail deer hunt as that population has declined. This means less revenue from licenses and excise taxes, and also less economic value to the communities where hunters travel, eat, and sleep. The decline in forest health—which is partly responsible for the blacktails’ problems—is itself another example of how poor conservation results beget still worse efforts. As described more below, the routinely large and damaging fires that burn every year are costly to fight and are cannibalizing the budgets for restoring forests and wildlife habitat. As we have reached a point of need, we must do

something about our financing. We are largely dependent on government, which operates by wavering around in the middle of the range between discipline and foolishness. To keep governmental conservation on track while also keeping private funding in line, the Club’s approach must account for this reality. Our mission of guardianship and provident management depends on it. Therefore, what follows is a listing of principles for sobriety and feasibility that translate into actions that Club members themselves can take. Many people believe, or assume by their actions, that the answer is simple: More federal money. This is no principle for action. But neither is any anti-government disregard for federal funding. We need it but it is no replacement

The Land and Water Conservation Fund could collect funds through excise taxes on goods used in recreating on public lands and water, for example; hiking, biking, camping, and birdwatching gear.

for people making personal commitments. We need it, but we also know that conservation is strongest in countries with more vibrant economies, not bigger government. There is always a risk of inefficiency and waste in government, but there are deeper pits that are more menacing hazards to avoid. One of these risk is immaturity. Ronald Reagan described government’s infantile tendencies as “an unlimited appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.” In this bog, we lose the connection between what we want or need and how we pay for it. The other trap is immobility. Aldo Leopold described government’s inherent limit on size as being like the mastodon, “handicapped by its own dimensions”—an elephant in the room that is so big it cannot maneuver to do the multitude of small things that can be done only by, and rightly by, individuals. And we must overcome a very practical problem, which is that the federal deficit is causing cuts in federal conservation spending. Our programs are not funded by any mandate in law, but other programs are. In fact these mandatory programs expend nearly everything the U.S. raises in taxes. With nothing left, the U.S. borrows to spend on conservation and other discretionary accounts. That means discretionary accounts are constantly under the knife of budget cutting to reduce the deficit. Instead of wringing out more spending from the federal budget, the best thing we can do is to help control the deficit in that budget. To direct more money

to conservation while controlling the deficit, there are principles that lead to action. First, every sector of society should contribute to wildlife management and general conservation according to how each sector uses or affects land, water, and wildlife. We sportsmen committed to this principle nearly 80 years ago through a self-imposed excise tax on arms, ammunition, and boat fuel called the Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund, or PR-DJ for short (the initials of the lead congressional sponsors of these acts over time: Key Pittman, A. Willis Robertson, John Dingell, and Edwin Johnson). Sustaining resources this way always returns general benefits beyond the direct effects and benefits. This is what we sportsmenconser vationists call a users-pay/public-benef its approach. There are other examples, though less direct, of sectors of society paying back, and these could be refined and expanded upon. If we act on these, we will have a comprehensive action agenda for the Club on conservation funding. Energy development pays back through a share of roya lt ies f rom outercontinental-shelf drilling operations called the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Farming is less of a users-pay system, at least a far less direct one, in that it expends general tax revenues through the programs of the Farm Bill to share costs with farmers for conservation work related to producing the food that we all eat. The largest opportunity we have in dollar terms to redirect, refocus, and refine

an existing users-pay/publicbenefits system is LWCF. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a variant of the idea behind the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Trust Fund and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The common feature is that payments from users of a resource are collected by the government and apportioned for conservation. There are ideas in play for the 114th Congress that would tighten and focus the incentives in LWCF that could raise more money from other user-groups. On the revenue side, LWCF could collect funds through excise taxes on goods used in recreating on public lands and water, for example; hiking, biking, camping, and birdwatching gear. A public land stamp akin to the Federal Duck Stamp is also conceivable. On the spending and benefits side, the use of funds could be expanded to cover operations and maintenance of public lands and waters, including active habitat management. To act on this principle, the Club needs more of its members to play a personal role with the Club’s policy team. We have professionals

under contract who can advise or guide any interested member in leading or supporting a task in the advancing of the users-pay/public-benefits principle. Opportunities for this include the conservation programs of the Highway Bill, the Energy Bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, and the Water Resources Development Act. The Highway Bill has at times funded bridges and tunnels for migrating wildlife and repairs for fish passage routes interrupted by culverts or other water developments. Disrupted fisheries can be mitigated with support for hatcheries and habitat conservation—this came up in the Senate floor debate on the Sportsmen’s Act in 2014; it still needs work. The Energy Bill—and this example applies under state laws also—is an opportunity to return a share of the value of energy, which is developed at some risk to wildlife and habitat, back to achieving goals for wildlife and habitat through aggressive mitigation strategies, and to fund conservation projects. The debate on this idea should be about how, not whether to use some of the value coming

As we have reached a point of need, we must do something about our financing. We are largely dependent on government, which operates by wavering around in the middle of the range between discipline and foolishness. To keep governmental conservation on track while also keeping private funding in line, the Club’s approach must account for this reality. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 45

©W W W.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/SKHOWARD

up from the ground to pay for the values on the surface. There have recently been failed attempts to arrange this that have soured the necessary working relationships between conservationists and energy developers. There is work to do here. The activities required to engage in this work include some reading and attendance on calls or in meetings, i ndep endent s t r at e g ic thinking, and developing personal relationships with members of Congress, their senior staff, and other government officials. The second principle for conservation funding is the need for money to sustain active routine conservation while restoring lost conservation values. This is like continuing to save money while paying down debt; neglecting routines while repairing problems compounds the likelihood of new problems. Forest management is a prime example in which the Club is already engaged and could use the help of more Club members. Decades of well-intentioned, but misguided forest practices have saddled the U.S. with many acres of old, overgrown, dense forests. Many of these burn every year in big ger a nd hotter

46 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

conflagrations than would occur if forests were more diversely composed of young and old age classes, open and closed canopies, and richer mixes of tree and plant species. In these more diverse forests, there is more food and better cover for big game and other wildlife. The Club is pursuing a straightforward fix that will help restore forest conditions while grappling with huge wildfires every year. The big fires are literally a burden of debt. They are so costly to contain every year that the Forest Service must divert money and effort from each year’s program of forest management. Our fix—which the administration and bipartisan members of congress support —would move the cost of the biggest fires into accounts for addressing disasters, leaving the operations budget to fund the routine forestry that reduce the risk of wildfire. The President’s Budget for FY 2016 released in February once again proposed this change. To support it and any Congressional proposals that arise will take the same sort of active member involvement described above: working with the policy team and meeting with members of Congress and agency officials.

The final principle relies on sportsmen and other conservationists continuing to pay their own way above and beyond the governmental programs. These are personal actions and private contributions of time and money that sustain conservation organizations. The most eloquent statement of this principle is Leopold’s essay, The Land Ethic. But there are specific actions at hand by which we can promote it. The Club must finish the work on its 10-year project to allow higher deductibility of the value of donated conservation easements, and we should protect the deductibility of all charitable contributions. We should also develop similar ideas as part of broader tax reform. Where private individuals take the i n it iat ive to pay for conservation directly, the efforts are more direct and effective than government spending, and this should be reflected in lower tax bills. Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) recently introduced the bill (S. 330) that would accomplish this goal. It makes permanent a rule giving landowners more years to carry forward deductions (and at larger amounts) on donated

conservation easements. Senators Heller and Stabenow need help moving the bill, which any Club member could provide whether their home state is Nevada or Michigan or any other. When we enact the permanent policy, donating conservation easements will be more valuable to more landowners, especially “land rich/ cash poor” landowners. In conclusion, there is an intentional reason that this review has not quoted a single dollar amount. Dollar figures are relevant to the workings of budgets, but budgets are only useful when derived from purposes and strategy—the focus of this review. Until the Club fixes on a vision of principled conservation funding, the numbers stand for a disorganized litany of small decisions. True to our position as conservation leaders, we must take the actions described in this review to start the community in steps toward a new century of sustainable conservation funding. n Funding relies on sportsmen continuing to pay their own way above and beyond the governmental programs. These are personal actions like purchasing firearms and hunting and outdoor equipment, and private contributions that sustain conservation organizations.

Ride With The Best.

Mr. Roosevelt’s Cavalry was a remarkable group of cowboys, athletes and hunters. They were fit, ready, and willing, and the spirit of these brave volunteers lives today in the Boone and Crockett Club’s Roughriders Society. You can become a member of this select group by supporting our mission with a gift through your estate. One great way to make your gift is by naming the Boone and Crockett Club Foundation as your IRA beneficiary. You get special recognition; the Club gets funding for wildlife conservation, fair chase hunting, and big game records keeping; and your estate gets tax relief. That’s good planning.

For more information, please contact: Winton C. Smith, J.D. 1-800-727-1040 wsmith@wintonsmith.com

COLONEL ROOSEVELT AND HIS ROUGH RIDERS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WHICH THEY CAPTURED, BAT TLE OF SAN JUAN BY WILLIAM DINWIDDIE.

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 47

Where hunting happens,

©JOHN HAFNER

CONSERVATION HAPPENS.

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In the weeks leading up to our trip to Yellowstone, students were exposed to a variety of experiential learning techniques. Unlike traditional lecture environments where students mostly listen and take notes, our approach required their active involvement in

the exchange of information. To our great delight, they rose to the challenge. They proved to be thoughtful, hard-working, and insightful in so many ways. PG 58.A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING by Amy C. Dechen Quinn and William F. Porter

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 49 49

BEST OF 2014 The Boone and Crockett Club has a tradition of honoring trophies and the fair chase hunts that produce them, including photographs from the field. Fair Chase is proud to present the results of our sixth annual trophy field photo competition. All trophies that were accepted in 2014 were eligible and automatically entered into the contest. Within these pages, you’ll find the top photographs selected by the Fair Chase editors and staff. From a list of finalists, each judge was asked to select their 20 favorite photographs as well as their top pick and provide feedback to share with the readers. Each pick received one point and the top picks received five points. All of these images are fine examples of quality field photographs. Judging field photos is a subjective task as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

FIRST PLACE DANIEL J. BONESTEEL Non-Typical Whitetail Deer 186-7/8 Buffalo County, Wisconsin November 2009

FIRST PRIZE GR 12-40X60MM HD KIT

We hope you enjoy and pick up a few tips for the next time you’re in the field. 50 50

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“I like the smiling hunter displaying hunter orange, the gun is pointed in a safe direction, and the lighting and background is beautiful.” - SW

SPONSORED BY

CODY O. BYRNE Typical American Elk 365-3/8 Elko County, Nevada October 2013

FOURTH PLACE “This guy looks like he means business; put in the time, hunted hard, knew what he was looking for, passed up smaller, knows what he got, and how best to show this bull for what he is.” - KB

JAMES J. JENZANO Typical American Elk 365-3/8 Elko County, Nevada October 2013

“This photo is well composed. It’s a beautiful trophy with a beautiful background characteristic of caribou habitat in Newfoundland and a very satisfied looking hunter.” - JR

FIFTH PLACE 52 52

| S|PSPR FAFA I R ICH R I NIG 2 02101 55 R CAHSAESE NG

FAN PICKS

We opened up our annual field photo contest to our 157,555+ Facebook fans and gave them the opportunity to weigh in on their favorites. Their top three picks are shown below.

JAYMEN B. COOPER Typical Columbia Blacktail Deer

HONORABLE MENTION

133-4/8

MADYSEN N. JONES

Lake County, California

Typical American Elk

September 2013

387

FIRST PLACE

VINCENT R. HART

Cougar — 14-14 /16 Grand County, Utah — 2012

Gila County, Arizona November 2013

DOUG M. ROTH Stone’s Sheep 165

HONORABLE MENTION

Atlin Lake, British Columbia August 2013

SECOND PLACE

NATHAN R. PECKINPAUGH

Bighorn Sheep — 203 Blaine County, Montana — 2013

HONORABLE MENTION

THIRD PLACE LEO J. MIL AS

Alaska Brown Bear — 26-6 /16 Ugashik River, Alaska — 2013

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 53

THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB

hunt

YOUR STORY

We want to hear from you! Send us your hunting or adventure story. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be about the biggest trophy. Fair Chase magazine is interested in your journey becoming a hunter, the one that got away, the dangerous, the hilarious, the camaraderie, and spirit that makes hunting so important to you. Tell us about what fair chase and ethical hunting means to you. Submit your story online and it will be reviewed by our editorial board. Your story could be considered for print in Fair Chase magazine or online at FairChase.org. We are looking for stories less than 1,000 words. We reserve the right to edit your story. Photos to accompany your story would be greatly appreciated and can be submitted along with your story.

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Submit your story here: boone-crockett.submittable.com

Congratulations Sponsor Associates!

The drawing was held last month to pick the winners of our Sponsor Associate drawing. Thank you to all the Associates that joined as a Sponsor in 2014. We hope to see you again in 2015! And the winners are:

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A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS My good friend Curtis Taylor, West Virginia’s State Fish and Wildlife Director, tells it this way: his cousin Ditto, so named by his parents because he was the spitting image of his older brother when he was born, wanted to avenge a boy named Clarence for bullying his daughter at school. So he, along with his daughter and son, hopped in his pickup and proceeded to head up into a holler well off the beaten path where this boy supposedly lived. Ditto had never been up this holler before, and had never seen this boy. After crossing under a train overpass he abruptly stopped the truck, turned around, and headed back down to the valley. Ditto’s son asked “Dad, why are we turning back? I thought we were going to teach that boy a lesson?” Ditto replied “Didn’t you see that sign on the overpass? It said Clarence 9 feet 3 inches! Some things you can’t do by yourself—you need your friends to help you!” Spelling challenges aside, Curtis used this story to illustrate research partnerships that involved several states, agencies, and universities which advanced science and management of wild turkeys and ruffed grouse in the central Appalachians. This same approach is being applied to big game in the West, and the hunter-conservationists that comprise the Boone and Crockett Club membership have reason to be excited over the outcomes that will be realized: science-driven 56 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

SCIENCE BLASTS

management ensuring viable big game populations. I will highlight one example, the Western Elk Resea rch Collaborative (WERC), to whet your appetite for a feature article on this in a forthcoming issue of Fair Chase. WERC was the original idea of Pete Zager, a wildlife biologist now retired with Idaho Department of Fish and Game. His thought was that states have lots of data on elk that are nonetheless limited individually in terms of the timeframes studied and their geographic extent (spatial and temporal scope)—what could we do if the states pooled those data? This magically coincided with the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program’s (Coop Units) strategic push to develop transboundary, multi-unit/multi-state projects. Research wildlife biologists Mike Mitchell and Matt Kauffman at the Montana and Wyoming Coop Units began working with elk biologists in seven western states. WERC has since been tremendously fruitful. From a management perspective, the northwestern states have likely never communicated or collaborated more with each other. All the state participants in WERC cite this as one of the best outcomes of this effort. Scientifically, the group is accomplishing far more than any one elk research project ever could. Given changes in h abit at a nd pr e d at or communities over the course of the huge data set they are working with, inferences on elk ecology and management

t h at wer e pr e v iou sly impossible are being realized. Importantly, the temporal span of the data set actually lets them ask meaningful questions about many ecological aspects, including climate change. To date, Rocky Mountain elk data from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park have been collected. The group has developed a set of shared objectives, data-sharing agreements, and decisionmaking protocols to facilitate large-scale, multi-region analyses of the factors affecting dynamics of the populations they manage. Additional projects by the Wyoming Coop Unit are investigating depressed elk pregnancy rates, monitoring population dynamics and migration patterns of elk in northwest Wyoming, and investigating how hunters and elk change their use of the forest as trees die and begin to fall due to bark beetle infestations. Studies by the Montana Coop Unit are designed to provide better understanding of elk and wolf predator-prey interactions, the effects of climate change and elk browsing on population trajectories and trophic interactions in riparian systems, and the effects of elk on small mammals and nutrient cycling. The next step is the brass ring that ties it all together—the synthesis of elk demography, life history, habitat, and survival, which is unprecedented.

JOHN F. ORGAN B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Director of the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units

What Mitchell and Kaufmann will tell you is that the absolute key to the success of WERC was state leadership. The states told the Coop Unit scientists and other university academics what they needed and envisioned, and they all worked together to get the job done—this is the essence of Coop Unit work, bringing managers and researchers together. So, to conclude, the proof in the pudding will be the response of elk to management—management driven by science enabled by data encompassing seven states over a long period of time. The bigger success story may be that of managers and Coop Unit scientists working together across political boundaries over large landscapes to accomplish some really, really big stuff, and creating opportunities to mirror the work with moose and other big game. This is the model for the future of wildlife research, and the future is now, true to the Roosevelt Doctrine and the pillar of the North American Model that places science as the tool to discharge wildlife policy. So Curtis’s cousin was right—sometimes you just can’t get what you need done without help from your friends. Ditto that! n

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A NEW APPROACH

TO TEACHING:

AMY C. DECHEN QUINN WILLIAM F. PORTER B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER B&C Professor, Michigan State University

INSPIRING A PASSION FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION College may not be what you recall.

In the spring of 2013, we introduced a class of undergraduate students to the challenges of setting wolf management policy in the Northern Rockies and Upper Great Lakes. As part of that course, we took the students to Yellowstone for a week in March. Prior to the trip, we engaged students in a novel teaching program to introduce them to the formal process of sorting through the policy positions offered by the many stakeholder groups. Over the semester, we monitored personal opinions of the students about hunting of wolves. Students began the course with relatively simple ideas about wolf management and skepticism of the need for hunting. They left the course understanding why the issue was so complex and how such dynamic conflicts need to be managed. At the same time, they gained an appreciation for the role of lethal control. While the course introduced the students to important concepts, the trip to Yellowstone inspired them. Here we describe this new approach to a learning experience.

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“It’s looking right at me,” Jen whispered, watching a large, umber eye fill the passenger-side mirror. The van hummed with excitement as the juvenile bison sidled up next to the parked vehicle, peered into the window, and ambled casually across the road. It flopped down in the snow 100 yards away, dusting itself in the freshly fallen flakes, and the van erupted in laughter and expressions of disbelief. The students had been in Yellowstone National Park for less than an hour and had already experienced their first up-close and personal wildlife encounter. The rest of the crisp, March afternoon would yield a bevy of wildlife sightings as we drove across Yellowstone’s Northern Range. We happened upon elk, moose, bison, otters, coyotes, eagles, and foxes engaging in the industrious business of surviving the bitter Wyoming winter. The students snapped photographs, ogled the vast, impressive landscape of the Lamar Valley, and chattered with a palpable enthusiasm that proved contagious to us — the instructors of this novel Wildlife Policy course.

What were we all doing in Yellowstone National Park in the dead of winter? We were hoping to inspire the next generation of wildlife professionals with the awe and complexity of 21st century wildlife conservation issues. THE COURSE

In the spring semester of 2013, we introduced a class of undergraduate students from Michigan State University to the challenges of setting wildlife management policy. We wanted to approach the course in a way that inspired and interested students, but also provided them with a skill set that would serve them well as wildlife professionals. We thought the best way to do this was to engage students in a real-world policy problem fraught with complexity and conflict. Because we were located in Michigan, we were in the midst of our own wildlife policy controversy relating to wolf recolonization in the upper Great Lakes. We thought the circumstances surrounding a proposed wolf harvest so close to home served as a topical and unique opportunity to investigate wolf management policy in the United States.

First, we used the wolf reintroduction program in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) as a case study to explore the multidimensionality surrounding such a contentious issue. But instead of simply lecturing to students about ecological principles, legislative action, and opposing viewpoints, we opted to immerse the students in an experiential learning environment where they were required to actively participate in the conflict. This active learning approach to instruction has proved to be extremely successful in preparing students

with critical thinking and synthesis ability, attributes that are essential to wildlife professionals operating in today’s conservation arena. Wildlife policy issues like wolf management require advanced synthesis skills, because they exist at the boundary of biological, social, and economic considerations that are often at odds with one another. But would it work? Could we get the students to participate in a meaningful way? Would they put aside personal beliefs and values to explore the multiple facets of such a complex issue? Could we push students to digest

The students enrolled in university wildlife programs throughout the country are training to become our future wildlife professionals and policy makers. They will carry the burden of managing the ever-evolving dynamics between humans and wildlife, and they will ultimately bear the responsibility of conserving those things about wild places that we value as a society. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 59

During our week in the Park, the Yellowstone Institute provided amazing experiences for our students. They hiked out to a bison carcass to see all of the species that benefit from the death of such a massive creature. They planted themselves behind spotting scopes in line with the “wolf watchers” to observe a pair of wolves moving along an adjacent ridge several miles away. They knelt in the snow to investigate tracks and learned how to identify the species that had left them behind. 60 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

enormous amounts of literature on widely varying topics of population dynamics, animal behavior, landscape ecology, economics, human dimensions, and sociology… and then begin to integrate these disparate ideas in just 16 weeks? Ho boy. We approached our experiment with hopeful trepidation and more than a few crossed fingers. In the weeks leading up to our trip to Yellowstone, students were exposed to a variety of experiential learning techniques. Unlike traditional lecture environments where students mostly listen and take notes, our approach required their active involvement in the exchange of information. To our great delight, they rose to the challenge. They proved to be thoughtful, hard-working, and insightful in so many ways. They learned about population dynamics in a predator-prey system through computer-simulation modeling. They learned about the complexity of stakeholder influence by conversing with guest speakers from state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and lobby groups who were advocating a particular point of view. They developed their synthesis skills by developing detailed stock-and-flow diagrams of ecological systems and the way those systems interfaced with social and economic considerations. Because the wolf debate in the GYA and in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan is such a socially and politically charged issue, we paid special attention to argument analysis. We had often observed that students, like most people, found compelling advocates on each side of an argument and had difficulty deciding which position to support. We wanted students to have the skills to be able to evaluate the arguments that different stakeholders were making about the wolf issue and about conservation issues in general.

We used a claim-evidencewarrant framework common in the legal world to help students lea r n a rg ument analysis. One morning we presented the students with a broadcast from Michigan Public Radio. The interviewer was covering the wolf debate currently raging in the UP and had guest speakers from Keep Michigan Wolves Protected and Michigan United Conservation Clubs. We asked students to listen to each advocate, and then identify specific claims each speaker was making. Once they had identified the major claims, we asked students to evaluate the evidence the speakers used to support their claims. Was the evidence accurate? Was it driven by emotion? Was it supported by science? Ultimately, students had to determine which speaker had made a more cogent argument. It was rewarding to watch our students pick through the details of each speaker’s platform with a new level of knowledge and sophistication. We pushed the students to work hard in those first eight weeks of the semester. We asked them to become conversant with the material underpinnings of an extremely complicated issue. We challenged their viewpoints and asked them to critically evaluate the viewpoints of others. By the time the students stepped off the plane in Bozeman, they felt primed for all the arguments both for and against wolf restoration in the Northern Rocky Mountains. And that’s when things got interesting. Our students had spent a good deal of time with the wolf management material. In fact, they reported that they spent more time studying and preparing for our class than any other. They felt confident in their knowledge of the subject matter and wolf management alternatives. They had a solid handle on the

ecological complexity occurring in the area and had developed an ability to listen carefully to the claims people made and to look for the evidence that supported those claims. But standing under the full weight and awe of Yellowstone National Park, with the brisk wind stinging their cheeks and the crunch of the snowpack drowning out conversation, it seemed that something altogether different was uncovered. They were finally inside the problem. They had puzzled for much of the semester about why there was such depth of the passion about wolves and why that passion seemed to make everything so much more complex. Now they understood. They had found the inspiration and the passion that fuels conservation efforts. During our week in the Park, the Yellowstone Institute provided amazing experiences for our students. They hiked out to a bison carcass to see all

of the species that benefit from the death of such a massive creature. They planted themselves behind spotting scopes in line with the “wolf watchers” to observe a pair of wolves

moving along an adjacent ridge several miles away. They knelt in the snow to investigate tracks and learned how to identify the species that had left them behind. Such moments inspired students in a way that no text book or research article ever could. These ecological experiences were life-altering for students, but we were surprised to find that they were not the experiences that students found most profound. That classification was reserved for the people we met in our travels. The National Park Service biologist who worked inside the delicate balance between humans and wildlife; the outfitter who was losing his family’s business because of the reduction in elk numbers; the graduate student

who was trying to find out how mange might be affecting wolf populations inside the Park; the rancher who feared for the legacy of her family’s cattle operation in the face of tighter brucellosis regulations; and the animal welfare advocate who was working with local farms to avoid lethal control of wolf populations. All of these people connected with our students in ways none had anticipated. On our last day in the Park we visited a gentleman who had been operating a cattle ranch in the GYA for more than half a century. The afternoon was clear and the sun cast a shimmer on the snow. We parked our van outside an old barn and were met with the smell of wood smoke as we disembarked. The rancher greeted us with a warm handshake, introduced us to his son-in-law, and invited us to join him in his barn. Hay bales were arranged around an old wood stove, and

as students settled in, the rancher began to tell them about his experience ranching in the GYA. His story wove together family, ranching, wolves, religion, finances, hopes, and aspirations in a beautiful fabric that somehow managed to capture the rich essence of this man’s time on earth in a few short hours. He ended by asking the students, above all, to be good people—to carry themselves with honor and to be true to themselves and to others. The students left that cozy barn in silent awe and spent our drive back to Bozeman in quiet reflection.

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 61

In the eight weeks leading up to our trip to Yellowstone, the students had heard all the arguments surrounding wolves and had been reasonably confident about the issues and their own sense of appropriate solutions. But after meeting with these various people, in their homes, their barns, and their offices, the students were not so sure anymore. They heard people who were able to convey the social and economic realities of management decisions, and the humanness of these stakeholders’ stories reached the students at a fundamental level. The true multidimensionality of the issue had finally come into sharp focus. THE POLICY BRIEFING

The students returned from Yellowstone with a new perspective on the complexities surrounding wolf management policy, and it was then that their work really began. We asked students to create a policy briefing that took a position on two salient questions relevant to wolf management: Should wolves be removed from the protections of the Endangered Species Act? Should wolves be managed

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through regulated harvest? This briefing required students to synthesize arguments in support of their position and to refute claims made by opposing viewpoints. They drew on the science they had learned to support or challenge claims. They identified the economic costs and benefits, both direct and indirect, of their position. And perhaps most interestingly, they provided the various social dimensions representing both sides of the issue with remarkable clarity and insight. The students enrolled in university wildlife programs throughout the country are training to become our future wildlife professionals and policymakers. They will carry the burden of managing the ever-evolving dynamics between humans and wildlife, and they will ultimately bear the responsibility of conserving those things about wild places that we value as a society. It is critical that today’s wildlife students be inspired with the passion needed to carry conservation into the 21st century. But they must also be equipped with the tools to think about difficult problems and weigh the often

disparate values associated with contentious ecological issues. Students must develop both an appreciation of the various perspectives and viewpoints imbedded in most wildlife/conservation disputes and an ability to discern the validity of arguments made by different stakeholders. Our goal was to afford students a unique arena in which to learn about wildlife policy. We believed that it was essential to teach students to think critically about arguments made by different stakeholders and to appreciate multiple aspects of a system —social, economic, and ecological—in seeking common ground with contentious wildlife issues. The wolf debate, with all of its shifting components and complexities, served

as the perfect surrogate for many of today’s stickiest wildlife problems. As we watched our students presenting their policy briefings to the class, we were impressed with their command of the material and the conviction of their recommendations. They were savvy in their peer review as well. They asked challenging questions of one another and they dissected the validity of arguments made on both sides of the issue. We had taken a chance in designing this course in an unconventional way and the students had met us with unparalleled enthusiasm and dedication along the way. They learned to listen carefully, they became more sophisticated thinkers, and they made us very, very proud. n

These ecological experiences were lifealtering for the students, but we were surprised to find that they were not the experiences that students found most profound. That classification was reserved for the people we met in our travels.

MEMBERS OF THE WILDERNESS WARRIOR SOCIETY The Wilderness Warrior Society is the Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier major gifts society. It was launched in 2011 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Boone and Crockett Club. With your gift of $125,000 or more, you will be honored by being named a founding member of the Wilderness Warrior Society. You will be presented with your own numbered limited edition bronze of Theodore Roosevelt on horseback, a custom Hickey Freeman Blazer, as well as other custom gifts to recognize and honor you for your contribution. Funds raised from Wilderness Warrior contributions are placed in the Boone and Crockett Club Foundation endowment where the principal remains intact, and the annual interest income generated provides permanent funding for vital conservation programs. We added four new members in 2014, bringing our total to twenty-four members of the Society. This translates to more than $3 million for the endowment. It has been a huge success by any measure but we will continue to grow the Society with a goal of 25 members or more. Please join us in this grand effort on such a significant occasion. Contact the Boone and Crockett Club today to find out how you can become a founding member of the Wilderness Warrior Society.

Trevor L. Ahlberg James F. Arnold Rene R. Barrientos Marshall J. Collins Jr. William A. Demmer Gary W. Dietrich John P. Evans Steve J. Hageman B.B. Hollingsworth Jr. Ned S. Holmes Tom L. Lewis Jimmy John Liautaud R. Terrell McCombs Jack S. Parker* Paul V. Phillips Remo R. Pizzagalli Thomas D. Price Edward B. Rasmuson Morrison Stevens Sr. Ben B. Wallace Mary L. Webster C. Martin Wood III Leonard H. Wurman M.D. Paul M. Zelisko * Deceased

2014 Annual Meeting, St. Petersburg, Florida Contact Ben Hollingsworth at 713/840-1508 for more details. Boone and Crockett Club | www.boone-crockett.org 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801 | 406/542-1888 FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 63

Looking for new ways to prepare wild game? Want easy recipes that produce unique and delicious results? Need tips for processing your venison that will all but guarantee top-notch flavor?

Wild Gourmet makes it easy for anyone to tame wild meat in the kitchen. In Wild Gourmet, America’s most respected chefs share their favorite recipes covering a wide variety of wild meats and a world of flavors. This scrumptiously illustrated cookbook features over 60 easy, stepby-step recipes that will please the most discriminating eaters. Recipes are presented with accompanying photographs, as well as wine pairings suggested by third generation Napa wine maker Marc Mondavi.

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Improve the flavor of your game with real-world processing tips to use when butchering your own harvest. Plus, learn the unique characteristics and best uses of each cut of venison with this 24x36-inch color poster, included with every copy of Wild Gourmet!

Order your copy of Wild Gourmet directly from Boone and Crockett Club! CALL TODAY – 888-840-4868 OR BUY ONLINE AT BOONE-CROCKETT.ORG/WILDGOURMET

Boone and Crockett Club – Publishing books on hunting and the great outdoors since 1893. 64 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

• Polymer tip for instant expansion • Extreme accuracy at long ranges • Explosive terminal performance

NEW B&C POLICIES All trophies entered in B&C go through a very rigorous due-diligence process, which is governed by entry requirements, scoring procedures, and policies. This process ensures that all trophies are correctly scored and that all trophies meet B&C’s guidelines and policies. Chapter 18 of the third edition of the scoring manual, Measuring and Scoring North American Big Game Trophies lists policies in effect up through 2009 when it was published. I suggest you familiarize yourself with these policies if you haven’t already done so. You can do so by going to B&C’s website and clicking on the Big Game Records banner at the top of the home page and then clicking on the heading General Polices on the drop down menu. Since the third edition was published, the Records

TROPHY TALK

Committee has implemented a number of policies that I have discussed in previous Trophy Talk columns. Following are a few recent policies that are immediately effective that I haven’t mentioned before, as well as a couple of older ones. DRONES/UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAV)

Trophies taken with the use of drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, including scouting, are not eligible for entry in Boone and Crockett Club’s Awards Programs. HANDICAPPED HUNTERS

Trophies taken by qualifying ha ndicapped hu nt e r s under circumstances that would otherwise be deemed unfair chase by Boone and Crockett’s Entry Affidavit are eligible for entry in B&C’s records program on a case-bycase basis and so long as the

trophy was taken in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the country, state/province, and tribal area. MULTI-ANTLERED CERVIDS

Deer, elk, caribou, and moose with three or more antlers arising from separate pedicels are now eligible for entry in B&C’s records program. The lengths of the additional antlers, as well as any points on those antlers, are to be recorded in either the right or left antler abnormal point boxes, whichever is closest to the extra antler(s). If an extra antler is dead center between the two normal antlers, its length can be recorded in the abnormal point boxes for either antler. This policy is retroactive. B&C has adopted this policy in part so that B&C’s and

JACK RENEAU B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Director of Big Game Records

P&Y’s scoring systems can be as similar as possible. PAINTED BEAR AND CAT SKULLS

All bear and cat skulls entered in the records program must be completely free of paint at the time of measuring. This ensures that precise and correct length and width measurements can be taken and that the skull being measured is real bone. It should be noted that scraping the paint from the points of contact for measuring is an ineligible practice. This policy is not intended to prevent skulls with minor artwork or distinguishing taxidermy marks from being entered.

©W W W.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ALEXD75

Trophies taken with the use of drones, including scouting, are not eligible for entry in Boone and Crockett Club’s Awards Programs.

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BOOK REVIEW WISCONSIN TROPHY RECORDS, VOLUME 10

TRANSFER OF TROPHY OWNERSHIP POLICY

Trophies listed in Boone and Crockett Club’s records books are frequently bought and sold. When this happens, B&C wants to keep track of the new owner and list him/her in all future records books. In order to transfer ownership of a trophy listed in B&C’s records books, the previous or new owner needs to provide B&C in writing with the name and

contact information of the new owner, as well as a copy of the bill of sale, letter of sale, auction receipt, etc., before the new owner can be listed in future records books. The transfer of ownership cannot be done with just a phone call. NEW CATEGORIES PROCEDURE

Contrary to what many people may think, Boone and Crockett Club creates new categories

The Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club (WBBC) is proud to announce the release of its most current records book, Wisconsin Trophy Records , Volume 10. This 530-page, 8.5x11inch, soft cover book contains listings of over 19,000 big-game trophies accepted in WBBC’s records through 2013. This latest edition is packed with Wisconsin–specific, county-bycounty trophy whitetail deer and black bear, current state records, and top 100 listings for typical and non-typical whitetail deer and black bear. Included are numerous photographs and hunting stories about state record typical and non-typical whitetail deer, black bear, and the state’s first wolf entry. The cover and content includes a 100th anniversary celebration of the Jordan Buck, a long-time World’s Record and Wisconsin’s current state record typical taken with a firearm. Included are nearly 10 detailed pages of the Jordan Buck story, making it one of the best-documented stories ever put together about this historical buck. To order copies go to www.wi-buck-bear.org and order online or print out the order form and mail it with your payment to the WBBC’s address. The cost is $37.95 US per book and includes shipping within the US. Shipping prices may vary for Canadian orders. Prior editions and sets are also available through the WBBC’s website.

THE MAINE ANTLER & SKULL TROPHY CLUB, #34/#35

ABOVE: A painted bear skull like this cannot be measured. All bear and cat skulls entered in the records program must be completely free of paint at the time of measuring. BELOW: Deer, elk, caribou, and moose with three or more antlers arising from separate pedicels, such as this, are now eligible for entry in B&C’s records program.

The Maine Antler & Skull Trophy Club’s latest records publication includes data and statistics on both the 2011 (#34) and 2012 (#35) hunting seasons. This high-quality, hardcover book, consisting of 355 pages, includes hundreds of current entry trophy photos, scores of hunting tales, dozens of pages of trophy listings of Maine’s deer (typical and non-typical), moose, bears, and turkeys, as well as shed antlers. Each category is broken down by method of harvest. The cost per book, including shipping, for orders within the US is $35. Credit cards are not acceptable, but you can send a check or money order to: MASTC, 150 Ames Rd, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. You can email mastc1@gmail.com or call (207)564-7614 for more information about the book. BOOK REVIEW NOTICE

There are many state, provincial, and private organizations publishing local records books that use Boone and Crockett Club’s copyrighted scoring system with permission of the Club. Since there is no single reference source for these books, and because there are many hunters who collect them, we will review them as time and space permit. Only those books that use the Boone and Club’s copyrighted scoring system and terminology will be considered for review. Please note that the Boone and Crockett Club cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data contained in these books. Some of the books may include trophies that were not scored by certified Boone and Crockett Club Official Measurers. If there is a question about the status of a trophy listed in any of these books, the Boone and Crockett Club’s records books/archives are the final reference source to settle any and all discrepancies.

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 67

NEW B&C POLICIES from time to time. Since I started working with the records program in 1976, the Club has created six new categor ies, sta r ting w ith Roosevelt’s elk in 1979. Since then, the Club has created categories for tule elk, non-typical American elk, non-typical Columbia blacktail deer, nontypical Sitka blacktail deer, and Central Canada barren ground caribou. During that same time period the Club has also been asked to create categories for Perry’s caribou, wolf, alligators, collared peccaries, and Columbia whitetail deer, and didn’t do so. The Records Committee takes requests to create new categories seriously, as the impact on certain big game populations can be serious and detrimental. When asked by private interests, the Club did not create the Perry’s caribou category because of conservation concerns that arose. W hen B&C cont acted

Northwest Territories Department of Environment & Natural Resources about creating a Perry’s caribou category, that wildlife agency asked us not to do so because the Perry’s caribou population can fluctuate significantly from year to year and undue pressure could be placed on Perry’s caribou by increased numbers of hunters trying to take all subspecies of caribou recognized by B&C. Following is B&C’s long-standing policy for creating new categories. CREATION OF NEW CATEGORIES POLICY

New categories are considered by B&C’s Records Committee only when the following conditions are met: there are extensive geographical areas where the proposed animals occur; the animals occur in good numbers; suitable boundaries can be drawn; and the game department(s) managing the proposed class

is in favor of setting up such a new category. OFFICIAL MEASURER RENEWAL

B&C renews appointments of its cadre of Official Measurers every two years, and it is now time to renew for 2015-2016. This tends to be a cumbersome process in the records office, but it is necessary because an estimated 10 percent of people on any mailing list will move or change phone numbers and email addresses every year. The bottom line is that we don’t want to lose contact with any Official Measurers as they are the backbone of our records-keeping program. We really appreciate everything that they do to represent B&C. Thus, Official Measurers should be on the lookout for your renewal notice in the near future if you haven’t already received it. Please respond immediately so this process isn’t dragged out

for weeks and months without you being renewed. You will receive your notice by email if we have a current email address on file for you. Otherwise you will receive your renewal notice by mail. OFFICIAL MEASURER EMAIL ADDRESSES NEEDED

We need an email address for every Official Measurer who has one. Official Measurers who receive their renewal notice by mail should know that either we don’t have an email address for you, or the one we have is invalid. Please send your current email address to me at wjr@boonecrockett.org. If you don’t want your email address made available to the public, just let me know, and I guarantee you that it will remain confidential. n

If you did not receive your renewal notice by email you will get a physical notice in the mail soon.

B&C renews appointments of its cadre of Official Measurers every two years, and it is now time to renew for 2015-2016. We don’t want to lose contact with any Official Measurers as they are the backbone of our records-keeping program. We really appreciate everything that they do to represent the Boone and Crockett Club. 68 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 69

WIDE LOAD In Beyond the Score we generally feature Boone and Crockett-caliber trophies, but as the column’s title suggests, it’s about more than a number. A brief story and photos were submitted for advice on how to get a score for her trophy, but Stacy’s email told me there was something to her story worth sharing. After an email exchange, she put a story together and included this statement “I am writing to you my every detail that I witnessed that evening when I killed “Wide Load.” I did not hold back any details and spoke from my heart as a female hunter. The emotions I felt are real but at the same time, I understand the importance of thinning the herd and it is part of the food chain and life cycle. This is my story.” Reading this should remind us that we are taking part in a time-honored tradition of putting food on our table. The score is not what the hunt is about and the humanity aspect is a very real situation we all must face. Think back to the first animal you took, whether with a bow or rifle. Recall all the emotions, questions, and ultimate satisfaction; enjoy as you follow along as Stacy takes her first animal with a compound bow in the whitetail powerhouse state of Ohio.

For Stacy, a compound bow is much easier to pack around and she enjoys how it shoots, with more of that “primitive feeling” when drawing back and shooting. 70 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

BEYOND THE SCORE

Saturday, September 27, was the first day for the 2014 archery season in Ohio. I was full of excitement. I could not wait to get back out there in the woods and sit in my stand. I was especially excited about this year’s archery season. While I normally hunt with a crossbow I had decided to make the switch to a compound bow. I enjoyed hunting with a crossbow but I wanted something more challenging that requires more skill. I also wanted something that was more lightweight. I have to

climb a steep ravine to get to my stand and during the winter, the extra weight from a crossbow does not make this an easy task. For me, a compound bow is much easier to pack around. I practiced all summer with my compound and enjoyed how it shot, with more of that “primitive feeling” when drawing back and shooting. That evening I was able to do just that. It felt so good to put my camo gear and safety harness back on and douse myself with scent blocker. I

Justin E. Spring B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Assistant Director of Big Game Records

never leave for the woods without scent blocker. Every hunter knows that scent is a very important piece of a successful hunt. The final piece, and the most important, was my compound bow. I had been waiting for this day for months. This was my first year hunting with a compound and I was ready! My excitement surged while walking back to my stand for the first hunt of the season. It was very warm that day, but it didn’t bother me. That earthy smell and the leaves gently falling like snow soothed my soul. I felt connected. This is where I belonged. I climbed up into my stand, situated myself, ensured my safety harness was connected to the tree, and waited patiently. Soon the “golden hour” had arrived. The setting sun cast its shadow upon the leaves of the oaks where I was sitting, as well as the bean and cornfields which lay before me. The light reflected from the disappearing sun at just the right angle to give the whole scene a golden hue. The woods and the fields were illuminated. The sight of Mother Nature displaying her beauty once again was reward enough for being in the woods on this opening evening, but she had more in store for me. As the sun fell below the horizon and a gentle breeze passed through the trees, I noticed movement to the right

of my stand. Initially, I thought it was the top of the corn swaying, though I quickly realized that it was a buck working through the corn 100 yards away. All I could see was a wide rack but could not make out his body or count how many points he had. He was eating the corn and his head would bobble up and then down. I could not believe how wide he was. The first thing that came to mind was wide load so I began referring to him as such. I remember thinking to myself, “Please, please over here, give me the opportunity.” I recall praying to myself and mentally instructing this deer to head my way, knowing that he could not hear me but I did not care. I wanted this opportunity so badly. I felt silly inside because I was having such a conversation in my head, almost like I was selling my soul to the devil—I would do anything to get that shot. I call this the Hunter’s Prayer. All hunters know what I am talking about. All of us do this when we see a big buck! I sat there quietly observing him along the cornfield. At times it appeared to me that he was headed my way. I would feel the butterflies in my stomach, my heart would start beating faster, and my hands would start twitching, nervously grabbing my bow slowly. I made sure that my release hook was attached to the D-loop just in case. I was ready to draw back. But this particular evening, the opportunity did not present itself. Sadly, Wide Load decided to go a different direction. Even though I didn’t get an opportunity that evening I was still elated to get

the opportunity to see him. I was especially pleased to spot such a nice deer, as he had avoided being caught on my trail camera during my preseason scouting. Sunset settled in and I had to come down from my stand. On the walk out I was slightly disappointed that I had not gotten an opportunity at the buck, though my spirits were still high from the experience of observing such a deer in the distance. Every season I set out with the goal of taking a good deer, and this encounter had renewed my hopes of obtaining my desire. My next chance to go hunting was two days later. It was another warm evening without much deer activity. While I did see a doe, Wide Load never showed. The next morning dawned with rain and continued most of the day but finally cleared off early afternoon. It was a chilly day and I decided that I was going hunting after work. After leaving I hurried home, changed my clothes and off to the woods I went. I started towards my usual stand but for some reason decided to try a stand that I had never hunted from before. The new stand was located between a cornfield and a bean field. I had to walk a little ways but I managed to get there and got myself situated. As always, I pulled on my tree stand before climbing to ensure safety, and slowly climbed up and connected myself to the tree. I went through my same pre-hunt ritual and settled in. I sat there patiently; mentally noting that the slight breeze I could feel

was in my favor. The air on my exposed skin was chilly but the Under Armour Cold Gear underneath my clothes kept me comfortable and allowed me to stay put, motionless in the stand. As in most sits, I stayed in the tree keeping my eyes wandering while trying to keep my mind focused on the task at hand. I remember reaching in my pocket to grab my gloves when I noticed to my left a deer walking along the fence. Though I wasn’t able to determine if it was a buck or doe, I remained still. When the deer came around the tree I saw it was a small 4-point buck. He was 20 yards from me. Honestly I wanted to arrow a deer so badly with my Hoyt, but I thought to myself “No, I will let him walk by.” It was good to see the little buck, and shortly after I was rewarded with three does to my left feeding in the distance. I admired how well these animals blended in with their surroundings, until

I decided to begin looking over the grounds to see if I could pick any more deer out. Almost instantly I saw something moving down below me and to my right. I looked and “OH MY GOD,” all I could see was antlers. I had to look again and could not believe what I was seeing. I felt my heart starting to pound, it seemed like everything was happening at once! He was slowly working the cornfield edge along a ravine; he had no clue that I was there. Where did he come from? How could I not hear such a massive animal walking in beside me? These animals are like ghosts, they appear from nowhere! As all of these thoughts were racing through my head I slowly rose up and began to pull my bow back, but I couldn’t! I knew then that I was getting buck fever. I remember thinking, “No, this is not happening, I refuse to let this happen.” I verified he hadn’t detected me and

This column is dedicated to the system that supports the public hunting of public wildlife for all fair chase sportsmen, and the stories and trophies that are the result. Theodore Roosevelt strongly believed that self-reliance and pursuing the strenuous activities of hunting and wilderness exploration was the best way to keep man connected to nature. We score trophies, but every hunt is to some extent a way of measuring ourselves. FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 71

BEYOND THE SCORE

Stacy with her buck of a lifetime, Wide Load.

paused, taking a moment to regain my composure, and again attempted to draw my Hoyt with all of my might. This time I managed to get it back and slowly let the bow settle with my top sight right behind his front shoulder. My finger touched the release, though the shot was slightly errant, striking his spine. I don’t know if I had buck fever or if his proximity to the stand caused the arrow to sail high. While the spine is indeed a fatal shot location, it is small in comparison to the vitals, usually resulting in passing up a deer instead of risking it, but in this case fortune was with me. I just remember hearing the “thwark” noise from my bow and the arrow smacking him. To my astonishment, he just dropped in his tracks. He did not know what hit him. He rolled and kicked and to be honest, I was not prepared for what was about to happen. This was my first year hunting with a compound and the first animal I had ever seen hit in the spine. He finally rolled over and began to move off. My emotions kicked in and I started to choke up and feel terrible. Keep in mind, I come from a family of deer hunters so I understand that you respect the animal and it is part of the life cycle and food chain, but it hurt my feelings to see him suffer like that. I could not bear to watch him suffer. I went through so many emotions in such a short period of time. I was extremely happy when I dropped him—I had just shot a big monster buck my first year with a compound —but then I became remorseful. It was crazy to go from

72 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

happy to sad and then happy again. Most guys won’t admit to having feelings like this, but I am in touch with mine and I am speaking from the heart as I tell you my story. As he was dragging himself to the brush, I knew that I had to do something; he would not die right away so I knew I had to come down from my stand and shoot another arrow into him to end it. I made my way toward where he lay in the brush approximately 15 yards from my stand. I had nocked an arrow and eased up on him as he tried to get up. He lifted his head and I could not believe it was Wide Load. I was in complete shock, but still more concerned with quickly dispatching him. I drew back

to arrow him in his lungs and he looked at me; this bothered me some. I told him, “I’m sorry buddy” and released my arrow. This was the end for him. I fell to my knees on the ground, it seemed surreal. Was this really happening? My first year with a compound and I just shot a monster buck, let alone Wide Load. I reached for my deer tag—I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t even pull my tag out at first. I couldn’t write because I was shaking all over. I even felt light-headed and was breathing hard. It was such an experience. I knew I had to get it together and calm myself down. Finally I gained my composure and realized that I had just shot a buck of a lifetime. n

It was crazy to go from happy to sad and then happy again. Most guys won’t admit to having feelings like this, but I am in touch with mine and I am speaking from the heart as I tell you my story.

WHETHER YOUR ADVENTURES TAKE YOU AROUND THE WORLD OR PLACES CLOSER TO HOME, YOU’LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THE QUALITY AND DEPENDABILITY YOU GET WITH BOYT.

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 73

JACK STEELE PARKER

GENERATION

NEXT FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE

LOCATION

ALASKA BROWN BEAR 28 2/16

Ruth Lake, AK

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

William S. Shumway 2014 C. Cook

TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK 361 1/8 368 7/8

Lemhi Co., ID

Jordan M. Hardy

2014 P. Gardner

TYPICAL MULE DEER 193 4/8 195 4/8

Archuleta Co., CO Kyle T. Schoenborn 2011 R. Novosad

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 168 1/8 170 5/8

Shelby Co., OH

Tyler M. Mentges

2013 M. Wendel

PRONGHORN 88 6/8 80 4/8

89 81

Lake Co., OR Gallatin Co., MT

Gideon W. Fritz Trevor J. Eickman

Trevor J. Eickman

2014 C. Lynde 2012 F. King

Gideon W. Fritz

The Boone and Crockett Club would like to celebrate young hunters who have embraced the outdoor way of life and embody the spirit of fair chase hunting. The following is a list of the most recent big game trophies accepted into Boone and Crockett Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 29th Big Game Awards Program, 20132015, that have been taken by a youth hunter (16 years or younger). All of the field photos in this section are from entries that are listed in this issue and are shown in bold orange text.

William S. Shumway Kyle T. Schoenborn

This listing represents only those trophies accepted since the Winter 2014 issue of Fair Chase was published.

74 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

The T/C® Venture Weather Shield® Some guns don’t come in from the rain. With the corrosion resistant T/C Venture Weather Shield, the reasons to get out there will always outweigh the excuses not to. M OA G UA R A NTEE : 5 R R IF L ING : A DJ USTA B L E TR IG G ER : 1 6 CA L IB ER S

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FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 75

RECENTLY ACCEPTED

BIG GAME TROPHIES

The following pages list the most recent big game trophies accepted into the Boone and Crockett Club’s 29th Big Game Awards Program, 2013-2015, which includes entries received between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. All of the field photos in this section are from entries that are listed in this issue and are shown in bold green text. This listing represents only those trophies accepted since the Winter 2014 issue of Fair Chase was published.

ABOVE: Michael G. West took this grizzly bear, scoring 23-15/16 points, near Shirley Lake, Alaska, in 2001. He was shooting his .50 Cal. muzzleloader. BELOW: Shelly D. Sayer harvested this nontypical American elk, scoring 404-1/8 points, in Twin Falls County, Idaho, in 2014.

BEAR & COUGAR FINAL SCORE

LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

BLACK BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 23-10/16 22 8/16 22 5/16 22 3/16 22 21 14/16 21 14/16 21 11/16 21 10/16 21 9/16 21 8/16 21 8/16 21 8/16 21 4/16 21 4/16 21 2/16 21 21 20 15/16 20 15/16 20 13/16 20 13/16 20 12/16 20 12/16 20 12/16 20 10/16 20 9/16 20 8/16 20 7/16 20 6/16 20 6/16 20 5/16 20 4/16 20 3/16 20 3/16 20 3/16 20 2/16 20 1/16 20 20

Jackson Co., WI Isanti Co., MN Potter Co., PA Meadow Lake, SK Clark Co., WI Oconto Co., WI Navajo Co., AZ Jim Lake, SK Kings Co., NB Barron Co., WI Barron Co., WI Price Co., WI Floyd Co., VA Taylor Co., WI Magpie River, ON Las Animas Co., CO Mendocino Co., CA Forest Co., WI Tyrrell Co., NC Lake Co., MN Norman Co., MN Graham Co., AZ Lassen Co., CA Lincoln Co., WA Camden Co., NC Sevier Co., UT Rusk Co., WI San Miguel Co., CO Lac La Biche, AB Snipe Lake, AB Prince George, BC Custer Co., ID Carbon Co., UT Eve River, BC High Level, AB Lake Manitoba, MB Chic Choc Reserve, QC Chelan Co., WA King Co., WA

Tim W. Franken Jason R. Wendberg Timothy M. Leight Brett W. Barnes John E. Jakobi Travis W. Buckley Hank L. Vandenbout Joe P. Provo Peter K. Graham Kirk W. Klund Makenna E. Olson Jeremy A. Spindler Howard L. Nester Mike A. Hinke Eric J. Wichman Danny N. Cruz Chris L. Cochran Thomas R. Kiel William T. Elliott III Jared T. Klungseth Amanda L. Syverson Kyle D. Hilb Chet J. Silvestri Loresa E. Hanson Jeffrey L. Thornley Scott W. Barclay Steven G. Douglas Jackie L. Thompson Oliver W. King, Sr. Jason M. Tjaden Ian K. Chase-Dunn Bruce J. Mincher Nicholas G. Hanson Adam H. Bartsch Stan F. Koziatek Jeffrey L. Hill Raynald Groleau

2014 2013 2013 2014 2013 2013 2014 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2014 2014 2003 2012 2013 2014 2014 2013 2012 2013 2013 2014 2013 2013 2014 2014 2013 1997 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

B. Tessmann D. Ohman D. Mitchell B. Betts B. Tessmann D. Goers D. May H. Dreger W. Hanson R. St. Ores L. Zimmerman S. Zirbel B. Hyder J. Hjort J. Ramsey T. Brickel R. Elkins S. Zirbel J. Turner M. Beaufeaux R. Dufault S. Troutman H. Tonkin J. St. Charles J. Turner D. Nielsen S. Zirbel R. Nelson D. Uzelac L. Briney R. Hall H. Morse K. Leo B. Mason D. Hunt D. Ingram A. Beaudry

Cord A. Easley Nicholas K. Decker

2014 J. Wiggs 2013 K. Vaughn

GRIZZLY BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 27-13/16 24 9/16 23 15/16 23 1/16

Kuzitrin River, AK Shirley Lake, AK Unalakleet, AK

Mark W. Kelso Michael G. West Mark J. Gutsmiedl

2012 R. Boutang 2001 B. Dam 2014 S. Zirbel

ALASKA BROWN BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 30 12/16 29 Deadman Bay, AK 28 12/16 Aliulik Pen., AK 28 3/16 Amber Bay, AK 28 2/16 Iliamna River, AK 28 2/16 Lake Iliamna, AK 28 2/16 Ruth Lake, AK 27 12/16 Karluk Lake, AK 26 7/16 Lake Iliamna, AK 26 6/16 Granite Creek, AK 26 5/16 Cape Aliaksin, AK

Lawrence H. Vielhauer 2014 Patrick S. Hayden 2014 Taylor J. Neher 2014 Thomas A. Jones 2013 Robert C. Snell 2011 William S. Shumway 2014 Scott R. Frakes 2014 Bruce J. Mincher 2014 John T. Orloff 2004 Matthew G. 2014 Struttmann

R. Poulin D. Yancy G. Moore M. Stewart E. Fuchs C. Cook J. Hindman H. Morse E. Randall J. Sumners

Ryan J. Fadear 2013 Michael D. Schmid 2010 Michael E. Farrally 2014 Thomas J. Dinkel III 2011 John A. Kowalczyk, Jr. 2014

G. Markoski E. Boley F. Pringle B. Davies J. Kubalak

COUGAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 16-4/16

Share your field photos with us! Follow: @BooneandCrockettClub Tag: #booneandcrockettclub 76 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

15 12/16 15 4/16 15 4/16 15 2/16 14 14/16

Louis Creek, BC Crook Co., WY Sayward, BC Larimer Co., CO Elmore Co., ID

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES

COUGAR CONTINUED 14 12/16 14 8/16

West Kootenay, BC Edwin L. DeYoung Broadwater Co., MT Susan J. Hedalen

2002 R. Novosad 2013 J. Pallister

ELK & MULE DEER FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 442-5/8 393 383 4/8 375 3/8 372 3/8 368 2/8 366 6/8 364 7/8 363 2/8 362 7/8 361 6/8 361 1/8 360 5/8 360 3/8

405 2/8 411 389 5/8 378 378 3/8 389 5/8 370 3/8 370 369 4/8 376 4/8 368 7/8 382 364 4/8

White Pine Co., NV Coconino Co., AZ San Juan Co., UT Moffat Co., CO Idaho Co., ID Catron Co., NM Owyhee Co., ID Madison Co., MT Wayne Co., UT Grand Co., UT Lemhi Co., ID Mineral Co., CO Rio Blanco Co., CO

Nickolus P. Albonico 2014 Picked Up 2014 Jennifer Satterlee 2014 Philip C. Shuford 2014 Adam L. Schmid 2012 Tamara A. Bredy 2014 Michael A. Kaup 2014 Joshua T. Brown 2013 Glen O. Hallows 2014 Zachary A. Withers 2014 Jordan M. Hardy 2014 Patrick G. Hammell 2014 James P. Blomberg, Jr. 2014

L. Clark M. Cupell R. Hall D. McGowan G. Childers R. Madsen E. Buckner F. King E. Boley R. Hall P. Gardner M. Miller T. Mosher

NON-TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 478-5/8 431 2/8 414 4/8 412 4/8 404 1/8 397 4/8 395 7/8 393 2/8 390

456 425 3/8 427 4/8 413 6/8 406 7/8 410 3/8 404 3/8 403 2/8

Wayne Co., UT Graham Co., AZ Kittitas Co., WA Twin Falls Co., ID Teton Co., MT Pennsylvania Coconino Co., AZ Las Animas Co., CO

Carrie A. Albrecht 2014 Dan J. Agnew 2014 Nicholas J. Parise 2014 Shelly D. Sayer 2014 Robbie L. Dockter 2014 Picked Up 2013 Benjamin F. Galloway 2014 Randall B. Cupp 2014

ABOVE: This typical mule deer, scoring 201-4/8 points, was taken by Eric J. Schmela. He was on an archery hunt in Garfield County, Colorado, during the 2014 season. BELOW: While on a 2013 hunt near Gravina Island, Alaska, Boyd Porter took this 112-1/8-point typical Sitka blacktail deer. He was shooting his .300 Winchester Mag.

B. Christensen T. Brown R. Spaulding R. Atwood R. Rauscher A. Dewald W. Keebler K. Witt

ROOSEVELT’S ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 404-4/8 328 6/8 348 6/8 Del Norte Co., CA 311 313 1/8 Humboldt Co., CA 292 3/8 304 1/8 Tillamook Co., OR

Toy E. Pryor Michael L. Jensen Mark E. Hawes

2014 G. Hooper 2014 D. Biggs 2014 T. Brown

TULE ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 379 350 359

San Luis Edward J. Blanck 2014 E. Enzler- Obispo Co., CA Herring

TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 226-4/8 203 5/8 220 1/8 Great Sand Hills, SK Colten D. Stock 203 4/8 206 3/8 Cibola Co., NM William L. Nash 201 4/8 205 3/8 Garfield Co., CO Eric J. Schmela 201 1/8 231 7/8 Unknown Unknown 199 1/8 206 2/8 Morgan Co., UT Erica N. Richins 194 198 3/8 Teton Co., WY Ricky A. Honaker 193 7/8 223 5/8 Durango, CO Unknown 193 7/8 196 Washington Co., ID Charley E. Kindall 193 4/8 195 4/8 Archuleta Co., CO Kyle T. Schoenborn 193 3/8 212 4/8 Bone Creek, SK Justin W, Louma 191 4/8 195 1/8 Summit Co., UT Jonathan D. Walker 191 1/8 192 2/8 Elko Co., NV Christopher J. Settelmeyer 189 6/8 198 6/8 Grand Co., CO Oscar D. Spenard 183 7/8 199 6/8 Washington Co., ID Michael A. Bartholomew

2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2014 2014 2014 2011 2014 2014 2014

J. Clary E. Fuchs D. Waechtler D. Doughty P. Carlson S. Keithley T. Watts R. Addison R. Novosad J. Clary W. Norton C. Lacey

1960 P. Gilbert 2014 R. Addison

NON-TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 355-2/8 246 5/8 253 2/8 246 5/8 250 4/8 237 7/8 242 7/8 233 3/8 242 2/8 230 5/8 246 215 5/8 219 3/8

Fremont Co., CO Sandoval Co., NM Beaverlodge River, AB Bear Lake Co., ID Shasta Co., CA Carbon Co., WY

Ashley M. Ratkovich 2014 G. Adkisson Diego A. Dominguez 2014 R. Madsen Robert R. Laville, Jr. 2014 T. Vidrine Travis R. Hobbs Martin E. Jack, Sr. Diana R. Berger

2014 R. Hall 1927 R. Frost 2014 B. Wilkes

TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 182-2/8 156 143 142 1/8 134 5/8 134 126 4/8

158 5/8 153 4/8 147 4/8 138 3/8 135 7/8 132 5/8

Humboldt Co., CA Mendocino Co., CA Douglas Co., OR Lewis Co., WA Humboldt Co., CA Humboldt Co., CA

Michael S. Browne Paul J. Trouette, Jr. Steven A. Mazzola Tonia M. Lytle Shawn R. Andres Michael S. Browne

2014 1974 2014 2014 2014 2014

S. Boero R. Elkins D. Heffner M. Opitz R. Spring S. Boero

TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL CONTINUED 126 2/8 132

Mendocino Co., CA G.R. Shaul, Jr.

2007 D. Biggs

NON-TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 208 1/8 168 6/8 174 4/8 Shasta Co., CA

John B. Letton

2014 S. Boero

TYPICAL SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 134 112 1/8 117 2/8 Gravina Island, AK Boyd Porter

2013 D. Larsen

WHITETAIL DEER

FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION MEASURER

HUNTER

DATE

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 213-5/8 183 1/8 181 5/8 174 5/8 173 3/8

187 4/8 192 5/8 178 1/8 176 2/8

Gregory Co., SD Minnesota Pike Lake, SK Huron Co., OH

Clinton M. DeBoer Scott D. Scharf Daniel A. Bryski Craig R. Smith

2014 1990 2014 2013

R. Rippentrop D. Boland D. Pezderic W. Ogden

FAIR CHASE | S P RI N G 2 0 1 5 77

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES

ABOVE: Randy D. Petroskey took this non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 211-3/8 points, near Vernon Lake, Alberta, in 2004. BELOW: This non-typical mule deer, scoring 233-3/8 points, was taken by Travis R. Hobbs in Bear Lake County, Idaho, in 2014. BOTTOM: This Alaska-Yukon moose, scoring 219-7/8 points, was taken by Robert J. Staats, while hunting near Sixtymile Butte, Alaska, during the 2014 season.

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER CONTINUED 173 2/8 173 1/8 172 7/8 172 5/8 171 4/8 171 1/8 171 1/8 170 7/8 170 6/8 170 1/8 168 1/8 168 1/8 167 7/8 165 5/8 165 4/8 165 3/8 164 7/8 164 4/8 163 6/8 163 3/8 162 2/8 162 2/8 162 1/8 162 162 161 6/8 160 4/8 160 2/8 160 1/8

179 5/8 188 194 7/8 188 5/8 175 6/8 180 7/8 188 7/8 174 2/8 190 5/8 183 5/8 174 2/8 170 5/8 174 3/8 187 7/8 170 1/8 179 180 2/8 176 7/8 169 7/8 178 3/8 170 4/8 169 7/8 168 3/8 181 5/8 163 6/8 167 5/8 165 7/8 175 6/8 168 5/8

Culpeper Co., VA Dickinson Co., KS Minnesota Pulaski Co., KY Sheboygan Co., WI Baptiste Lake, AB Wyoming Co., NY La Salle Co., TX Albemarle Co., VA La Salle Co., TX Custer Co., NE Shelby Co., OH Polk Co., WI Delaware Co., IN Chisago Co., MN DeBolt, AB Ozaukee Co., WI Pike Co., KY Stark Co., OH Hancock Co., OH St. Croix Co., WI Webb Co., TX Monroe Co., MI Henry Co., IA Laurierville, QC Racine Co., WI Owen Co., KY Sauk Co., WI Jackson Co., WI

Thomas B. Fant 2013 Picked Up 2014 Dennis R. Schlomka 1990 John M. Jones 2014 Kenneth D. Beckford 2014 Kyle A. Minns 2012 Mark F. Nowak 2013 Ernest R. Trcka 2013 Tony N. Pullaro 2013 Marshall J. Collins, Jr. 2013 Zach C. Bristol 2012 Tyler M. Mentges 2013 Jon O. Nelson 2011 Jerry Fisher 2013 Nathan J. Niemela 2014 Murray Melom 2004 Michael R. Bublitz 2014 Kenneth A. Mullins 2012 Christopher J. Miraglia 2013 Kenneth L. Mason 2013 Richard J. Sindelar 2013 Picked Up 2014 Charles E. Mudge II 2014 Jesse L. Lucy 2013 Michel Pilotte 2007 Matthew K. Andis 2014 Gary L. Pryor 2013 Gary D. Herritz 2004 Benjamin P. Beck 2014

B. Neitzel D. Boland D. Boland D. Weddle M. Miller B. Rudyk D. Piazza E. Fuchs B. Neitzel R. Fleming R. Walters M. Wendel J. Lunde T. Wright J. Lunde D. Watson M. Miller J. Satterfield M. Kaufmann W. Ogden S. Ashley J. Arnold B. Nash D. Pfeiffer R. Groleau E. Randall B. Eickholtz J. Ramsey D. Bathke

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 333-7/8 250 2/8 258 1/8 Todd Co., KY David Howard 2014 D. Weddle 231 4/8 248 Adams Co., MS Joshua K. Bruce 2012 J. Spring 231 2/8 240 1/8 Cass Co., IL Kurt Defenbaugh 2009 T. Micetich 221 1/8 230 Webster Co., KY Justin P. Mooney 2014 D. Weddle 211 3/8 219 2/8 Vernon Lake, AB Randy D. Petroskey 2004 S. Baier 211 2/8 220 1/8 Bullitt Co., KY Thomas D. Moore 2013 D. Weddle 207 7/8 212 4/8 Jackson Co., WI Mathew J. Hess 2014 M. Miller 204 7/8 209 1/8 Lucas Co., IA William E. McGrath 2014 K. Freymiller 203 6/8 208 1/8 Cooke Co., TX Michael E. Earley 2014 J. Barrow 203 3/8 210 4/8 Richland Co., WI Derin Fowler 2012 E. Randall 202 208 5/8 Mason Co., WV John E. Robinson 2013 D. Arbogast 200 5/8 211 Linn Co., MO Richard A. Craig 2010 L. Lueckenhoff 200 4/8 217 6/8 Geary Co., KS Jerry L. Osbourn 2013 T. Bowman 196 2/8 205 2/8 St. Joseph Co., MI Christopher J. 2014 J. Bogucki Evenhouse 196 1/8 204 7/8 Macoupin Co., IL Timothy K. Quarton 2012 D. Good 195 202 1/8 Lucas Co., IA Darrell L. Nielsen 2013 D. Ream 193 3/8 201 7/8 Sullivan Co., MO Tyler R. Leonard 2013 S. Corley 191 3/8 198 Humphreys Co., MS Robert J. Paul 2014 S. Jones 190 7/8 196 2/8 Richland Co., OH Donald L. Kochheiser 2013 E. Robinson 189 4/8 198 6/8 Lincoln Co., AR Clayton L. Eifling 2013 D. Doughty 186 4/8 190 5/8 Franklin Co., OH Matthew V. Olson 2013 N. Dougan TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 144-1/8 112 4/8 113 5/8 Sonora, MX 111 7/8 117 4/8 Sonora, MX 108 5/8 115 4/8 Cochise Co., AZ 106 6/8 113 5/8 Cochise Co., AZ

James A. Reynolds James A. Reynolds Thomas M. Lowe Wayne F. Farnsworth, Jr.

2014 2014 2013 2013

A. Moors A. Moors A. Moors J. Pallister

NON-TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 196-2/8 128 5/8 134 3/8 Gila Co., AZ 127 5/8 143 1/8 Gila Co., AZ 113 2/8 116 1/8 Greenlee Co., AZ

Jeremy D. Ulmer 2011 C. Goldman Richard I. MacMillan 2013 H. Grounds Michelle D. Holguin 2014 J. Edwards

MOOSE AND CARIBOU FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

CANADA MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 242 225 2/8 227 7/8 Tatshenshini River, BC

78 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

Rollie R. Miller

2014 J. Spring

CANADA MOOSE CONTINUED 209 2/8 214 7/8 198 4/8 205 7/8 198 3/8 202 1/8 198 1/8 205 2/8 195 5/8 199 3/8 186 5/8 196 6/8

Pink Mt., BC Stupart Lake, MB Atlin Lake, BC Tatshenshini River, BC Denare Beach, SK Seseganaga Lake, ON

Gregory J. Johnson Ronald V. Flatgard Norman A. Vig Michael D. Bertolin

2014 2014 2013 2013

R. Berreth D. Boland R. Gander D. Doerr

Andrew A. Drapak Ronnie S. Reigstad

2014 D. Pezderic 2014 J. Ramsey

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES

ALASKA-YUKON MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 263-5/8 234 2/8 241 Beluga Mt., AK Casey M. Long 226 226 7/8 Yanert River, AK Jon D. Clauson 225 3/8 233 Kulukak River, AK Judd D. Manuel 222 6/8 227 Tonzona River, AK James K. Montgomery 219 7/8 230 6/8 Sixtymile Butte, AK Robert J. Staats 217 1/8 219 2/8 Tiny Island Lake, YT Trent S. Dinn 213 4/8 214 5/8 Squirrel River, AK Peter M. Strope

2013 2014 2012 2014

C. Brent P. Carlson J. Baichtal D. Weddle

2014 D. Griffiths 2014 W. Paplawski 2013 G. Block

SHIRAS’ MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-4/8 180 2/8 174 7/8 169 6/8 161 6/8 158 156 4/8 156 4/8 155 6/8 152 7/8 148 2/8 146 2/8 145 6/8 143 2/8

182 3/8 181 173 3/8 172 4/8 162 5/8 158 4/8 159 6/8 158 5/8 158 4/8 154 4/8 153 3/8 147 3/8 146 7/8

Fremont Co., ID Steven W. Sherick Stevens Co., WA Jerry R. Tyrrell Carbon Co., WY Donald M. Herrin Shoshone Co., ID Donald R. McGinnis Idaho Co., ID Brad L. Frazier Sublette Co., WY Jerome R. Anderson Uinta Co., WY Dustin K. Matthews Jackson Co., CO Larry A. Meyer Jackson Co., CO Angelina L. Chavez Fremont Co., WY Stephen R. Agueda Johnson Co., WY Gary L. Gregg Bear Lake Co., ID Glenn R. Knutson, Jr. Beaverhead Co., MT Louis J. Royce II

2014 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2014 2014 2014

R. Atwood D. May C. Lacey L. Carey S. Wilkins R. Anderson E. Boley D. Boland R. Madsen B. Wilkes T. Rogers D. Banta J. Spring

MOUNTAIN CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 459 3/8 426 3/8 438 3/8 Aishihik Lake, YT

Gregory A. Biddinger 2014 J. Ohmer

WOODLAND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 419-5/8 284 5/8 294 Sam’s Pond, NL

Wayne F. Farnsworth, Jr.

2013 J. Pallister

BARREN GROUND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 477 401 4/8 419 1/8 Kanektuk River, AK Corey R. Tolliver 2011 W. van Zwoll 398 1/8 410 2/8 Tombstone Park, YT Ted R. Carlson 2014 P. Carlson 393 4/8 405 Macomb Richard M. Hamilton 2014 A. Jubenville Plateau, AK

CENTRAL CANADA BARREN GROUND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 433-4/8 363 4/8 377

Farnie Lake, MB

Stanley R. Thieman

2014 L. Hansen

HORNED GAME

FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION MEASURER

HUNTER

TOP: This Shiras’ moose, scoring 155-6/8 points, was taken by Larry A. Meyer. He was hunting with his 7mm Remington Mag. in Jackson County, Colorado, during the 2014 season. ABOVE: Richard M. Hamilton took this barren ground caribou, scoring 393-4/8 points, near Macomb Plateau, Alaska, in 2014, with his .300 Winchester Mag. BELOW: Garland E. Sawyers harvested this pronghorn in Carbon County, Wyoming, in 2014. The buck scores 82-2/8 points.

DATE

PRONGHORN - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 96-4/8 95 4/8 90 89 88 6/8 87 4/8 85 2/8 84 2/8 84 2/8 84 83 4/8 82 6/8 82 4/8 82 2/8 82 81 6/8 80 6/8 80 4/8 80 4/8 80 2/8

97 4/8 91 1/8 89 5/8 89 88 3/8 86 84 6/8 85 5/8 84 5/8 83 7/8 83 83 5/8 82 4/8 83 83 3/8 81 7/8 81 80 7/8 80 7/8

Mohave Co., AZ Coconino Co., AZ Catron Co., NM Lake Co., OR Moffat Co., CO Baker Co., OR Coconino Co., AZ Park Co., CO Elko Co., NV Humboldt Co., NV Box Elder Co., UT Catron Co., NM Carbon Co., WY Luna Co., NM Fremont Co., WY Carbon Co., WY Gallatin Co., MT Lander Co., NV Carbon Co., WY

Dale Hislop Joshua D. Dowd Scott M. Hushbeck Gideon W. Fritz Pamela S. Coburn Delbert P. Blaylock Jeffrey M. Jones Brandon S. Goodwin Monica L. Lugenbeel James D. Stewart Blake R. Nichols Carl Hawkins Garland E. Sawyers Garland E. Sawyers Kerry T. Cooley Tiffany J. Oxford Trevor J. Eickman Tyler K. Hunt Mark W. Deibert

2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2014 2012 2014 2009

J. Edwards M. Golightly D. Perrien C. Lynde T. Caruthers E. Buckner R. Hall G. Adkisson G. Hernandez G. Hernandez R. Hall R. Madsen B. Wiese B. Wiese T. Brown B. Wilkes F. King S. Hooper R. Henderson

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RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES

BISON - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 136-4/8 118 118 3/8 Kuskokwim River, AK 117 4/8 118 5/8 Custer Co., SD 116 116 4/8 Teton Co., WY

Todd A. Wolf

2014 R. Deis

Rocco Verelli Stephen G. Hoblick

2010 C. Lieser 2013 J. Booey

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 57-4/8 53 6/8 54 53 6/8 54 49 2/8 49 6/8 48 4/8 50 48 4/8 48 5/8 48 2/8 48 4/8 47 6/8 47 7/8 47 4/8 48 1/8 47 4/8 47 4/8 47 47 4/8

Alastair Lake, BC Tumbler Ridge, BC Lincoln Co., WY Misty Fjords Natl. Mon., AK Piute Co., UT Park Co., CO Weber Co., UT LeConte Bay, AK Port Chatham, AK Park Co., WY

Craig Jones Kenneth W. Curtis Picked Up Jason J. Walkush

2013 2014 2013 2014

R. Berreth D. Turchanski R. Anderson S. Kleinsmith

Jon M. Varney 2014 D. Nielsen Mitchell B. McGaughey 2014 C. Bishop James E. King, Jr. 2014 R. Hall Ryan M.K. Littleton 2014 M. Nilsen Craig D. Enervold 2014 J. Zins Michael D. Schmid 2014 E. Boley

MUSK OX - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 129 114 2/8 118

Kugluktuk, NU

Keith C. Halstead

2014 F. King

BIGHORN SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 208-3/8

ABOVE: While on a 2014 hunt in Taos County, New Mexico, Timothy C. Crain took this 186-point bighorn sheep. BELOW: In 2014, W. Allyn Ladd harvested this 165-5/8 point desert sheep while hunting on Carmen Island, Mexico.

187 1/8 187 3/8 186 187 7/8 185 185 2/8 183 5/8 184 1/8 183 184 2/8 182 2/8 182 5/8 182 2/8 182 4/8 181 1/8 181 7/8 180 6/8 181 180 2/8 180 4/8 180 180 5/8 178 4/8 178 4/8 176 2/8 176 6/8

Sanders Co., MT Taos Co., NM Baker Co., OR Mt. Allan, AB Blaine Co., MT Fergus Co., MT Fergus Co., MT Teton Co., MT Lewis and Clark Co., MT Michel, B.C. Phillips Co., MT Missoula Co., MT Custer Co., SD

Raymond L. Gross, Jr. 2014 D. Stemler Timothy C. Crain 2014 R. Hale Raymond R. Wurdinger 2014 T. Rozewski Gary Gillett 2010 D. Coupland James A. Guffy, Sr. 2014 G. Bettas Bert T. Palagi 2014 R. Rauscher John E. Bodner, Jr. 2014 R. Spring Frank J. Maestri II 2014 J. Morey D.J. Berg 2014 J. Pallister V.J. Zarbnisky Ron D. Petersen Troy W. Smith Picked Up

1930 2014 2013 2004

B. Penske J. Pallister V. Edwards R. Rippentrop

DESERT SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-1/8 1195 3/8 187 3/8 182 4/8 180 172 5/8 171 3/8 168 1/8 168 165 5/8

196 1/8 189 2/8 182 5/8 183 6/8 172 7/8 172 168 6/8 168 3/8 165 7/8

Socorro Co., NM Jim Hens 2013 Hidalgo Co., NM Kyle C. Krause 2014 Clark Co., NV Carl A. Ackerman 2013 Tiburon Island, MX Thomas R. Van Every 2014 San Miguel Co., CO Brittney S. Black 2012 Washington Co., UT W. Richard Ellison 2014 Kane Co., UT Garth K. Carter 2014 Clark Co., NV Matthew V. Spaulding 2013 Carmen Island, MX W. Allyn Ladd 2014

C. Lacey H. Saye R. Hall J. Ohmer R. Hall R. Hall K. Leo J. Mortensen C. Newland

DALL’S SHEEP- WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 189-6/8 164 7/8

FIELD PHOTOGRAPHY TIP

172 5/8 173 Brooks Range, AK 167 3/8 167 4/8 Gana River, NT 160 2/8 160 6/8 Chugach Mts., AK

David K. Mueller 2014 S. Kleinsmith Erick D. Glass 2014 M. Zieser Jeffery A. Breakfield 2014 T. Spraker

STONE’S SHEEP- WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 196-6/8 178 1/8 176 1/8 171 7/8 171 168 5/8

179 176 4/8 172 2/8 171 6/8 169 1/8

Prophet River, BC Cassiar Mts., BC Pelly Mts., YT Hudson Hope, BC Hart Lake, YT

Clayton R. Beale Scott Boekelheide Timothy H. Humes Alton Anker Richard R. Carone

2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

D. Turchanski D. Eider V. Trujillo D. Turchanski C. Walker

GRIP AND GRIN As the old saying goes. Nothing wrong with hoisting up an impressive rack and certainly nothing wrong with a big smile. If you think of it next time, snap a few images like this one, with your trophy’s chin on the ground. Not sure if this is something that originated with super sized and super small-sized African game like Eland and SPONSORED BY Duiker, but you see this a lot on safari and they make for a tasteful and respectful field photo. Michael S. Browne took this typical Columbia blacktail, scoring 126-4/8 points, in 2014 while hunting in Humbolt County, California. 80 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

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B&C TROPHY PHOTO GALLERY The trophies in the field photos on the following pages have all been accepted in Boone and Crockett Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 29th Big Game Awards Program. SPONSORED BY

82 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

TOP ROW

Donald R. McGinnis was on a hunt in Shoshone County, Idaho, during the 2014 season, when he harvested this Shirasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; moose scoring 161-6/8 points. In 2014, Dale Hislop harvested this 95-4/8-point pronghorn while on a hunt in Mohave County, Arizona. He used his .257 Weatherby. This desert sheep, scoring 168 points, was taken by Matthew V. Spaulding while hunting in Clark County, Nevada, in 2013. In 2014, Justin W. Louma harvested this 193-3/8-point typical mule deer while on an archery hunt near Simmie, Saskatchewan.

MIDDLE ROW

This Rocky Mountain goat, scoring 48-4/8 points, was taken by Jason J. Walkush in Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska, in 2014. Bert T. Palagi took this bighorn sheep in 2014 while hunting with his .270 Winchester Short Mag. in Fergus County, Montana. The ram scores 182-2/8 points. Lawrence H. Vielhauer took this Alaska brown bear, scoring 29 points, while on a 2014 hunt at Deadman Bay, Alaska. This typical American elk, scoring 362-7/8 points, was taken by Glen O. Hallows in Wayne County, Utah, in 2014.

BOTTOM ROW

While on a 2014 hunt near Aishihik Lake, Yukon Territory, Gregory A. Biddinger took this 426-3/8-point mountain caribou. He was shooting his 7mm Remington Mag. This non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 207-7/8 points, was taken by Mathew J. Hess. He was bowhunting in Jackson County, Wisconsin, during the 2014 season. While on a 2014 hunt in the Pelly Mountains, Yukon Territory, B&C Official Measurer, Timothy H. Humes took this 171-7/8-point Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sheep.

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84 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

TOP ROW

Richard R. Carone was on a hunt near Hart Lake, Yukon Territory, during the 2014 season, when he harvested this Stone’s sheep scoring 168-5/8 points. While on a 2014 hunt in Piute County, Utah, Jon M. Varney took this 48-4/8-point Rocky Mountain goat. He shot it with his 7mm Remington Mag. Jerry R. Tyrrell took this Shiras’ moose, scoring 174-7/8 points, in 2013, in Stevens County, Washington.

MIDDLE ROW

Thomas A. Jones took this Alaska brown bear, scoring 282/16 points, in 2013 while hunting along the Iliamna River, Alaska. This typical American elk, scoring 372-3/8 points, was taken by Philip C. Shuford, in Moffat County, Colorado, in 2014. In 2012, Brittney S. Black harvested this 172-5/8-point desert sheep while on a hunt in San Miguel County, Colorado. Tyler R. Leonard took this nontypical whitetail deer in 2013 while hunting with his 7mm Remington Mag. in Sullivan County, Missouri. The buck scores 193-3/8 points. Nicholas J. Parise was hunting in Kittitas County, Washington, in 2014, when he harvested this non-typical American elk scoring 412-4/8 points.

BOTTOM ROW

Jeffrey M. Jones was on a hunt in Coconino County, Arizona, during the 2014 season, when he harvested this pronghorn scoring 84-2/8 points. This bighorn sheep, scoring 1811/8 points, was taken by Frank J. Maestri II, in Teton County, Montana, in 2014. Erick D. Glass took this Dall’s sheep scoring 167-3/8 points while bowhunting near the Gana River, in Northwest Territories, in 2014. SPONSORED BY

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HONOR AND RESPECT We are a community of multitudes and generations. Our way of life predates recorded history. Our roots go back to a time when there was no thought of justifying or defending the right to hunt. Hunting was done for one simple reason, survival. There was no one who did not understand the value of the hunt and no one to question the reason or consider the merit. There was honor and respect in taking wild game to feed one’s family. In modern day society, our hunting community is based on a culture of honor and respect derived from our ancestors’ dependence on the hunt and the quarry. We are defined by our skills as hunters, our love for the wild animals we pursue, and our concern for the wild places in which the animals thrive. As hunters we are vigilant, prepared, and capable when there is a threat to our community, the animals, or their environment. Our intentions are true and pure as they relate to our pursuits, and the non-hunting public is tolerant, if not supportive, as long as we stay true to our core principles and ethics. Our ethics are not established nor limited by the minimum standards of the law. In fact, “legal” is often way less than ethical. With that said, there is a war raging and the public’s

86 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

THE ETHICS OF FAIR CHASE

perception (and therefore the acceptance or tolerance of us as a community), is potentially at stake. What is astounding is that multitudes and generations of us are being outmaneuvered by the Frankendeer faction. The “antler inches at all cost” addicts and their suppliers are so driven by ego and money that they will go to any lengths to legitimize their pseudohunts, including a very effective and well-funded lobby. At the very heart of their effort is a desperate need to make the public view them as a part of us, so as to trade on the goodwill we have worked for generations to establish and maintain. They are very good at the political game. It all begins with their propaganda, which suggests that we are starting a fight among hunters when we reject their redefinition of the hunt. It is bizarre that this underwhelming minority has such potential to negatively affect so many of us and that their position is that “we started it!” One of the hottest battlefields is Texas. There is a well-funded group in Texas that practices “extreme animal husbandry,” whereby they produce Frankendeer and sell them into a pseudo-hunt situation, which they sell as a “hunt.” It is currently legal to release Frankendeer and kill

it within 10 days of its release. This cuts against so many of the parameters of the fair chase hunt equation it is laughable, but yet it is “legal.” And according to their propaganda, we are the bad guys for “pitting hunters against hunters.” Another case of propaganda is that this is a property rights issue. This is the best defense in Texas, as everyone is exceptionally sensitive to our right to do what we want with our land. In this case, it is a red herring. We would no more advocate any diminution of a landowner’s rights than we would advocate against our rights as hunters. The simple truth here is that we want to expose and thereby devalue the Frankendeer product and the pseudo-hunt scenario. We want to highlight the distinction between “legal” and “ethical” as defining standards of the hunt. We want to help the public see the tremendous difference between the egregious pursuits of antler inches at all cost versus simple, justifiable fair chase hunting. Fortunately, we have a remarkable advantage in this situation. There are multitudes and generations of us. All we really need to do is stand up and be counted. n

Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr. B&C REGULAR MEMBER Chair, Hunter Ethics Sub-Committee

Interestingly, now that the put and take, Frankendeer, pseudo-hunt has been available for a while, operators are seeing a drop off in buyers. Could it be that once you have shot a 400inch, two and a half year old there is no place left to go? Perhaps its because shopping and shooting is not hunting, and the experience wasn’t all that memorable? Maybe there’s a shortage of capes for mounting without holes for ear tags?

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Kimber offers nearly 200 purpose-built pistols and rifles to meet any need. 88 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 ©2012, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.