Fair Chase Fall 2017 by Boone and Crockett Club

FALL 2017 | $9.95

Conservation Education Protecting Hunters’ Rights Please Join Us.

Next DSC Convention January 4-7, 2018 biggame.org G R E A T E S T H U N T E R S ’ C O N V E N T I O N O N T H E P L A N E T TM 2

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Volume 33 n Number 3 n Fall 2017

FROM THE EDITOR

FROM THE PRESIDENT | University Programs

CAPITOL COMMENTS | Changes are Coming

ACCURATE HUNTER | Stickology

THE ENDURING .30S

ANTLER POINT REGULATIONS: MANAGING FOR BIOLOGICAL SUCCESS

26. Antler Point Regulations

62. Driven to Enjoy the Outdoors

18. The Enduring .30s

48. Chronic Wasting Disease | Part Four

Doug Painter

B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr.

Steven Williams

Craig Boddington

Wayne van Zwoll

Duane R. Diefenbach

B&C POSITION STATEMENT | Defining Wildlife Conservation

42 SCIENCE BLASTS | Understanding Bear Predation John F. Organ 44 48

54. Testing Limits

EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS Red Duke’s Legacy for Wildlife Conservation and Policy

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE | PART FOUR

Prevention, Early Detection, Control of CWD Michael D. Samuel and Michael W. Miller

TESTING LIMITS

DRIVEN TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

BEYOND THE SCORE | South Dakota Prairie King

TROPHY TALK | Official Measurer Renewal Mailing

GENERATION NEXT | 30th Awards Youth Trophy List

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES AND TROPHY PHOTO GALLERY 30 th Awards Program Entries | Sponsored by Realtree Xtra Green

INTRODUCING HUNT RIGHT; HUNT FAIR CHASE

COVER Rocky Mountain goat resting on a rock in Great Bear Wilderness. © Tony Bynum

@BooneAndCrockettClub #BooneAndCrockettClub

86.

Casey L. Dinkel

Richard Childress

Keenan M. Soyland

Jack Reneau

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ABOUT THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of the Boone and Crockett Club to promote the conservation and management of wildlife, especially big game, and its habitat, to preserve and encourage hunting and to maintain the highest ethical standards of fair chase and sportsmanship in North America. VISIONS FOR THE CLUB n

We envision a future in which the Boone and Crockett Club continues to be an internationally-recognized leader in conservation, especially in research, education, and the demonstration of sustainable conservation practices. A future in which the Club continues its legacy as a key leader in national conservation policy. A future in which the Club continues to be North America’s leader in big game records keeping as a conservation tool. A future in which the Club’s members continue to be respected and commended for their individual and collective contributions to conservation. A future in which the Club’s leadership and management continue as examples of excellence, and programs remain balanced with financial capability. A future in which the Club’s activities continue to be highly-focused and effective, and as a result, natural resources sharing, wildlife populations, habitats, and recreational hunting opportunities continue to improve through, and beyond the 21st century.

VISIONS FOR WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION n

We envision a future in which wildlife and its habitat, in all their natural diversity, are managed and conserved throughout North America. A future in which hunting continues to be enjoyed under rules of fair chase, sportsmanship, and ethical respect for the land. A future in which all users of natural resources respect the rights of others in the spirit of sharing. A future in which the value and conservation of private land habitat is respected and supported. A future in which North Americans are committed to the principle that their use of resources must be sustainable both for themselves and future generations. A future in which hunting opportunities exist for all desiring to participate.

Club President – B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Secretary – Mary Webster Treasurer – Marshall J. Collins, Jr. Executive Vice President – Administration James F. Arnold Executive Vice President – Conservation Timothy C. Brady Vice President of Administration James L. Cummins Vice President of Big Game Records Eldon L. “Buck” Buckner Vice President of Conservation Tom L. Lewis Vice President of Communications CJ Buck Foundation President – R. Terrell McCombs Class of 2017 Anthony J. Caligiuri Class of 2018 Paul V. Phillips Class of 2019 A.C. Smid

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Editor-in-Chief – Doug Painter Managing Editor – Karlie Slayer Conservation and History Editor Steven Williams Research and Education Editors John F. Organ William F. Porter Hunting and Ethics Editor Mark Streissguth Assistant Editors Keith Balfourd Jim Bequette CJ Buck Kendall Hoxsey Kyle M. Lehr Marc Mondavi Jack Reneau Tony A. Schoonen Justin Spring Julie L. Tripp Editorial Contributors Craig Boddington Richard Childress Duane R. Diefenbach Casey L. Dinkel B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Michael W. Miller John F. Organ Doug Painter Jack Reneau Michael D. Samuel Keenan M. Soyland Steven Williams Wayne van Zwoll Photographic Contributors Tony Bynum John Hafner 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 1077-3274) 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.

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

FAIR CHASE PRODUCTION STAFF

FOUNDATION

Foundation President – R. Terrell McCombs Secretary – John P. Schreiner Treasurer – C. Martin Wood III Vice President – John P. Evans Vice President – Paul M. Zelisko Class of 2017 Remo R. Pizzagalli Edward B. Rasmuson James J. Shinners John A. Tomke Leonard J. Vallender Class of 2018 Gary W. Dietrich B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Ned S. Holmes Tom L. Lewis Paul M. Zelisko Class of 2019 John P. Evans Steve J. Hageman R. Terrell McCombs John P. Schreiner C. Martin Wood III

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

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Tom Perrier TPerrier@boone-crockett.org Phone: (605)348-4652

B&C STAFF

Chief of Staff – Tony A. Schoonen Director of Big Game Records – Justin Spring Director of Publications – Julie L. Tripp Director of Marketing – Keith Balfourd Director of Sales – Tom Perrier Director Emeritus – Jack Reneau Office Manager – Sandy Poston Controller – Abra Loran Assistant Controller – Debbie Kochel Records Dept. Data Specialist – Kyle M. Lehr Development Program Manager – Jodi Bishop Digital Strategies Manager – Mark Mesenko Creative Services Manager – Karlie Slayer TRM Ranch Manager – Mike Briggs Conservation Education Programs Manager – Luke Coccoli Shipping and Administrative Support Specialist – Amy Hutchison Customer Service/Receptionist – TJ Gould

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FROM THE EDITOR Flipping through the pages of an outdoor magazine a few months back, I came upon a photo that gave me pause for thought. In the foreground were two pheasant hunters working a cornfield, their Lab out front. In the background, however, right along the far edge of the field, was a subdivision—its rows of recently built houses a jarring counterpoint to an other wise traditional hunting scene. Another example, I was reminded, that “our world” and the “non-hunting world” are, at least in some of the more populous areas of our country, edging ever closer together.

In an important sense, though, it really no longer matters where we call home, whether isolated mountaintop or suburban tract: It’s been at least a decade since all of us, hunter and non-hunter alike, have been living, from a virtual perspective, side-by-side, in the same digital space. Welcome to our worldwide neighborhood, a place where anyone and everyone has a voice, and, with an evocative image or two, can create a story that reverberates around the globe. As much as social media has changed the communication landscape, there are still some bedrock tenets that remain as valid today as they

were in the days when I was banging out copy on my Royal 442 manual typewriter (a real gem, by the way). Chief among them is this: If you’re not out there telling your own story, someone else will tell it for you. If the latter is true, you will most likely be very unhappy. We are fortunate in our community that we have a story that is both positive and well-founded. No one can argue, for example, the historic and ongoing contributions of America’s hunters to wildlife conservation and their support for scientific wildlife management. Equally valid, but not so much “out there,” is our story on the precepts of fair chase. With the recent introduction of our “Hunt Right, Hunt Fair Chase” campaign, we’ve taken the wraps off this story in a big way with a wide variety of messages designed for both new and traditional media. It’s time we did, and we hope you’ve seen some parts of this campaign either in digital or print platforms.

Doug Painter EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Our story seeks to capture and set forth the historical significance and full meaning of fair-chase hunting as well as to bring to light the values instilled through the ethical pursuit of game— qualities such as self-reliance, personal responsibility, self-restraint, and perseverance. The touchstone of our messaging will be that these attributes are “in the heart” of the fair-chase hunter and are the true measure of our hunting experience. This story is, of course, your story. I’d love to hear your thoughts and your experience on this subject. You can reach me at painter.doug@ yahoo.com. Hope to see you down the trail. n

Please turn to page 86 to learn more about the Club’s new Hunt Right; Hunt Fair Chase campaign.

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FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17

UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS As Boone and Crockett members, we take great pride and satisfaction in promoting wildlife conservation and management. An important step in achieving these goals is education—spreading the word about wildlife far and wide. Although wildlife professionals are passionate about their trade, they are not made overnight. In much the same way, a passion for wildlife—personal or professional—often takes years to develop. The Boone and Crockett Club’s university programs help facilitate the development of wildlife professionals by harnessing the many resources and capabilities that universities possess. Boone and Crockett professorship programs, which are unique to the Club, are particularly important in this regard. Seeking to attract talented young people to study wildlife alongside outstanding faculty in some of the nation’s finest universities, Boone and Crockett professorship programs play a critical role in training tomorrow’s wildlife professionals and fostering wildlife conservation now and in the future. The Club currently has endowed professorships at the University of Montana, Michigan State University, and Texas A&M University. In addition, there are fellowships at Mississippi State University, the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Oregon State University. Dr. Christine Thomas, Dean of the College

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point stated, “Support from the Boone and Crockett Club to our wildlife program has opened up new opportunities for our students to participate in award-winning research with faculty mentors. The Club’s contributions to our fellowship endowment back in 2012-2013 eventually led to $5 million of private investment by other donors to our wildlife program.” But what does it take to develop a high-quality Boone and Crockett professorship program? What is the recipe for success? First, all Boone and Crockett professorship programs use the abundant human resources of the university environment to propel outstanding research programs. Not surprisingly, professorship programs are successful in proportion to the quality of the faculty members they support. Boone and Crockett professorship programs feature preeminent faculty with extensive knowledge and professional networks that enable them to conduct high-quality research and attract the best and brightest students. Filling their minds with invaluable knowledge for their careers, students are also integral components of successful professorship programs. Institutions like Michigan State University (MSU) educate more than 200 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students. Such a large pool of aspiring wildlife professionals enables the MSU professorship program to reach wide and deep in conducting

research and influencing policy and management. Michigan State University’s Boone and Crockett Chair of Wildlife Conservation, Dr. Bill Porter, added, “Recent research work by the Boone and Crockett program is introducing high-caliber analytical tools to policymaking for setting hunting regulations.” Partnerships are also fundamental for successful Boone and Crockett professorship programs. Collaborating with state and federal natural resource agencies enables professorship programs to have the resource base (e.g., time, money, personnel) to conduct research that advances wildlife conservation and management. For instance, the MSU professorship program works actively with the Michigan Depa r t ment of Natu r a l Resources, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct cutting-edge research, inform wildlife policy and management, and educate students and early career professionals. In addition, successful Boone and Crockett professorship programs have defined meaningful research trajectories that are often facilitated by the partnerships they maintain and invariably focused on pressing wildlife issues. For instance, the University of Montana professorship program has a clear track record of integrating wildlife conservation and land management to identify solutions that are mutually beneficial for wildlife and landscapes. Moreover, professorship programs

B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. PRESIDENT

add expertise to their respective academic departments that would otherwise be absent at universities. For example, the success of the MSU professorship program can be attributed, in part, to its focus on cutting-edge math, statistics, and computer modeling through the Boone and Crockett Quantitative Wildlife Center (QWC). The QWC fills an important mathematical niche at MSU, generating quantitative tools and applying statistical knowledge to address pressing challenges in wildlife management. Successful Boone and Crockett professorship programs are also driven by an abundance and diversity of wildlife topics for research and applied management. The availability of such topics, in turn, is influenced by the diversity of the ecological setting in which professorship programs are situated. For instance, the MSU professorship program is located at the interface of northern hardwood forests, agricultural ecosystems of the upper Midwest, and the Great Lakes, providing a rich ecological context for management-relevant research. Similarly, the University of Montana professorship program is positioned in a varied ecological setting featuring national parks (Yellowstone and Glacier), national forests, and federal wildlife refuges. Dr. Joshua

A Boone and Crockett Fellow is an undergraduate or graduate student, or postdoctoral associate, who is supported by Boone and Crockett funding and/or advised by a Boone and Crockett Professor or Professional Member. In addition to displaying academic excellence, Boone and Crockett Fellows are committed to scholarship that: n

n n

Millspaugh, Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Montana, points out, “From our current research on ranch management and wildlife distributions to upcoming events for university students such as the hunting for sustainability program and a ‘Ranch Appreciation Day,’ the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch provides an unparalleled field laboratory and educational opportunity to students in our program.” A diverse ecological setting provides the raw material that enables a professorship program—and its research, teaching, and service—to grow and flourish. In summary, Boone and Crockett professorship programs become successful for a number of reasons. They harness the power of human resources, establish partnerships with natural resource agencies, sustain well-defined research trajectories focused on critical topics, and thrive in diverse ecological settings. Although each professorship program exhibits these attributes in unique ways, they have at least one characteristic in common: successfully training future wildlife professionals and promoting sustainable wildlife populations for present and future generations. n

Promotes effective conservation policy through dedication to research, education, outreach and service. Exhibits leadership in wildlife conservation. Helps others understand the mission of the Boone and Crockett Club and the evolution of conservation in America. Recognizes and appreciates the values of hunting and fishing and the principles of fair chase.

BELOW IS THE LIST OF B&C FELLOWS, CURRENT AND FORMER, SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1992 Kaush Arha (U of MT)

A.J. Kroll (U of MT)

Dayna Baumeister (U of MT)

Mike Liles (TX A&M)

Thomas Baumeister (U of MT)

Jeff Martin (TX A&M)

Jami Belt (U of MT)

Elizabeth Matseur (U of MT)

Aniruddha Belsare (U of MT)

Jon McRoberts (U of MT)

Leigh Bernacchi (TX A&M)

J erod Merkle (U of MT)

Chad Blass (MI State)

Jason Moeckel (U of MT)

Thomas Bonnot (U of MT)

Brendan Moynahan (U of MT)

Andrea Bowling (MI State)

Anna Munoz (TX A&M)

Richard Briskin (U of MT)

R ussell Offerdahl (U of MT)

Rebecca Cain (MI State)

Timothy Olson (U of MT)

Colter Chitwood (U of MT)

Keith Oster (TX A&M)

Sonja Christensen (MI State)

Chad Parent (MI State)

John Citta (U of MT)

Megan Pluemer (U of WI, SP)

Mike Clawson (U of MT)

Charah Raglund (TX A&M)

Jon Cook (MI State)

Jennifer Rinehart (U of MT)

Andrew Crosby (MI State) Angela Daenzer (U of MT)

G reg T.M. Schildwachter (U of MT)

Amy Dechen-Quinn (MI State)

A llie Shoffner (MI State)

Jonathan Derbridge (U of MT)

Alex Sienkiewicz (U of MT)

Cristina Eisenberg (OR State)

L eslie Skora (MI State)

Andrea Feldpausch-Parker (TX A&M)

Andrew Smith (MS State)

Lisa Flowers (U of MT)

Nathan Snow (MI State)

Sonja Smith (U of MT)

Kathryn Frens (MI State)

Mark Steinbach (U of MT)

Sara Galbraith (OR State)

B ryan Stevens (MI State)

Stephanie Lynn Gripne (U of MT)

Daniel Thompson (TX A&M)

Damon Hall (TX A&M)

Daniel Tihanyi (TX A&M)

Scott Hemmer (U of MT)

Matt Tunno (U of MT)

Kaylee Hollingsworth (TX A&M)

Laura Van Riper (U of MT)

Christi Horton (TX A&M) Chris Hoving (MI State)

Laura Warner (TX A&M-Kingsville)

Kris Hurlburt-McCleary (U of MT)

Andrew Whitaker (U of MT)

Marta Jarzyna (MI State)

David M. Williams (MI State)

David Keller (U of MT)

MIchelle Willis (U of WI, SP)

MIchael Kohl (U of MT)

Rob Wingard (U of MT)

Jesse Kolar (U of MT)

Chloe Wright (U of MT)

Rachel Konkle (U of WI, SP)

Jeffrey Wright (U of MT)

Jodi Kreuser (MI State)

Cheyenne Yates (U of WI, SP)

The Boone and Crockett Club asks that you please thank our Trailblazers with your patronage. FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17

CHANGES ARE COMING Six months into the new administration, fish and wildlife professionals are scratching their heads about the future of conservation. We have seen a demonstrated decline in the importance of science—science advisors and science positions have been eliminated in a number of departments. Funding for science programs have been proposed for reduction or elimination. References to climate change on agency websites have been taken down or minimized. I am not saying that the sky is falling but that we watch the sky closely. To Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s credit, he has pronounced strong opposition to the sale or transfer of our nation’s public lands. These lands are part of a conservation heritage we all share and are instrumental in an outdoor recreation economy valued at $887 billion and providing 7.6 million jobs for Americans—jobs that cannot be outsourced to foreign shores. He has expressed strong support for hunters and anglers and has promised us a voice in issues of importance to our community. His selection of state agency leaders to join the administration at the Fish and Wildlife Service are signals that he wants to improve the relationship between federal and state agencies. I applaud those actions. However, recent decisions to radically reorganize the Department of Interior demand scrutiny from conservationists and the public alike. Although few details are available at this time, the plan

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CAPITOL COMMENTS

includes delineating 13 geographic management areas in which joint collaboration from all Interior bureaus and the Forest Service would presumably lead to more efficient and effective management of federal lands and their assets. There is no doubt that the management regions of Interior bureaus vary, that administrative economies of scale could be realized, and that better collaboration is needed between federal land management agencies. The reality is that each bureau operates under different missions defined by Congress and with different organizational cultures. Stitching the right people and their skill sets together in such a way to accomplish reorganization and agency missions is an extremely complex and complicated endeavor. The question we should be posing is, “Are the appropriate people, with adequate expertise, making the best decisions and is now the time for change?” Presidential appointees who will head those agencies have not been nominated nor approved by the Senate and are not in place to lead the administration’s reorganization plan. Prudent management principles would dictate career staff involvement in the planning process. These folks have years of practical experience and have good ideas about how to streamline administrative processes and improve efficiency. Further, when does the public get a chance to weigh in on this reorganization? A plan should be available for review in September, but changes have

already occurred that make me wonder if the Interior Department is already down a road that does not have an exit lane. Recent personnel changes and perhaps more in the works in the Senior Executive Service (SES), the “cream of the crop” of federal employees, indicate that some decisions have already been made. These changes are legal and understood by those serving in the SES; however, they will have a lasting and chilling impact on other career employees who will be tasked with making a reorganization work. Leadership requires a clear vision and communication of actions necessary to be successful. Right now, career employees are leaderless and unsure what decisions need to be made and what actions to take. The president’s budget request includes the reduction of 4,000 employees and $1.6 billion from the currently enacted Interior budget. This administration, as all others in the past, must make difficult decisions in order to balance budgets and reduce the federal deficit. The aim to have Interior “front-line focused” and to reduce the bureaucracy in major Washington, D.C., and Denver Interior offices are admirable goals. Can the current system successfully withstand the proposed changes, protect public assets, and the employees who manage those assets in trust for the American public? I am not a proponent of the status quo, but there is a reason the current department is structured the way it is. Successful reorganization can only be

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

accomplished through careful thought, experience, and engagement. I hope those characteristics accompany efforts to transform the management of about 28 percent of the lands in the United States. As we often hear from Congress, slow, deliberative decision-making is the hallmark of good legislation. All of us who treasure the public lands managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service must be ever vigilant that any reorganization improves the current structure and function of these land management agencies. The initial indications are that decisions have been made and a plan is in operation prior to having agency leadership in place and employee input that would benefit the plan’s formulation. As Boone and Crockett Club members, we have an extensive stake in this game, an obligation to engage, and the knowledge and experience to help or resist the administration in its efforts to change federal public land management. n

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12 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

A message brought to you by

HUNT THE

EXPERIENCE

NOT THE ANIMAL The “no guarantees” nature of hunting is one of its most powerful attractions.

“No regrets” is the power of a fair chase approach. Guarantees are for grocery stores.

My .30 Gibbs, on a Springfield action, has yet to bring me the luck that visited John Garvin when he sat on a rock after climbing out of Colorado brush one day in 1962. Almost immediately he spotted an impressive mule deer ascending a slope 175 yards off. Steadying the Remington on his knee, Garvin sent a 150-grain Sierra. The buck dropped, but then got up. Two more shots from his .30 Gibbs missed, but his last round felled the deer. John knew this buck was exceptional, but he didn’t have the antlers scored for 37 years! They tallied 220-6/8. In 1999 the Boone and Crockett Club added Garvin’s buck to its list of outstanding nontypical mule deer. PG.18 THE ENDURING .30S, BY WAYNE VAN ZWOLL FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 13

CRAIG BODDINGTON PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

ACCURATE HUNTER STICKOLOGY It’s hard to say exactly

I have often stressed that it’s important to have as wide a repertoire of ways to get steady as possible. Yes, but we will each develop our favorites, and none of us will be equally comfortable with all shooting positions and all types of rests.

14 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

where shooting sticks were developed. Perhaps simultaneously all over the place—because they work so well! The image of the circa 1875 bison hunter with his big single shot rested over crossed sticks is part of the legend of the Old West. In the mountains of Europe I’ve noticed that a lot of jaegers use their hiking staffs to steady both spotting scopes and rifles. And of course the three-legged shooting sticks are almost universal in Africa. One, two, or three legs—monopods, bipods, and tripods—are primary options, but not the only. I’ve seen commercial four-legged contraptions that, when used right, are almost like a portable bench rest. But there is a limit to how much you want to carry, so for me three legs are plenty. In general, stability does increase with the number of legs. But this depends a whole lot on how much you practice, and also the shooting positions you’re able to use. I will admit right now that I’m pretty hopeless with a monopod. I don’t use them much, so I don’t practice with them; therefore, I’m not very good with them. However, even without a lot of practice, an upright hiking staff is far better than standing unsupported for a quick shot…and if you kneel with your supporting hand grounding your walking stick it can help you a lot. With two-legged arrangements, there are two-legged shooting sticks, crossed sticks—and then there are bipods. Because I’ve used (and practice with) three-legged shooting sticks so much, I am very comfortable and steady with them. But I am not as comfortable with two-legged shooting sticks, which I’m thinking of as a standing rest. A lot of shooters really like them—two-legged sticks are lighter and faster to set up than three-legged sticks. For me,

In the Marines they say you have to “train the way you’re going to fight.” In field shooting, you must practice the way you’re going to shoot. Varmint shooting off of shooting sticks—or whatever field rest you intend to use—is awesome practice for field shooting at big game.

they’re better than nothing, you bet. But when standing against a two-legged arrangement, I get a major up-anddown wobble. The old crossedstick arrangement that (at least as legend has it) the bison hunters favored is better. Any time you can get closer to Mother Earth, it’s always better, and the intent with crossed sticks is to sit down and rest the fore-end over them. There are models with telescoping legs that can go from sitting to standing—and there are shorter models for belt carry. Or, imagine that you can make your own. I must say, however, that even when I’m sitting behind crossed sticks I still get an upand-down wobble, though less pronounced than when standing behind them. Undoubtedly this is a matter of needing more practice. I have often stressed that it’s important to have as wide a repertoire of ways to get steady as possible. Yes, but we will each develop our favorites, and none of us will be equally comfortable with all shooting positions and all types of rests. I prefer threelegged sticks, and a favorite

set almost always travels with me. We’ll move on to the tripod rest shortly, but first let’s talk about bipods. There are numerous varieties, but for me the steadiest are those that attach securely to the rifle, usually at the forward sling swivel stud. Several accessory companies offer them; the granddaddy and the bipod I’m most familiar with is from Harris Engineering. They offer several models—including bipods that allow the rifle to swivel on uneven ground and models with telescoping legs that go up enough to allow shooting from sitting and kneeling positions. It isn’t all that often that terrain and vegetation allow use of a prone position, so I much prefer telescoping legs. Like everything else, using these bipods requires practice. Also, you shouldn’t attach and reattach them willy-nilly without knowing what you’re dealing with; some rifles will change zero when a bipod is attached. They do add weight and bulk to the rifle and are impossible in saddle scabbards—so they are not for all seasons and all reasons.

In the field, extra sticks give extra options. This shot was taken on top of a termite mound in Tanzania. We know there’s a sitatunga bull out there in the papyrus. I’m ready with my African Sporting Creations sticks set low, but we have a tall set in case I can’t see through grass. I took a nice bull from exactly this position.

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 15

However, they do offer awesome stability. Since an attached bipod becomes essentially a part of the rifle, it is the same as resting the rifle itself on solid ground. With an attached bipod I don’t have the up-and-down wobble that I have with crossed sticks or a two-legged standing rest. In fact, with a bit of practice, there is no wobble at all. I often use them in fairly open country where solid, natural rests are uncommon but shooting from prone—or at least sitting—is likely. Good examples are a lot of pronghorn country and much caribou country. Given a choice, I will always use a solid natural rest, often with a backpack—or an attached bipod if I have one. However, three-legged shooting sticks are a major default position. I didn’t learn to use them over here. I first saw them in Africa. But they are marvelously effective, and I’m starting to see them a lot more here in North America. They are especially ideal for African situations because low brush—almost always extremely thorny—often preclude shooting from a low position. Hey, make no mistake—in Africa, just as well as Alabama or Alaska—I’ll rest over a boulder or a solid tree limb before I’ll stand to shooting sticks! But three-legged sticks are almost universal in Africa because they work and are ideal to the situation. They may not be as ideal for other situations—but they still work.

Whether you prefer one, two, three (or more?) legs, the rules are pretty much the same. You need to learn the right height for you, and you need to learn how to best place your hand to tie the rifle and the rest together. For my standing position, I set the rest at about the level of my first shirt button—not at the throat, but just below. This allows me to lean into the rest and tie it together. I do this with my supporting hand, grasping the fore-end with my thumb and first two fingers and using the other two fingers to weld the rest to the rifle. This works for me, but only you can determine what works for you, so it’s important to experiment at the range, determining what works for you and what is fastest and steadiest. It’s pretty simple to make your own three-legged shooting sticks, but I prefer commercial models with legs that break down. This means I can put a set in my gun case, but more importantly, I can unscrew one (or two) segments and use the tripod for a sitting or kneeling position—or simply to be ready in a blind. Trust me, I’ve tried them all. My preference is three-legged shooting sticks with jointed segments because they do it all, including acting as a hiking staff. But if you’re going to use threelegged sticks in that mode, it’s important to strap, tape, or tie the legs closely together, otherwise one leg is sure to catch on a rock and break! n

TOP: Commercial shooting rests come in all shapes, sizes, and complexity. This “Magnum” rest from Caldwell can replicate a benchrest for stability, but it’s probably not going to be carried too far from a vehicle or blind. MIDDLE: Attached bipods are marvelous when they can be used, but getting the height right is always a challenge. You have to be creative; the legs don’t have to be on the ground, but line of sight must clear any and all obstructions. BOTTOM: In some situations, two sticks can be better than one. I’m using one conventionally, with a second set under the butt. This creates almost a standing benchrest, allowing a 400-yard shot with relative ease—a distance that is almost impossible over one set of sticks.

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Under ArmourÂŽ Forest Camo is built with a color palette that works best in locations rich in foliage and that have a variety of timber. These environments include deciduous forests, coniferous forests, boreal forests, as well as tropical rain forests.

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 17

The

WAYNE C. VAN ZWOLL B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

Enduring .30s Europeans like .30s too! A hunter in Scotland aims a Leica-scoped Sauer in .300 Winchester.

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On Hardscrabble Mountain the

last weekend of the 1967 season, Paul Muehlbauer and his two sons rose early to follow a heavily frosted game trail up to an aspen plateau. They neared it at daybreak. Suddenly Paul spied an enormous mule deer so close he reacted instantly. The shot from his Winchester staggered the animal. His sons fired as it ran, but missed— as did Paul when, after a dash through aspens, he got a second chance. But the first bullet was lethal, and the trio soon found the buck dead. The antlers scored 214 3/8—a state record for typical mule deer! It would remain so for just five years. But during that interval, both the biggest deer and the biggest elk in Colorado records belonged to the .30-40 Krag!

Bolt-rifle design owes much to Europe; but cartridges born stateside dominate game fields worldwide!

Paul A. Muehlbauer’s typical mule deer was taken near Gypsum Creek, Colorado, in 1967.

In 1892 our first smokeless .30-bore cartridge, the .30-40 Krag, began military life—and a life afield!

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 19

ABOVE: Savage’s .303 was a 30-caliber round with a bit more muscle than the .30 WCF. Wayne’s shoots well! BELOW: Wayne is sweet on Hornady’s .308 Marlin Express. It performs like the .308, but at lower pressure.

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When it was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1892, the Krag was an anomaly among the bottleneck cartridges popping up worldwide. France’s 8mm Lebel, the first smallbore smokeless infantry round, had appeared in 1886. Germany followed two years later with the 7.9x57 (8mm) Mauser. Great Britain’s .303, adopted in 1888 with black powder, went smokeless in ’92, as Dutch and Romanian troops were issued rifles in 6.3x53R Mannlicher. Italy had chosen the 6.5x52 Mannlicher-Carcano in 1891. Sweden’s 6.5x55 arrived in 1894, the Japanese 6.5x50 Arisaka in ‘97. Several South American nations picked the 7.65x53 Mauser. Austria and Denmark had the 8x50 and 8x58R. Conspicuously absent from this list: a 30-caliber cartridge (the Swiss would bump the diameter of 7.5x55 bullets to .308 in 1911). The U.S. pioneered the .30 in its Krag-Jorgensen bolt rifle. Chambered in Winchester’s 1885 High Wall single-shot in 1893, the smokeless .30-40 cartridge predated by two years the .30 WCF (.30-30) in the Winchester 1894 lever rifle. Remington had the .30-40 in its Rolling Blocks too. But many hunters favored it in Winchester’s 1895, the rifle John Plute is said to have used to kill the elk whose antlers topped B&C records for decades. I like the .30-40. A Navy Krag was the first centerfire rifle I fired. Despite a sight radius long as a hoe-handle, I missed the soup can stuck atop a furrow on a Michigan farm. The steel butt was merciless. Years later, hunting with the late Don Allen, I fired a lighter, prettier rifle. By then this talented stock-maker had established Dakota Arms, tweaking the pre-64 Winchester M70 to build his flagship 76. The Model 10 single-shot followed. Once, during a break from pestering

pronghorns, Don handed me his own Model 10, a .30-40. Offhand I managed to scare a distant pebble. The rif le bounced briskly. “Those loads nearly match factory .30-06 ammo,” Don said. “The Krag case is strong.” It’s rimmed too, a perfect pick for the elegant Model 10. The .30-40 endured for a decade in uniform. It was supplanted in 1903 by the rimless .30-03 with a 220-grain bullet at 2,300 fps (edging the Krag by 100 fps). In 1906 the U.S. took a cue from Germany, loading a lighter 150-grain bullet to 2,700 fps. It also trimmed the .30-03 hull .07 inch. Voila! The .30-06. There’s no magic in barrels with .300 bore and .308 groove diameters. But the nimble Winchester 1894 in .30 WCF and early bolt rifles bored for the potent .30-06 herded hunters onto the 30-caliber path. The first big .30 came from brilliant inventor Charles Newton. Called the .30 Adolph Express for gunmaker Fred Adolph, the rimless round booted 180-grain bullets at 2,880 fps—lightning speed in 1913. But riflemen in that day considered the ’06 the arm of Zeus. Besides, while loaded by Western Cartridge, Newton’s .30 had no home except Newton rifles. Western dropped it in 1938. Lesser .30s fared better. Arthur Savage’s first successful cartridge, the rimmed .303 Savage, had a little more punch than its contemporary, the .30 WCF. Unlike the .303 British, which fired .311 bullets, Savage loaded .308-diameter bullets in its .303. The cartridge piled up a lot of game. China missionary Harry Caldwell carried it for tigers. William T. Hornaday wrote of a “moose and two bull caribou [shot] stone dead… with one of your incomparable .303 rifles.” Savage’s 1895 rifle begat the 1899. For this new

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The

Enduring .30s

rifle, Charles Newton fashioned a .250. The logical encore to that 1913 rocket: a rimless, more potent .30. So in 1920, the .300 Savage arrived, driving 150-grain bullets at 2,670 fps. It was our first of many .300s. In 1925, the British firm of Holland & Holland fashioned what it called “Holland’s Super .30” by necking down the .375 H&H. Western Cartridge Company picked it up that fall, albeit no U.S.built rifles were so chambered for another 12 years. In 1935 Ben Comfort won the 1,000-yard Wimbledon Cup match with a reworked 1917 Enfield bored for this 3.60inch round. Two years later it debuted as the .300 H&H Magnum in Winchester’s new M70 rifle. A pointed 180-grain bullet from a .300 H&H brings more than 1,700 ft. lbs. to 400 yards. Compared to the same bullet from a .30-06, it flies 15 percent flatter and delivers a 10 percent advantage in wind—with 35 percent more recoil. Early on, you could buy .300 H&H ammo with 150-grain bullets at nearly 3,200 fps, and 220s at 2,620. During its first 25 years, the Model 70 was shipped in 18 chamberings. More than a third (208,218) were .30-06s! But the .300 H&H earned its keep. The first rifles were stamped simply “.300 Magnum,” as there weren’t any besides the H&H! Roy Weatherby’s proprietary .300, didn’t appear until 1945. My first elk rifle, a Henriksen-built Mauser, was chambered in .300 Holland. At dusk in an Oregon meadow long ago, I came eyeball to brow tine with a six-point bull. The shot made me a lucky hunter, 22 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

a super .30 fan! Meanwhile the .300 Savage had been methodically killing game. The Model 99 had supplanted the 1899 rifle but retained its profile and major features—including the spool magazine that permitted use of pointed bullets. Arthur Savage died in 1941, age 84. His 99 added chamberings would pass the million-rifle mark in the 1950s, but none would trump the .300 Savage in lifetime sales. This modest .30 has graced other rifles too, notably Remington 760 pump and 722 bolt guns. Winchester even bored a few Model 70s for it. I’ve used it on deer, caribou, and pronghorns. Roy Weatherby’s powerful .300, a blown-out .300 H&H, was not his first magnum. By the early 1940s, after moving to California from his native Kansas, he’d started an insurance business and designed sub-.30 magnums on the Holland case, shortened to fit .30 - 06-leng th actions. The fulllen g t h .30 0 came in 1945. A year later he pledged “everything I owned” for a $5,000 loan to float his nascent rifle business. The trend to bigger .30s also got a boost from wildcatter Rocky Gibbs, who moved to Idaho from California during a March blizzard in 1955 and built a 500yard range on his 35 acres near Viola. Gibbs developed a stable of wildcats on the .3006. Unlike Parker Ackley’s .30-06 Improved, the .30 Gibbs had a shorter neck than its parent. Handloaders had to over-expand the neck, then form a false shoulder before fire-forming. Or they could buy Rocky’s hydraulic tool!

My .30 Gibbs, on a Springfield action, has yet to bring me the luck that visited John Garvin when he sat on a rock after climbing out of Colorado brush one day in 1962. Almost immediately he spotted an impressive mule deer ascending a slope 175 yards off. Steadying the Remington on his knee, Garvin sent a 150-grain Sierra. The buck dropped, but then got up. Two more shots from his .30 Gibbs missed, but his last round felled the deer. John knew this buck was exceptional, but he didn’t have the antlers scored for 37 years! They tallied 220-6/8. In 1999 the Boone and Crockett Club added Garvin’s buck to its list of outstanding non-typical mule deer. As Rocky Gibbs was getting all he could from the ’06 hull, Winchester touted a new smaller .30. The .308 appeared in 1952, two years before the identical U.S. T-65 (to become the 7.62x51 NATO) was chambered in battle rifles. The .308 case holds 20 percent less powder than a .30-06, but 40 percent more than a .30-30. With

John Garvin’s nontypical mule deer was taken in Mesa County, Colorado, in 1962 with a .30 Gibbs.

a stiff load of 42.5 grains H335, I’ve clocked 180-grain bullets at 2,700 fps—long the accepted speed for 180s from a .3006. In factory loads, the .308 falls 100 fps shy of matching the .30-06 but beats the .300 Savage by twice that margin. Compared to bigger .30s, the .308 may seem ho-hum. But its standard breech pressure of 62,000 psi exceeds that of the .300 H&H. It has become the most widely chambered hunting cartridge in the world—not only in short-action bolt rifles, but in pumps, self-loaders and front-locking lever-actions. It’s as popular in Africa for plains game as for deer and elk stateside. Benchresters have tapped the .308 too. In 1967 Dave Hall used it to print a

Ambitiously designed as a shortaction .30-06, the .300 Savage holds much less powder and is still a star!

Despite its short stature, the .308 with 168- to 175-grain match bullets can post fine 600-yard scores.

Chambered in a host of affordable rifles, the .308 is a versatile, effective round for first-time hunters.

.4612 knot, winning the Sporter class at the National Bench Rest Matches. The next year, Ferris Pindell won the same event with his .308. Group size: .3594. The .308 is good to 1,000 yards with 175- and 178-grain match bullets. Winchester might have been thinking of a stronger .30 in the ‘50s, but its first short magnum was the .458! Two years after this 1956 debut, however, Winchester followed with the .338

.30 NORMA LOADS .300 WSM .308 Norma

Magnum, which wildcatters promptly necked to .30. Years later, gunsmith Rick Freudenberg barreled a Model 70 in .30-338 for me. In 1960 Norma introduced its .308 Magnum, the case .06 longer than the 2.50-inch .30-338’s. Initial absence of loaded .308 Norma ammo and U.S.-built rifles hardly helped sell it! A yearand-a-half later, ammo appeared; “re” on the headstamp indicated reloadable Boxer-primed brass. Browning

.300 Win. .300 Weatherby

.300 RUM

added the .308 Norma to the roster for its lovely Mauser High Power rifle. Winchester’s .300 Magnum arrived in 1963. Riflemen had expected a .30-338, but got instead a short-necked 2.62-inch hull with the familiar belted Holland head. It had greater capacity than the .308 Norma, but bullets had to be seated deep to clear standard magazines. No matter. My elk hunter surveys in the 1990s showed it trailing only the .3006 and 7mm Remington Magnum in popularity! As a 180-grain bullet at 3,100 fps is hard to beat for elk hunting, I’ve used the .300 Winchester often. Seventeen years ago Don Snyder carried it on his quest for a bighorn ram. One evening at 13,000 feet, he and his partner spied a superb animal, but with no approach they could only watch while night drew its curtain. They were climbing before dawn, and at daybreak found the ram—plus eight others. Again the hunters were pinned down. Three hours later they

crawled near enough for a shot. Alas, when Don triggered his .300, it misfired! His second cartridge sent a 150-grain bullet through the ram’s vitals. With a B&C score of 195, Snyder’s is one of the five-best bighorns ever taken in Colorado. Arguably we didn’t need another potent .30 when in the mid 1980s Don Allen announced his .300 Dakota on trimmed .404 Jeffery brass. Until then, .300 magnums had all descended from the .375 H&H. At 2.54 inches, the rimless Dakota hull is shorter than the .300 Winchester’s but holds more powder. In 1996, Weatherby raised the bar with its .30-378, on the belted .378 Magnum whose 1953 debut had put Roy on the hunt for his own magnum rifle action. To everyone’s surprise, orders for Mark Vs in .30-378 poured in. (The only cartridge to challenge it ballistically: John Lazzeroni’s 7.82 Warbird, on McMillan’s action.) The .30-378 with 165-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3,500 FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 23

fps hurls a ton of smash past 500 yards! Remington joined the clique in 1998 with its .300 Ultra Mag on the .404 Jeffery. The Ultra Mag’s rebated rim fits the .532 bolt face standard for Holland hulls. The cartridge holds about 13-percent more powder than the .300 Weatherby but yields about the same speed (as Norma-loaded Weatherbys): 3,250 fps with 180-grain bullets. The .300 Winchester Short Magnum arrived in 2000, first of a family of WSMs. Its 2.10-inch hull is short enough to work in actions for the .308 Winchester. But with a base .555 in diameter, the WSM is wider

Weatherby’s .30-378 is the top 30-caliber predator! More than needed for elk? It brought this smile!

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than a .308. In capacity and ballistically, the WSM matches the belted .300 Winchester Magnum. Remington followed its .300 RUM in 2002 with a frisky short .30 to compete with the .300 WSM. I think mine was the first elk taken by a .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Mag. Late to the party and slightly smaller than the .300 WSM, it’s less popular. There’s no appreciable ballistic difference between the two. The .300 Ruger Compact Magnum, introduced by Hornady in 2008 with a companion .338 RCM, arrived to wring magnum velocities from 20-inch barrels. Inspired by the .375 Ruger, the RCMs share its .532 head and base. Shoulder angles are 30 degrees; case capacities average 68 and 72 grains of water. By comparison, .30-06 hulls hold about 68 grains, .300 WSM cases 79. You can sneak four RCMs into most three-round WSM magazines. Mitch Mittelstaedt, who headed the RCM project, explained that new proprietary powders tighten pressure curves, so the .300 RCM matches traditional .30 magnums from ordinary barrels but doesn’t lose as much

enthusiasm in carbines. “Figure a loss of 170 fps when .300 WSM barrels are lopped from 24 to 20 inches. RCMs gave up only about 100.” He added that Hornady uses slightly faster powder behind its lead-free GMX load than behind jacketed bullets “because the GMX intrudes enough to reduce capacity.” My chance to take the .300 RCM and Ruger’s Compact Magnum rifle afield came in British Columbia’s Bella Coola country. The moose were winning until the last day, when I spied the flicker of an antler in open timber. When the bull paused, I sent a 150-grain GMX 105 yards. The shoulder-shot moose fell and did not move. Hornady engineer Dave Emary gave lever-rifle enthusiasts greater reach with soft polymer tips on pointed bullets in LeverEvolution ammunition. In 2007 he designed a new lever-action cartridge. At 1.92 inches, the .308 Marlin Express hull is slightly shorter than its parent’s, the .307 Winchester. Special ball powders hold .308 ME pressure to 47,000 psi, while at 2,600 fps its 160-grain FTX bullets chase the .308 Winchester. They carry 1,200 ft. lbs. to 400 yards. Early in its life I used the .308 ME on elk.

Most recently, a very powerful .30 emerged from Norma’s lab in Sweden. Like the .338 Norma Magnum, it’s on a shortened .338 Lapua hull. Though at 2.49 inches, .300 (and .338) Norma brass is the same length as a .30-06’s, case capacity is much greater. Long Berger hollow-point bullets, which exit at 2,985 fps, give the .300 a loaded length of 3.40 inches, nearly .1 greater than that of the .30-06. Myriad wildcat rounds have appeared since the .3040 Krag started shooters down the 30-caliber trail 125 years ago. You could argue that many are redundant— ditto a generous handful of commercial .30s! But hunters worldwide have warmed to a clan of cartridges once uniquely American. Short, efficient cases have joined the tall, raw-boned magnums post-dating the “ought-six” and “thutty-thutty.” One type is as useful as the other. If anything, nimble rifles in .300 Savage and .308 Winchester now pull bills from my palm more often than do sub-minute .30s hurling bullets over Mach 3 to flatten moose an arctic valley away. Indeed, there’s a .30 for every purpose. The enduring task is choosing just one! n

Current interest in long-range shooting affects cartridge and bullet design. Big .30s excel at distance.

INTRODUCING

A-10 American 20 gauge by C.S.M.C. donated by the estate of Jack Parker and Gifford Pinchot’s Colt New Service in .45 Colt.

Guns for Conservation

A dynamic new way to support the Boone and Crockett Club

The Boone and Crockett Club is fortunate to serve a membership that shares a profound dedication to the mission. Now, following two years of careful planning and preparation, it is a pleasure to introduce Guns For Conservation, a program that creates a new way to contribute to the Boone and Crockett Club. Funds raised from the Guns For Conservation program 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.

Support the Boone and Crockett Club by contributing:

Guns For Conservation provides you with the opportunity to support the Club through the donation of ﬁrearms, sporting collectibles, wildlife art and hunting books. The program is both simple and ﬂexible, allowing contributions to be made at any time, scheduled over time or formally integrated into the estate planning process.

Firearms Sporting Collectibles Wildlife Art Books & Accessories

The Club has chosen to work with our friends at Sportsman’s Legacy to ensure that every aspect of the program will be handled legally and professionally. Market valuations will be carefully prepared and items will be properly presented on the national stage to ensure that you and the Club receive full market values. Sportsman’s Legacy also stands ready to assist you with all aspects of related planning, legal transfer, transport and other logistics. For additional information regarding the Guns For Conservation program or to discuss a contribution, please contact Jodi Bishop at Jodi@boone-crockett.org or 406/542-1888. FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 25

DUANE R. DIEFENBACH,PH.D. USGS PENNSYLVANIA COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT

ANTLER POINT REGULATIONS:

©MARK MESENKO

Managing for biological success

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The whitetail deer is an awe-

inspiring species—beautiful, elegant, graceful. But if you are a hunter, there is no greater rival. Silent in their movement, invisible on the landscape— whitetails test us on every hunt. It may be the perfect quarry, biologically speaking, as well. With a polygamous breeding system and high reproductive rate, harvest regulations for males can be very liberal. Is there any greater challenge than hunting a whitetail buck on a crisp fall day? In Pennsylvania, about 1 million hunters agreed during the latter half of the 20th century that the purchase of a hunting license allowed them to harvest one antlered deer. As a result of this intense hunting pressure, Pennsylvania hunters harvested 77 to 84 percent of their antlered deer population every year. We know this because Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel field-checked harvested deer during 1981-2001 and aged 315,175 antlered deer. Under the assumptions of a stationary population (little annual change in size or age structure) and that all age classes had the same harvest rate, the proportion of 1½-year-old deer in the harvest represents the harvest rate. But even if these assumptions were violated, the harvest rate was so high there was little resulting bias in these estimated harvest rates. Every autumn the median age of bucks in Pennsylvania was 1½ years old. The odds of living to 3½ years old? Not good (less than 5 percent). Given that a whitetail deer buck is not considered physically mature until 5 or 6 years of age, antler size of Pennsylvania deer was rarely something to write home about.

1) Do hunters understand the possible consequences of such a harvest strategy? 2) Do antler point restrictions (APRs) result in more older-aged bucks? 3) Do hunters actually support APRs? These three questions were ones my colleagues and I set out to answer. FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 27

©WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/EEI_TONY

Pennsylvania deer management has always been and likely always will be controversial.

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So how can you lower the harvest rate of bucks so that more bucks survive into older age classes? There are multiple ways, but it basically comes down to two strategies: limit the number of hunters or restrict the types of bucks legal for harvest. The former is definitely going to make some hunters very unhappy, especially if the status quo was that anyone with a hunting license had an opportunity to harvest a buck. The latter strategy, involving some type of restriction on the definition of a legal buck for harvest, is likely a more socially acceptable policy. Restrictions include setting a minimum spread of the antlers, or minimum number of points, or a combination of both. These strategies have been implemented in such states as Mississippi and Texas. The simplest strategy of having to count the number of points to determine legality leads to fewer mistakes on the part of hunters. In 2002, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) implemented antler point restrictions (APRs) for whitetail deer. Depending on the management unit, bucks were not legal for harvest unless they had three or four points on one side. The main beam was considered a point as was a brow tine or any other point that was at least 1-inch long. So did everyone live happily ever after once the age (and antlers!) of Pennsylvania bucks increased from APRs? The fairy tale of APR acceptance (and results) doesn’t happen overnight. In 1987, Len Carpenter and Bruce Gill wrote a paper titled “Antler Point Regulations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Carpenter and Gill argued that before an agency embarks on implementing such regulations there are three issues that need to be addressed:

1) Do hunters understand the possible consequences of such a harvest strategy? 2) Do APRs result in more older-aged bucks? (Specifically, do hunters comply with the regulations, and if so, do those bucks not harvested survive to the next hunting season?) 3) Do hunters actually support APRs? These three questions were ones my colleagues and I set out to answer. The research we conducted is the only comprehensive evaluation of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” of APRs. Increases in male-to-female ratios due to APRs have been documented in moose (Alces alces) and elk (Cervus americanus), but survival and harvest rates of males were not monitored. Similarly, changes in the age structure of the harvest of whitetail deer where APRs were implemented have been documented, but whether these changes were due to increased survival rates and reduced harvest rates—or simply changes in the definition of bucks legal for harvest—is unknown. However, before I get into the biological consequences of APRs and our evaluation, there are some other issues about managing deer in Pennsylvania that you need to understand. Pennsylvania deer management has always been and likely always will be controversial. The PGC was created in 1895 because of a scarcity of game, but by 1916 the director was promoting regular antlerless deer seasons. Antlerless deer seasons in Pennsylvania were sporadic, at best, for the next 40 years. The adverse effects of deer browsing have been an issue in Pennsylvania since the early 20th century. The problem of deer browsing in Pennsylvania has been documented

by studies and publications since the 1930s, including a mid-century report by Aldo Leopold documenting the problem with high deer densities throughout the United States. Despite the wildlife and forestry profession’s recognition of the difficulty of managing deer populations in balance with habitat conditions, by the end of the 20th century Pennsylvania’s deer population was 86 percent above the PGC’s deer density goals. In a survey I conducted in the 1990s, 57 percent of Pennsylvania hunters disagreed that damage to forests by deer was a problem and 24 percent did not believe there were enough deer unless some were starving to death each year. At the same time, research in Pennsylvania had shown that deer browsing changes the regenerating capacity of our forests, reduces abundance and diversity of the plant community, and that these effects result in longterm changes in plant and animal communities. Consequently, the implementation of APRs by the PGC was not simply motivated by the desire to allow more bucks to reach an older age class, but rather to manage deer populations in balance with available habitat. That is, deer abundance in Pennsylvania needed to be reduced and APRs might be a way to achieve long-term changes in deer management. The million-dollar question was whether hunters would accept APRs and if the benefits of APRs were an acceptable trade-off for a reduced deer population. With the implementation of APRs, the PGC was poised to conduct a major experiment: reduce harvest rates on bucks to increase the number of 2½-year-old and older animals and increase harvest rates on antlerless deer to reduce the overall deer population. Would it work?

To find out if APRs accomplished the desired changes in the buck population, we designed our research to be able to answer three questions: 1) Did hunters comply with APR regulations such that harvest rates were reduced from 80 percent to less than 50 percent for 1½-year-old bucks?

FIGURE 1. FATES OF 274 1½-YEAR-OLD BUCKS DURING HUNTING SEASON. The percentage of legally harvested does not match estimated harvest rates because this chart does not account for censored deer or changes in number of deer at risk over the course of the hunting seasons.

2) Once these bucks survived the hunting season, did they survive to be available for harvest the following year? 3) Did hunters harvest more older-aged bucks? We monitored statewide deer harvests and conducted fieldwork in two wildlife management units (WMUs) in Pennsylvania—WMU 2D and 4D. Located in western Pennsylvania, WMU 2D has ideal deer habitat—the landscape is a mosaic of farmland and forest with productive soils. In this study area, about 40 percent of 1½-year-old bucks had at least four points on one antler, so four-point APRs were implemented. Under a four-point APR, 93 percent of older bucks were legal for harvest. In central Pennsylvania where WMU 4D is situated, the landscape is forested along extensive, linear ridges dominated by less-productive soils derived from sandstone bedrock. Valleys soils were derived from limestone bedrock and much of the land was farmed or developed. In this study area, we predicted that a threepoint APR would protect about 65 percent of 1½-year-old deer and that 80 percent of adult bucks would be legal for harvest. Over a three-year period (2002-2004), we captured and radio-collared 556 bucks to monitor their survival and cause-specific mortality in both study areas. In hindsight, these captures alone told us a lot about how well APRs worked. In 2002, the winter before APR regulations were first implemented, we captured 10 eight-month-old bucks (that would be 1½ years old in fall 2002) for every adult buck—a 10-to-1 ratio. In 2003, that ratio declined to 9-to-1, and in 2004 our capture ratio declined to 2-to-1! On both study areas we estimated that the harvest rate of 1.5-year-old bucks declined from 80 percent to 31 percent. Clearly APRs achieved their objective of reducing harvest rates. Of the 13 percent that were illegally killed, 3 percent were mistaken kills self-reported by hunters, which indicates the majority of hunters complied with the regulations (Figure 1). To our surprise, APRs also resulted in lower harvest rates for adult deer—59 percent, with only 6 percent illegally harvested. Even though 80 to 95 percent of bucks 2.5 years old or older were legal for harvest, more of them survived the hunting season. Requiring hunters to count antler points before pulling the trigger may have allowed more of these bucks to survive the hunting season (Figure 2).

Mistaken Kill

Unknown

Unknown Legality 4% Road-killed

Sub-legal Kill

Survived

22%

Legal Harvest

63%

Illegal Kill

FIGURE 2. FATES OF 140 BUCKS 2½ YEARS OR OLDER DURING HUNTING SEASON. The percentage of legally harvested does not match estimated harvest rates because this chart does not account for censored deer or changes in number of deer at risk over the course of the hunting seasons.

Natural Injury

Mistaken Kill

Road-killed

Illegal Kill

Sub-legal Kill

Unknown Legality 9% Legal Harvest

20%

Survived

53%

Unknown Disease

0% 0%

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 29

Our research documented that APRs reduced harvest rates, but what about after the hunting season? Did those bucks that survived the hunting season make it to the next one? It turns out that 92 percent did. Survival was greater than 95 percent every month, and most of those mortalities were roadkills. The probability of being illegally killed was only 1 percent outside the hunting season. Reduced harvest rates increased annual survival of bucks, which had a dramatic effect on the age structure of the population. Whereas fewer than 5 percent survived to age 3.5 before APRs, we estimated that after APRs were implemented, 11 percent of the population was more than 2½ years old (Figure 3). We estimated this age structure based on the harvest and survival rates we observed, but we also empirically verified the result. During the 2006 and 2007 hunting seasons, over 5,000 teeth from bucks age 2½ years or older were submitted to a laboratory and aged by sectioning the tooth and counting cementum annuli. These

results confirmed that 11 percent of the harvest was 3½ years or older! Now to answer the third question: did Pennsylvania hunters harvest more older-aged bucks? This might seem like a no-brainer given all the data I have shared, but remember that the agency also was increasing harvest rates on antlerless deer to reduce the overall population. Between 2000 and 2005, statewide pre-hunt deer density declined from 32.3 deer per square mile to 24.7 deer per square mile—a 23 percent decline in deer density. During this same time period, the harvest of 1½-yearold bucks declined from 198,585 to 63,251 (a 68 percent decline!) while the harvest of 2½-year-old and older bucks increased from 42,579 to 56,864 deer—a 25 percent increase. Biologically, APRs were successful because they reduced the harvest rate of bucks; 92 percent of those bucks survived to the following hunting season; hunters complied with APR regulations; and the end result was more, older bucks harvested

by hunters despite the 23 percent reduction in deer density. But deer management is more than just meeting biological objectives. Two of three concerns about APRs expressed by Carpenter and Gill were related to whether hunters understood and accepted APRs. Consequently, this experiment could have been completely successful from a biological standpoint but a management failure if the results were not acceptable to hunters. In the next issue of Fair Chase, I’ll address the social outcomes of Pennsylvania’s APR regulations. n REFERENCES AND SOURCES: CARPENTER, L. H., AND R. B. GILL. 1987. ANTLER POINT REGULATIONS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. TRANSACTIONS OF THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF GAME AND FISH COMMISSIONERS 67: 94 –107. WALLINGFORD, B. D., D. R. DIEFENBACH, E. S. LONG, C. S. ROSENBERRY, AND G. L. ALT. 2017. BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL OUTCOMES OF ANTLER POINT RESTRICTION HARVEST REGULATIONS FOR WHITE-TAILED DEER. WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS 196:1-26. LEOPOLD, A., L. K. SOWLS, AND D. L. SPENCER. 1947. A SURVEY OF OVERPOPULATED DEER RANGES IN THE UNITED STATES. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 11:162–177. DIEFENBACH, D. R., W. L. PALMER, AND W. K. SHOPE. 1997. ATTITUDES OF PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSMEN TOWARDS MANAGING WHITE-TAILED DEER TO PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF FORESTS. WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN 25:244 –251.

FIGURE 3. Age structure of the antlered deer population before and after APR regulations were implemented in Pennsylvania.

0.9

Proportion of Population

0.8 0.7 0.6

Pre-APRs

0.5

Read the entire article “The Whitetail Rut in Pennsylvania,” in the winter 2015 issue of Fair Chase online in the B&C Associates community.

APRs

0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 1.5

2.5

3.5 Age Class (years)

30 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

4.5

5.5+

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TITLE:

DEFINING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION REVISED DATE: JULY 11, 2014

SITUATIONAL OVERVIEW: Conservation and preservation are two different philosophies. Since the early 20th century, conservation has meant the wise and prudent use of natural resources without waste. Preservation means protection from use. The diverse and abundant wildlife populations that exist in Canada and America today are primarily the result of conservation and not preservation, as many are now being led to believe. Preservationists are calling themselves conservationists and the preservation organizations that have emerged are being referred to in the media as conservation organizations. Consequently, the successful track record of conservation is being confused with and undermined by preservationist philosophies that alone, can never achieve effective wildlife conservation. When the Boone and Crockett Club was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell, they introduced an overall philosophy of ethically using natural resources in a limited but sustainable way. This conservation philosophy was actually counter to the prevailing belief at the time that natural

resources, especially wildlife, were inexhaustible, there for unlimited take, and by any means possible. As a result of widespread market hunting of many species of wildlife and outright extinction of some, a new governing principle was needed for the human-natural resources relationship. Some proposed that non-use or preservation—preserving wildlife and other natural resources without consumptive use by humans— was the answer. The Boone and Crockett Club believed this view was unrealistic, and that attempting to remove humans from the equation would devalue and thereby diminish wildlife resources even further. The Club championed an approach that would balance human needs with those of wildlife, and would create a concept of sustainable use. With the support of the Club and through his presidential administration, Theodore Roosevelt nationalized the concept of conservation. Wise and prudent use backed by laws and science became the widely accepted model for the treatment of natural resources, including wildlife, timber, water and soils. Preservationists think that our

current wildlife and natural resource diversity and abundance happened by accident and not by active management, commonly referred to as “the balance of nature” or letting nature take its course. This belief is based on the notion that if we remove human access, use, and active management from the equation and set aside protected areas; wildlife and natural systems will thrive on their own. This may have been true 10,000 years ago; not so in today’s human-dominated landscape. Preservationists further believe that wildlife is not a resource to use, that wildlife should only have an esthetic and not an economic or consumptive value, and that killing wildlife through regulated hunting or any active management is unnecessary. Unfortunately, the “balance of nature” that produces pristine wilderness is a myth. Science has shown there is no such thing as a balance of nature. The wildlife and natural resource diversity and abundance that now exists in countries that embrace conservation is the result of hands-on active management and sustainable use of ever-changing ecosystems, not in spite of it.

The Club adopts the view that complete preservation of wildlife and other natural resources from ethical and sustainable consumptive uses by humans breaks the fundamental roles that humans have always played in the ecosystems they inhabit and depend upon for meaning and well-being. The Club further finds that conserving wildlife and other natural resources into the future will require the same advocacy and funding for active management that historical access to regulated, ethical and sustainable uses of wildlife and other natural resources has proven to provide.

The diverse and abundant wildlife populations that exist in Canada and America today are primarily the result of conservation and not preservation, as many are now being led to believe.

POSITION: The Boone and Crockett Club believes that conservation and conservationist organizations should not be confused with preservation and preservationist organizations and that the two distinctly different concepts and their respective ethics should not be confused either. The Club supports the definition of conservation as wise and prudent use, without waste. The Club supports the principle, as did our founder, Theodore Roosevelt, “that conservation means development as much as it does protection.”

32 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

BOONE AND CROCKETT ADDRESSES WESTERN GOVERNORS IN THE PRESS JULY 06, 2017

The state of our Western federal forests was a primary topic of discussion at the recently concluded Western Governors’ Association conference held in Whitefish, Montana. In attendance were governors and staffers from nine Western states, as well as industry, tribal, and Canadian representatives including the Canadian ambassador to the United States. Also present was the group behind the creation of our national forest system - the Boone and Crockett Club. Under the leadership of Montana Governor Steve Bullock, The Western Governors’ National Forest and Rangeland Management Report was unveiled and discussed. This seminal document sets forth the steps required to restore our forests and rangelands and provides guidance to our congressional leadership to affect the necessary changes that presently inhibit the process. “This is exactly what our federal forest land needs right now, bright minds and leaders coming together to work for the common good,” said Tony Schoonen, chief of staff for the Boone and Crockett Club. “The health of our forest lands should be a concern to all citizens. They certainly are for those in charge of their care and those who recreate on these federal public lands.” Boone and Crockett Club member, Marc Brinkmeyer, owner and chairman of the Idaho Forest Group, addressed the group and stressed the issue of forest management, fuel build up, catastrophic wildfires, and the leadership needed to bring back healthy and productive forest ecosystems. “Our company is striving to be a leader in all these areas, but we’re only a tool in the USDA and Interior toolbox,” explained Brinkmeyer. “The governors have the loudest and most effective voice. While we are excited about the details of the WGA Report, the governors must take action and guide the Senate and House and help the new Administration implement these recommendations. And, they must be clear with Congress that legislation on these broad agreements should not fall prey to partisan politics. Lastly, they must hold us all accountable so the results, so carefully outlined in the report, are accomplished.” Healthy forests and rangelands have been a longstanding priority of the Boone and Crockett Club, as is investing in wildlife and habitat conservation at the state level through increased appropriations and modernized funding models. Schoonen said, “Improving working relationships is the key. The relationship among the state agencies, federal agencies, and the private sector, including

B&C Members Marc Brinkmeyer and Tom Tidwell were in attendance at this years Western Governors Association Conference.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 33

non-profit conservation organizations, landowners, businesses, and industry needs significant improvement to achieve the desired wildlife and habitat conservation and management objectives for sportsmen, as well as all citizens.” What’s preventing healthy forest management is an entanglement of overlapping and conflicting policies, massive chunks of the Forest Service’s budget going toward fighting larger and hotter wildfires, and the expense of roundtable ligation against the Forest Service filed by groups opposed to the use of these lands for supplying timber. “Our leaders in both the U.S. and Canada have their hands full in modernizing forest and range health. They have our gratitude for a great conference and they should know that those of us in the conservation community will do our part,” Schoonen concluded. n

“The health of our federal public lands should be a concern to everyone, especially those who rely on these lands for livelihoods and recreation,” explained Hollingsworth. “With so much of the Forest Service’s funds going toward extinguishing larger and hotter fires little is left for the business of ecosystem management.

34 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB: WILDFIRE FUNDING FIX PICKS UP SUPPORT JULY 18, 2017

The group behind the creation of our national forest system —the Boone and Crockett Club—applauds Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) for introducing a bill to fix the chronic funding shortfall for catastrophic wildfires. The National Flood Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2017 includes a title allowing the Forest Service to tap disaster funding, appropriately treating catastrophic wildfires like hurricanes and other natural disasters. Fighting forest fires is the responsibility of the U.S. Forest Service, as is maintaining these lands for the betterment of the people. In a bad fire year fighting wildfires eats up to 53 percent of the Forest Service’s annual budget. The consequence of which is the Forest Service’s inability to do the forest thinning work necessary to keep fire events small and contained in the first place. “This year’s crop of forest fires is already springing up, and just like in years past we’ll see more and more of the Forest Service’s management budget go up in smoke,” said Ben B. Hollingsworth, Jr., president of the Boone and Crockett Club. “In the legacy of our founder, Idaho’s U.S. Senator Mike Crapo is to be commended for stepping up with common sense legislation to deal with keeping our federal forest lands in healthy, productive condition.” Club founder Theodore Roosevelt was a strong advocate for federal public lands managed for multiple use. When Club members established the national forest system and then the U.S. Forest Service, Roosevelt appointed fellow Club member Gifford Pinchot as its first chief in 1905. Roosevelt and the Club viewed federal public lands as not only critical habitat for wildlife, but critical recreational grounds for all people. “It’s a vicious cycle we’ve been in,” explained Hollingsworth. “So much of the agency’s funds are going toward extinguishing larger and hotter fires that could have been minimalized by maintaining roads and managing overcrowded forest stands that fuel these disasters. But the funds they have for maintenance and prevention are spent fighting more frequent fires after they are burning. The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2017 will allow the Forest Service to buck this trend by getting back to fire prevention, and mitigating the ones that do start.” “The health of our federal public lands should be a concern to everyone, especially those who rely on these lands for livelihoods and recreation,” explained Hollingsworth. “With so much of the Forest Service’s funds going toward extinguishing larger and hotter fires little is left for the business of ecosystem management. Yes, fire suppression is part of the agency’s job, but there is more to keeping public forests and range lands in healthy condition and usable, and this bill is a great start to allowing the agency to get back to the other side of its business.”

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27 CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE WILDERNESS WARRIOR SOCIETY The Wilderness Warrior Society is the Club’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.

“As an outdoorsman and a conservationist, I am committed to sustainable stewardship of the land. I believe that conservation of our natural resources and sound land management are more than commodities. They help form a community to which we all belong and should commit to hold in trust for those who come after us. I’m a member of the Boone and Crockett Club because of its long-time leadership in conservation and commitment to ethical sportsmanship. I’m proud of our support for science-based wildlife management and fairchase hunting. I know I speak for many who appreciate Boone and Crockett’s efforts to sustain our hunting heritage by administering and maintaining the most respected big game records system in the world. I also proudly support the Boone and Crockett Club Foundation, which represents the economic future of our organization. I hope you will help me build the endowment by becoming a member of the Wilderness Warrior Society, named in honor of our first conservationist President, Teddy Roosevelt, and home to some of Boone and Crockett’s most passionate patrons. If you are passionate about conservation and the great outdoors, join me as a member of the Wilderness Warrior Society and let’s get to work.” Benjamin A. Strickling III Pecos River Ranch, Rowe, New Mexico B&C Club Member, Wilderness Warrior

36 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

Trevor L. Ahlberg James F. Arnold Rene R. Barrientos Marc A. Brinkmeyer 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 T. Garrick Steele Morrison Stevens Sr. Benjamin A. Strickling III Ben B. Wallace Mary L. Webster C. Martin Wood III Leonard H. Wurman M.D. Paul M. Zelisko * Deceased

Contact Terrell McCombs at 210/818-8363 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 17 36

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Coming this Fall...

Records of North American Big Game, 14th Edition P R E - O R D E R Y O U R S T O D A Y A N D S AV E B I G ! hese one-of-a-kind records books live up to their long-standing reputation with more than 32,000 trophy listings, hundreds of color photos and intriguing chapters. In its fourteenth edition since the original book was published by B&C in 1932, this latest edition has grown to over 900 pages split between two-volumes.

This Book Is A Must-Have For Every Hunter! n Listings

of more than 32,000 North American big game trophies in 38 categories—an increase of over 5,000 trophies from the previous edition—including B&C final and gross scores, detailed measurements, plus location and year taken.

n Four

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For more info, visit www.boone-crockett.org/recordsbook

38 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

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Pre-order your copy today at: www.boone-crockett.org/recordsbook You must use promo code SAVE25 to get special B&C Associate pricing! Or call 406-542-1888 during regular business hours to order. Books expected to ship in October/November 2017. Special offer expires September 15, 2017.

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UNDERSTANDING BEAR PREDATION It’s pretty common knowledge these days that black and grizzly bears are very efficient predators of ungulate fawns and calves. Some of the earliest published accounts of black bear predation on whitetail deer were in the 1940s, although observations and reports of bear predation were low. Advances in technology, such as telemetry, have provided improved tools for wildlife researchers to study various life history aspects of animals. A number of studies in the late 1970s and early 1980s raised awareness among wildlife biologists that bears could be a major fawn and calf predator. In those days, biologists were using radio telemetry—typically a collar with a VHF transmitter—to track adult female ungulates, and occasionally fawns and calves. In recent times, advances in telemetry have reduced the size of transmitters, facilitating their placement on fawns and calves, and have revolutionized the technology by development of satellite and GPS transmitters. Satellite transmitters are ideal for monitoring movements of widely dispersed animals, but often lack location accuracy. GPS transmitters have improved accuracy of locations and allow biologists greater flexibility and reliability in timing of locations. This all leads to better science and greater ability to reduce uncertainty in what we know about animals. It has also helped us understand bear predation. A paper published in 2006 in the journal Ursus, published by the International 42 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

Association for Bear Research and Management, discussed the role of black and brown bears as predators of ungulates in North America. The authors concluded that bear predation can limit, but generally does not regulate ungulate populations. They went further to state that while bear predation may be an important proximate cause of fawn and calf mortality, habitat quality and quantity can greatly influence this dynamic. In a recently completed series of far-reaching studies in Newfoundland, conceived and directed by Shane Mahoney, a B&C professional member, a finer understanding of how bears hunt caribou calves was realized. Dr. Nathaniel Rayl’s doctorate dissertation research at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, under the direction of professor Todd Fuller, Shane, and myself, explored the role of black bear predation in the recent decline of caribou on the island of Newfoundland. One very interesting aspect of Nathaniel’s research was how he went about figuring out just how to hunt calves from a black bear’s perspective. Nathaniel used a scientific tool known as Resource Selection Function (RSF). A RSF is a model that provides values related to the probability that a resource unit, such as a habitat type, is used versus other resource units. In order to build reliable RSFs, a lot of field work and data collection are needed. GPS telemetry and the greater accuracy of locations of calf kills helped make this possible. A lot of on-theground work determining the cause of predation (predator

SCIENCE BLASTS

vs other cause; bear, lynx, coyote) was needed. So what did we learn? It appears that black bears preying on caribou calves in Newfoundland really knew what they were doing. During the early part of the calving season, when there was a big pulse in births, bears were seeking out areas where they were most successful in actually killing calves—the right kind of habitat where they had greater luck. As the birth pulse declined, bears started searching out adult female caribou as a way to locate calves. When this tapered off, they resorted to searching out their regular early summer foods—vegetation and ants— occasionally encountering and killing calves. Another aspect of Nathaniel’s study revealed that not all bears hunt caribou calves. Some bears appear to specialize in this and may travel seasonally to the calving grounds while others may use the calving grounds during non-calving seasons and use other parts of the island during calving. How do we use this information? Any management intervention designed to reduce predation would have to be surgical to have effect. Also, habitat plays a key role in

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

terms of predation rate. It is believed that prior to the decline of the caribou population, impacts to the habitat by the large numbers of animals likely have forced caribou into riskier habitats, where success of bears is greater. There is no simple solution. Fortunately, the caribou population is on the rise, and it is believed that habitat quality is improving. Hopefully, a Fair Chase article will be forthcoming from Nathaniel and Shane that will provide greater detail on caribou and bears. The island of Newfoundland is a magical place, and the drama that has played out for centuries on the island between these two magnificent creatures will endure for future generations if we manage them prudently. Thanks to Shane for his vision and leadership and to Nathaniel for immersing himself in the quest for knowledge. n

GPS transmitters have improved accuracy of locations and allow biologists greater flexibility and reliability in timing of locations. This all leads to better science and greater ability to reduce uncertainty in what we know about animals. It has also helped us understand bear predation.

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 43

EDUCATING THE

NEXT GENERATION OF

B&C UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

CONSERVATION LEADERS The Boone and Crockett Club University Program is designed to provide science-based knowledge from seasoned wildlife professionals and educators to college graduates in the wildlife field to better prepare the graduates for the responsible and wise management of wildlife in the future.

FROM:

Texas A&M University The Boone and Crockett Club signed an agreement with Texas A&M University in March 2017 to create the Boone and Crockett Dr. Red Duke Wildlife Conservation and Policy Program. The program honors the service of A&M alumnus Dr. James H. “Red” Duke (1950) as a surgeon, educator and wildlife conservationist. Dr. Duke served as president of the Boone and Crockett Club (1986-1987) and the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (1986). “Red Duke fellows” will continue to work on B&C strategic challenges such as energy, land management, and private lands that are particularly important to Texas and the nation. The Red Duke fellowships will expand the existing Boone and Crockett Club professorship program in wildlife and fisheries sciences at A&M with courses, internships, and practical experiences that prepare students to develop policy options for wildlife conservation in North America In particular, the Red Duke program at A&M will expand opportunities for students to learn leadership in policy for wildlife. Our intention is to attract bright young 44 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

minds that may one day become leaders of the caliber of figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, William Hornaday, and J.N. “Ding” Darling. Land grant universities such as Texas A&M have strong programs to train managers of natural resources. Students in these programs are exposed to the human dimensions of management but have little opportunity to develop skills in public policy. Unfortunately, most people who train to work in public policy have little knowledge or experience of the natural world even if they are well versed in the regulations governing wildlife, waterways, and land. Wildlife and natural resources are poorly funded in government budgets largely because the connections between policy and the functions of natural systems are neither understood nor appreciated by legislators or their staff. As a large research

Red Duke’s legacy for wildlife conservation and policy university, Texas A&M prepares bachelors, masters, and doctoral students to objectively collect and analyze information. Credible information from basic research is the hallmark of the North American educational system and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Texas A&M is revising courses in wildlife and fisheries sciences to engage students by integrating basic science with policy to address an array of problems including under-abundance (e.g., endangered species), over-abundance (e.g., invasive species) and human-wildlife conflicts (e.g., predator control). The program at A&M is also preparing wildlife biologists to work with people by developing social skills (e.g., outreach), analytical skills (e.g., geographic analysis), and professional skills so that graduates can make a difference on an issue. Our goal is that more of these graduates will find a career in

This commemorative plaque was erected by the Boone and Crockett Club in September 1987 as part of its centennial year activities. It recognizes the discovery of Grinnell Glacier and other accomplishments of long-time Club member George Bird Grinnell, who discovered the glacier in 1887. Club President in 1987, Red Duke is pictured at right.

a network of public and private employers doing the work of wildlife policy. Red Duke exemplified the core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service that continues to guide A&M students. The new agreement between A&M and the Club continues Dr. Duke’s lifelong interest in science and conservation by investing in core values of stewardship. The Club is working with A&M to raise $4 million for an endowment that will continue to support the work of Red Duke fellows. n

If you would like to join us in sustaining Red Duke’s legacy or would like more information on the Boone and Crockett Dr. Red Duke Wildlife Conservation and Policy Program, please contact Mark Klemm at (979)845-9582 or mklemm@ txamfoundation.com.

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Â© JOHN HAFNER

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A message brought to you by

PRACTICE

WITH A PURPOSE It’s always best to practice with a specific goal in mind…like determining the maximum range at which you can consistently place your shots from various field positions and conditions. These distances translate into your maximum effective ranges and serve as helpful “Shoot/Don’t Shoot” guidelines in the field. If in doubt, stretch the stalk, not the shot.

If you have ever archery hunted pronghorn in a spot-and-stalk fashion, you are well aware the odds are stacked heavily against you. The often flat terrain and keen eyes of pronghorn among many other factors—including the vast amount of territory the animals can cover—can overwhelm any hunter. Not to mention high temps, wind, cactus, and an occasional rattlesnake. PG. 66 SOUTH DAKOTA PRONGHORN, BY KEENAN M. SOYLAND

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PART 4

ÂŠMARK MESENKO

This series gives our readers a closer look at Chronic Wasting Disease. It touches on the various challenges posed by this disease and begins to update you and all hunters about the status of CWD and what science can tell us about it today.

We know that male deer become infected with CWD at a higher rate than females. And in whitetail deer, infected males die at a faster rate than infected females. Older deer are also more likely to be infected than young deer. Thus, older males (trophy animals) are the most likely group to be infected with CWD and the quickest to die from the infection.

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PREVENTION

EARLY DETECTION

CONTROL OF CWD Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a newly

emerging problem affecting five cervid species that are native to North America (elk, moose, reindeer/ caribou, mule deer, and whitetail deer). The disease is caused by a misfolded protein, called a prion, that can be transmitted between animals during contact or by ingestion of prions from a contaminated environment (soil and—potentially—plants are likely sources). Once an animal is infected, the prions propagate and slowly spread throughout its body. They eventually reach the brain where they cause severe neurological damage, clinical signs of disease, and inevitably, death. CWD is considered a chronic disease because this period of disease progression typically takes months to years, depending on factors such as the species and individual’s genetic make-up. During most of that period, infected animals look and act completely normal, but they are actively shedding prions that can both infect other animals and contaminate the environment. Unlike most viruses and bacteria, prions are highly resistant to degradation and can persist in the environment for many years, making environmental contamination one of the long-term challenges for CWD management. Currently, we have no cure for CWD or vaccine to prevent infection.

MICHAEL D. SAMUEL WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT EMERITUS PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, MADISON, WISCONSIN MICHAEL W. MILLER SENIOR WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN, COLORADO DIVISION OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

In the early stages of a CWD outbreak, the percentage of animals infected (prevalence) is typically quite low—less than 1 percent—and the disease is usually confined to a small geographic area. Over time, usually many years or decades, several patterns typically occur.

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CWD belongs to a family of prion diseases that are relatively new to science. The long-term consequences of these diseases are not well understood. However, we have learned a great deal about CWD during the nearly 40 years since it was first described in mule deer. In the early stages of a CWD outbreak, the percentage of animals infected (prevalence) is typically quite lowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; less than 1 percentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the disease is usually confined to a small geographic area. Over time, usually many years or decades, several patterns typically occur. In the beginning, prevalence slowly increases as more animals become exposed to CWD by contact with infected individuals or from a contaminated environment. Second, the disease also spreads naturally among animals and expands its distribution across the landscape, facilitated by dispersal of infected juveniles and by migration of herds between summer and winter ranges. Human movement of infected animals or contaminated materials can also contribute to the expanded distribution of CWD. As outbreaks progress, the rate of transmission to susceptible animals accelerates, causing more individuals and younger age classes to become infected, increasing both disease prevalence and the rate of disease spread to new geographic areas. Because clinical CWD is always fatal, increasing prevalence means more animals are infected with CWD and die because of their infection.

Research now clearly shows that heavily infected populations reach a tipping point where CWD infection and mortality causes affected populations to decline. This threshold depends on many factors related to species-specific life history (longevity, birth rate, CWD mortality, and other mortality sources), hunting pressure, and harvest managementâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and likely varies regionally depending on habitat conditions. Annual herd declines of 10 percent have been found in whitetail deer in Wyoming where CWD prevalence exceeds 40 percent (nearly one in two deer infected). Similar declines have been reported in both hunted and unhunted mule deer herds in Colorado and Wyoming. For an elk herd in Rocky Mountain National Park, researchers reported that losses to CWD can exceed natural mortality, reduce female survival, and cause declines in abundance. These reductions mean that future hunting opportunities also will decline. However, this is not the only important impact of CWD on populations. We know that male deer become infected with CWD at a higher rate than females. And in whitetail deer, infected males die at a faster rate than infected females. Older deer are also more likely to be infected than young deer. Thus, older males (trophy animals) are the most likely group to be infected with CWD and the quickest to die from the infection. Field research in the western U.S. demonstrated that

www.CWD-Info.org has up-to-date information and resources to learn more about CWD in the U.S. and Canada.

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CWD can reduce the average age of deer (especially males) and dramatically reduce the number of trophy bucks in an affected herd. CWD has now been found in wild and/or captive cervids in 24 states in the U.S., three Canadian provinces, South Korea, and recently Norway. Given our current scientific knowledge, it is highly unlikely that we can eliminate CWD from North America. Even so, we need management strategies to help control both newly emerging and established outbreaks of this disease to minimize its long-term impacts on our native cervids. The first line of defense against this insidious disease is to prevent it from entering or becoming established in new locations by restricting human activities that might introduce the disease. Many states have implemented preemptive measures designed to reduce this risk, including banning the movement of live animals and contaminated carcasses from infected areas. Some states also have banned urine-based lures, and are evaluating the risk of other materials that may be contaminated with infectious prions. However, CWD may also spread by natural cervid dispersal or migration. Additional preemptive management approaches, including bans on feeding/baiting and increased male harvest, should be considered in high-risk areas near established outbreaks. These approaches can be combined with rigorous surveillance aimed at

early detection of CWD spread into new areas where disease prevalence is still low and before infection is geographically widespread. Early detection, before CWD becomes established, offers the best opportunity to eliminate or control the disease if preventive measures fail. At this early stage of an outbreak, aggressive action should be taken to remove infected animals to reduce transmission to the susceptible population. In addition, early removal of infected animals will help prevent environmental contamination that can infect animals for years into the future. This approach might offer the best hope of completely suppressing a newly emerging CWD outbreak. Unfortunately, once CWD has become established, control options are limited and so far have proven unsuccessful in eliminating the disease. Current science suggests three theoretically useful strategies to help control CWD once it has become established. First, controlling the rate of disease spread by reducing dispersal of infected juveniles and, where feasible, altering migration patterns. In most cases, changing well-established migration patterns would be a complicated undertaking and may not be feasible or desirable. The obvious approach to reducing dispersal is to cut the size of the affected population, which will mean fewer dispersing juveniles. Second strategy would be to reduce CWD prevalence within an affected population by removing older males, which have high disease prevalence and seem to be an important driver of disease transmission to new animals. Studies on whitetail deer suggest that removal of older males could reduce overall herd prevalence and consequently

reduce the rate of new infection; similar responses would be expected in mule deer. Ideally, this strategy would help control CWD; yet, it will not eliminate it. In contrast, many current deer management strategies encourage higher abundance of older males, which will likely exacerbate CWD infection! Third, localized culling in CWD hot spots with or without more generalized herd reduction also appears to have potential for stabilizing or lowering herd prevalence based on field observations. None of these approaches have yet received widespread application or complete evaluation; therefore, we urge wildlife managers to establish goals for CWD prevention and control, and use adaptive management to evaluate and improve these strategies. We further encourage coordination among different jurisdictions to develop and evaluate alternative CWD management strategies and to assess the effects of past and current management practices on disease trends. Chronic wasting disease is likely here to stay, and we need to learn how to minimize its future impact on cervid populations and hunting opportunity. We still need continuing research efforts to develop vaccines and other tools to help prevent CWD from becoming established and to control its prevalence and spread when it does, to understand the long-term consequences of the disease on our cervid resources, and to understand several open questions about future trends in CWD infection. Research shows that genetics is an important predictor of CWD infection in cervid populations. While there are no known genotypes that are immune to CWD infection, we are likely to see a long-term shift towards relatively

resistant genotypes in affected populations. Currently we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand how this genetic selection will affect the future viability (reproduction and resilience) of our wild populations, whether circulating prion strains may also adapt to shifting host genetics, and whether genotypes with a longer incubation period will also prolong the period to transmission to other animals and deposition in the environment. In addition, there remain many unknowns about prions in the environment: how long do they persist, are they readily absorbed by plants, and what are the main reservoirs that infect susceptible cervids? We know that males become infected with CWD at a much higher rate than females, but we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know why. Learning how males become infected may help us devise strategies to reduce population prevalence while maintaining a desirable abundance of trophy males. Many of our recent advances were stimulated by the implementation of a national CWD management plan that provided a framework to prioritize and conduct research. Unfortunately, this comprehensive plan has largely been ignored during the past five or more years, particularly in applying research findings to disease management actions. Reviving, funding, and refocusing a national plan, or at least reviving the national conversation about CWD, would provide a crucial catalyst for devising sustainable strategies for a successful long-term battle against CWD in North America and beyond. However, in the long-term, success at preventing and controlling CWD will depend on management actions taken by states and provinces, either individually or collectively. n

Chronic wasting disease is likely here to stay, and we need to learn how to minimize its future impact on cervid populations and hunting opportunity. We still need continuing research efforts to develop vaccines and other tools to help prevent CWD from becoming established and to control its prevalence and spread when it does, to understand the long-term consequences of the disease on our cervid resources, and to understand several open questions about future trends in CWD infection.

The first line of defense against this insidious disease is to prevent it from entering or becoming established in new locations by restricting human activities that might introduce the disease.

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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 52 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

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

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TESTING LIMITS Whether it’s the stunning scenery, abundant

wildlife, or seemingly endless wilderness, Alaska is arguably one of the best places on earth to hunt. It seems to evoke adventure and the challenges that follow. As an adventure hunter, I am constantly raising the bar and pushing myself to the next level. Whether it’s hiking further, getting closer to my quarry, or battling the elements that Mother Nature has to offer, I can never seem to get enough. The very design of an adventure hunter is to test limits; not only our physical and mental limits, but the limits of nature itself. This is the very basis of this story and why reaching your limit, as my hunting partner would say, “can be a very sobering experience.”

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CASEY L. DINKEL 60TH PARALLEL ADVENTURES CO-OWNER Photos Courtesy of Micah Ness and John Whipple

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A GOOD BUSH PILOT IS WORTH MORE THAN GOLD. TAJ SHOEMAKER OF ISLAND AIR NAILS A DIFFICULT LANDING ON AN ALPINE LAKE.

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The Emerald Isle—Kodiak as it is more formally known—is a truly amazing place and an outdoorsman’s paradise. At the very mention of its name, most hunters immediately think of the famous Kodiak brown bear. With some bears standing 5 feet at the shoulder and weighing in at over half a ton, it’s easy to understand why these giants draw so much attention. Even though my hunting partner John and I love pursuing brown bears, it’s not what brought us to Kodiak this time around. During this adventure, we would be scrambling high into the alpine to pursue mountain goats. These creatures of the crags were introduced to Kodiak during the 1960s and have been thriving across the high country of the island. In fact, mountain goats have been doing so well that an ambitious hunter can register for two tags on the southern portion of the island each regulatory year. This hunt has been on our hit list ever since it became available several years ago. The possibility of taking two mountain goats each is definitely a tall order, especially when one calculates all the logistics, rugged terrain, and unpredictable weather that Kodiak is famous for. It’s an adventure-hunter’s dream and a challenge that both John and I could not wait to embark upon. Landing on the crystal-clear lake surrounded by nothing but boulder fields and rock walls made my body tingle from adrenaline. My stomach felt light and uneasy from the hairpin turn and steep landing the pilot had to make on the tiny body of water nestled between two large mountains. “Rugged enough for ya?” the pilot asked as he taxied the Super Cub closer to the shore. “This is perfect,” I replied confidently; masking my intimidation as I gawked at the vertical terrain. Once

ashore, I moved my gear away from the water’s edge and confirmed our pickup date with the pilot. “Well I think you’re all set. Be safe and good luck out there guys!” he said, jumping in the tiny Super Cub as it floated away. Within seconds, the echo of the plane drowned out nature as he taxied his way to the far end of the lake for takeoff. I stood silent as I watched the plane gain speed and peel its floats from the water’s surface. Watching the Super Cub drop from sight and disappear below the cliff’s edge that bordered the west end of the lake was an eerie sight. I couldn’t imagine how tough it would be taking off from this puddle with a full load of meat. The wind would have to be from the west and absolutely perfect for our pickup day. Anything less and we would be stranded at the will of Mother Nature—not to mention that we were hunting in October with the possibility of our liquid runway freezing up. If we drew the cold weather card, it would mean a 10-mile hike out of the high country to the saltwater for pickup. Sure it was mostly downhill, but packing all our gear and a couple hundred pounds of goat meat through thick brush that was home to some of largest bears in the world was not exactly on my favorite-thingsto-do list. I had just begun to gather my gear from the lake’s edge when I spied John crouched atop a large boulder filming some mountain goats that had apparently come to investigate all the ruckus from the airplane’s departure. Over the past few years, we have begun to document all of our hunts with film and photography in order to share them with the rest of the world. As one can imagine, trying to hunt and film can present some unique challenges. And since John and I

were hoping to harvest four mountain goats within 10 days on this little adventure, we both deemed it necessary to bring along another cameraman. Our good friend Micah had graciously accepted to follow John and I around the cliffs and crags in pursuit of our quarry. Micah is not only an excellent cameraman; he is also an avid hunter and skilled rock climber, aptly known as “The Goat” in certain circles due to his mountain prowess. This was a skill which John and I greatly envied and appreciated, especially during mountain goat hunts. After gathering enough footage for the time being, we decided to survey the immediate area and set up camp before dark. We found a somewhat level spot at the lake’s end that needed minimal rock management and assembled both of our Hilleberg tents in quick fashion. We had become

JOHN AND CASEY CREEP IN FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT A NANNY AND HER KID. very fond of these tents over the years; one tent had been on 11 fly-in adventures previous to this one and had withstood everything Alaska had to offer. Whether it was driving rain, heavy snow, or galeforce winds, Hillebergs have kept us safe, dry, and warm in the nastiest of conditions. However, little did I know this hunt would be the ultimate test for both tents.

In the morning, we awoke to scattered showers and a light southwest wind. Over breakfast we glassed the immediate area for goats, just in case one or two had snuck in close to camp during the night. Finding only a nanny with her two kids close by, I began to glass a mountainside roughly a mile away. One by one I was able to pick them out from within the rocks; I counted nine goats in all. “I got six over here,” John whispered with his back to mine,

five goats nestled among the cliffs not more than a mile away. We collected our gear and set out across the steep cliff faces in pursuit of our quarry. After several hours of intense climbing and bouldering, it became apparent that we were going to run out of daylight if we didn’t pick up the pace. We reached a small rock outcropping less than 800 yards from the group of five goats by early afternoon. With some concentrated

deciphering the sex of a mature mountain goat can be downright impossible from a few hundred yards unless they urinate or have a little one in tow. With daylight burning, we quickly picked the best stalk approach between us and the group of goats and started to close the distance. With no cover between us and the goats, we opted to head straight at them utilizing the boulders that blended near perfectly with our camouflage. Amazingly it

rolling, I squeezed the trigger, striking the billy just behind the shoulder. In a mad dash he acted as if he was never touched and began running uphill to his escape route. Leading the billy, I threw another round downrange in an effort to stop him before it was too late. The billy toppled backward end over end down the mountain about a hundred yards. After several highfives, we made our way to the billy for examination. He was an absolute brute; a mature

EVEN WHEN WITHIN RANGE ONE OFTEN HAS TO PASS ON A SHOT AS RETRIEVAL WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.

looking in the opposite direction. “Seven more across the lake,” Micah chimed in. As we continued to survey the countryside, goats seemed to appear out of every nook and cranny. With our initial breakfast tally somewhere around 32 goats, this was quickly becoming one of my favorite hunting spots! After a brief discussion, we decided to make a play on a group of

glassing through the spotting scope, we concluded that the group was comprised of one nanny, one kid, two adolescent billies and one mature billy. Though John and I have hunted goats for years, accurately judging sex and trophy quality can still be quite challenging. Many hunters consider them one of the toughest big game animals to judge in Nor t h A mer ic a . Ju st

worked; we were able to leapfrog down the mountain, across the valley and into shooting position within a couple of hours. The goats had started to make their way into cliffs to bed up for the evening, which was of great concern. If they made it into the crags, a shot would not be possible; the chance of the animal being destroyed upon falling—or worse, hanging up on a cliff— was too great. The mature billy was at the tail end of the group as they made their way single file up a narrow rock chute. Settling into a prone position, I adjusted my dial turret to the 350 yards that John had just ranged. With camera up and

5-year-old billy with a full winter coat. As I sat and admired him for several minutes, I noticed the sun begin to fade on the horizon. It was a magnificent start to our hunt, but with dark upon us and a long, dangerous hike laden with heavy packs ahead, the adventure had only begun. Late in the evening of day five, we found ourselves a couple miles from base camp as we neared the top of a steep drainage. John had spied a nice billy bedded up near the ridgeline of a large peak. Crawling to within less than 200 yards, we set up a shooting position behind a small rock outcropping. With nothing between us and the FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 57

billy but elevation and a massive boulder field, things were working out. However Alaska had other plans. As we positioned ourselves to harvest another goat, a record storm was brewing on the horizon. Several days prior we had received word via satellite communication that a massive storm was heading our direction. Unable to control the weather, we decided to adhere to our game plan and deal with the storm when and if it came. John zeroed in on the billy and let the first shot fly, striking him just behind the shoulder. Leaping from his bed, the billy sprinted horizontally across the boulder field as if he was in a track meet. With a quick readjustment, John’s follow-up shot brought the billy tumbling down the rocks where he fell upside down between two car-sized boulders. In the midst of all our celebration, I noticed the clouds darken as the wind picked up substantially. As we picked our way up through the rocks to John’s billy, the clouds began to move in and rain started to fall. It was dark and pouring rain as we steadily cut up John’s animal. I got a knot in my throat as I heard the wind load atop the mountain and roar toward us. Grabbing a nearby rock, we braced ourselves from being knocked over. Alaska had us in her grips and there was nothing we could do now but suffer her wrath. After about an hour we had the billy completely broken down and divided into what seemed to be equal portions between the three of us. Adjusting my pack straps as tightly as possible, I pulled the last bit of slack out of my hip belt as it squeezed me like an 18th-century corset. I was now ready to descend the mountain with the heavy load. As I adjusted my head lamp, the gravity of our situation began 58 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

to set in. It’s hard enough dissecting boulder fields and navigating vertical terrain with a heavy pack in the dark; adding in the pouring rain and gale-force winds made for a situation I might not live to talk about. Having no other choice, I swallowed the fear and started my way toward lower ground. About an hour into our descent, I braced myself for a wind gust that sounded like a freight train barreling toward me. Hitting me with unbelievable force, the gust grabbed my pack and hurled me to the ground onto my back. Sliding on the wet tundra for 20 feet or so, I was stopped abruptly when the frame of my pack hung up on a small rock. Cold, tired, and soaked to the bone, I rolled to my belly and reluctantly waited for the wind to die down just enough so that I could stand up. A few hundred yards later, the three of us found a small patch of tundra nestled among the rocks near a small cliff face. It was not an ideal

location, but it was protected slightly from the wind, and all of us were more than ready to get out of the monsoon. It was everything we could do to keep the wind from shredding our shelter as we wrestled the tent into position. Once inside, we aligned our meat-laden packs on the windward side of the tent for extra support; thus, keeping the wind from smashing our

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MICAH, JOHN, AND CASEY WITH THE FIRST HARVEST OF THE TRIP.

shelter to a pancake. The tent was too small for all three of us to completely stretch out, so we lay shoulder to shoulder in half-sitting positions against our packs. Even though I was very uncomfortable, it wasn’t long before my eyes grew heavy and I began to drift asleep over the roar of the storm as it relentlessly bombarded our tent. Somewhere in the mid-

dle of the night, I awoke to a near-deafening growl coming from directly outside the tent. My eyes hazy and brain in a fog, I unzipped a corner of the shelter and observed a fullblown river running past us. Where once there had been only the barest trickle of water, there was now a fullfledged roaring current. To make things even worse, the water was still rising, and we had positioned ourselves against a cliff wall. If the water rose much higher, we would have to break camp and relocate to a safer area. We repositioned our gear as the water rose high enough to enter one side of the tent. It was 6:17 a.m. as we waited for

daybreak and prayed the storm would give us some reprieve. As daylight broke, we awoke to a light rain and breeze. Stepping out from under the tent, I was astonished to see that the once-raging river had subsided to a small, ankle-deep creek. As I observed the landscape, I noticed hundreds of streams and waterfalls across the mountain range that had not

We all agreed that this was without a doubt the worst storm any of us had ever experienced. Mid-morning of day eight, the storm seemed to let up a bit, or it could have been my restless legs sending false signals to my brain. In either case, I had to get out of the tent before I lost my mind. While stretching my legs, I spied a white mass in the rocks above camp not more

THE REMAINS OF THE TWO TENTS RE-ASSEMBLED INTO ONE FRANKEN-TENT THAT ALLOWED THE HUNTERS TO RIDE OUT THE LAST FEW DAYS OF THE STORM. been there days before. A smile came to my face as I consumed the scenery and felt thankful for the experience. After helping me hoist the heavy frame to my back, John slapped my shoulder and said with a grin, “Only two more goats to go, my friend!” Over the next couple of days, we were unable to do much of any real hunting. The storm had given us a little reprieve on day six of the hunt, but it returned with a vengeance to punish us with severe wind and rain. We had grown tired of battling the storm, so the three of us reluctantly confined ourselves to our tents and tried to catch up on some much-needed rest.

than 500 yards away. Grabbing my binoculars to take a closer look I was delightfully surprised to see what looked like a mature billy hiding on the leeward side of a cliff. Even though he was in a nasty spot, we decided to roll the dice and head up the mountain to give him a closer look. Once again, in the wind and rain we made our way up a near-vertical chute to where we had last seen him bedded. After about an hour, we had scratched and clawed our way to within 75 yards of the mature billy. Before we could get settled into position, he spotted us. In an instant, he leapt from his bed and ran up and away from me, offering a good

quartering-away shot. The first shot sent the billy tumbling down the mountain a ways before he stopped among some boulders. Without much hesitation, he jumped back to his feet and made a beeline for the cliff’s edge. With two more well-placed shots, it was over, and the billy was anchored less than a couple feet from a 150-foot cliff that would have surely destroyed him if he had fallen. As we collected photos of the magnificent animal, some motion from below the cliff near our base camp caught my attention. At first glance, I could not make out the odd-shaped figure in the rocks. Then all at once, my blood ran cold. I could not believe my eyes—it was our tent! The wind had ripped both of our shelters from the rocks and tossed them like rag dolls down the mountain about 75 yards. At this point, we had about two hours of daylight left, an entire mountain goat to process and pack down an almost vertical chute, and as if that wasn’t enough, the storm was getting much worse. As John and I processed the goat, Micah went to secure our gear and salvage what was left of the tents. With the goat on our backs we reached base camp a little before dark. We frantically fixed the tent using parts and pieces from both shelters. After a couple of hours we climbed into a tent that resembled Frankenstein’s face. It wasn’t until we settled inside that we recognized how cramped it was, and all of us began to laugh out loud. It had been a crazy day of defying the odds. And the trip wasn’t quite over yet. Around noon on the last day of the hunt, I awoke to water dripping on my face from a small hole in the tent ceiling. Half awake, I sat up and noticed that Micah was

AS HUNTERS WE AT TIMES GET TO EXPERIENCE THINGS THAT FEW OTHERS EVER DO.

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still fast asleep but it appeared that John had gone for a walkabout. Lying back down, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to get home, rest my aching body, and catch a shower. All at once, my daydream was interrupted when John barged into the tent like a herd of bison and began frantically collecting gear. “There’s a couple of nice goats at the head of the lake!” John exclaimed as he stuffed gear in his pack. “I am going to go after them, so if you hear a shot, one of you should come help and the other should stay with the

tent so it doesn’t blow away again.” Since the goats were not terribly far from camp, we agreed with John and he quickly went after his quarry. Several hours passed and I began to worry about John’s safety; it can be dangerous to head in to goat country alone. Near dark, my conversation with Micah was interrupted by the crisp report of a rifle shot, a brief pause, and two more shots that rang out against rock walls at the far end of the lake. “Well, I better go give him a hand,” Micah said, putting on

JOHN AND CASEY AWAIT THE PLANE WITH FOUR GOATS WORTH OF MEAT AND HIDES.

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his rain gear. I watched the glow of Micah’s head lamp disappear as he trekked off into the dark to assist John. Hours passed and my nerves began to dance as I wondered if my friends were okay. The rain and wind pounded the tent once again and made it impossible to see when I peered out of the tent to see if I could get a glimpse of my buddies. I was literally gearing up to go out after them when I heard the faint sound of John’s voice over the roaring wind. Head lamps and laughter broke the night and calmed

my nerves almost instantly. A sunny bluebird day greeted us the next morning. With a sigh of relief for the break in weather, we assembled our gear and meat for pickup. It would take most of the day to fly all three of us, our gear, and four mountain goats worth of meat back to Kodiak—a good problem to have! Throughout the afternoon our pilot took load after load out of the high country, until only I was left. As I waited alone by the lake’s edge, my mind reflected on the events that had transpired over the last 10 days. Many thoughts came to mind, but mostly I was grateful for the experience and time shared with good friends. n

LONG DAYS ARE MADE MUCH EASIER WITH VIEWS LIKE THIS

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DRIVEN

RICHARD CHILDRESS NASCAR AND ARCA TEAM OWNER B&C REGULAR MEMBER

TO ENJOY THE

OUTDOORS

THE OUTDOOR WORLD AND ALL ITS WONDERS BROUGHT US TOGETHER. 62 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

I started hunting and fishing when my stepfather took me squirrel hunting and fishing for bluegill and bass around where I grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world and have seen God’s creations in places such as Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Cuba, and British Columbia. Hunting and fishing has always been a passion of mine. It’s never been just about catching fish or harvesting a bird or animal. It’s about enjoying being a part of nature and the great outdoors. The quiet chill of a mountain morning when the bull elk bugles, the sound of turkeys pitching off the roost, the explosion of a largemouth bass breaking water with a hook firmly set. The peaceful hum of crickets and song birds. The earthy feel of forests and the fields. Then there were the special times spent with friends and family. Some of my greatest memories come from hunting and fishing with guys like Dale Earnhardt. And spending time with my grandsons and letting them experience the great outdoors just like I did when I was their age. After the day was done, we shared stories around a campfire, at the lodge, or even a backyard deck as the grill sizzled with the harvest of the day (if one was so lucky). The outdoor world and all its wonders brought us together. As I grew older I discovered that as an American sportsman I also played a role for the greater good of our nation’s wildlife and wild places. I learned that every time I purchased a hunting or fishing license, a firearm, ammunition, archery equipment, or fishing tackle, I contributed to habitat conservation, the scientific management of wildlife, and sustaining our natural resources. I was part of a century old system, established by fellow sportsmen and led by none other than Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president of the United States of America. This system, called the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, is the envy of countries around the globe. It has a lot of moving parts. Our public lands, access to those lands, partnerships with private landowners, and our right to keep and bear arms—all are unique to making this system work and ensuring a future for the public trust and our outdoor heritage. American sportsmen and sportswomen are responsible for restoring populations of whitetail deer, elk, pronghorn, wild turkeys, waterfowl, and native

TAKE SOMEONE HUNTING, FISHING OR TARGET SHOOTING AND ENTER A CHANCE TO WIN A NASCAR OR ULTIMATE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE JOIN RICHARD CHILDRESS, HONORARY CHAIR FOR NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY, IN CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day), an annual celebration of hunters and anglers, features a new twist this year. Richard Childress, NASCAR legend and honorary chair for NHF Day, is asking hunters and anglers to participate in the new NHF Day Challenge by taking someone hunting, fishing, or target shooting. By pledging to introduce someone to the outdoors between now and NHF Day on Saturday, Sept. 23, participants will be eligible to win a Richard Childress Racing VIP race weekend package or the Ultimate Outdoor Experience in America’s Conservation Capital from Big Cedar Lodge and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. “If you are a sportsman, sportswoman or an angler, you can make a difference and support National Hunting and Fishing Day by becoming a mentor,” said Childress. “Mentoring is critical to ensure our outdoor tradition lives on through future generations. Make the commitment to take someone outdoors and show them why you value hunting, fishing, and target shooting.” For millions of Americans, time spent hunting and fishing are treasured moments. Hunting and fishing brings friends and family together and provides one of the most immersive outdoor experiences possible. “Today fewer people are connecting with nature through hunting and fishing,” said Childress. “As outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, we are one of the keys to reversing this trend. Help a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker learn how to hunt, fish, or shoot. Introducing someone to the joys of the outdoors not only enriches their life, it creates a future conservationist.” Each new hunter and angler created helps fund conservation. Every time someone buys a firearm, ammunition, archery equipment, or fishing tackle, they contribute to habitat conservation and science-based wildlife management through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program. The WSFR is the cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation in North America because it brings funding from the sporting arms, archery, and fishing industries and sportsmen and sportswomen back to state wildlife management agencies. These monies, in addition to hunting and fishing license fees, are critical for conserving fish and wildlife across our nation.

Those who pledge to take someone hunting, target shooting, or fishing will be entered for a chance to win two amazing prize packages. The first grand prize is two HOT passes to a future NASCAR race, which includes pit and garage passes, garage and team hauler tours, and an opportunity to meet team owner Richard Childress. The second grand prize package includes a two-night cabin stay at Big Cedar Lodge in the beautiful Ozark Mountains; guided fishing trip on Table Rock Lake; and adventure passes to Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail and Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum; Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Shooting Academy; and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, the world’s foremost conservation attraction opening on September 23, 2017 in Springfield, Missouri. Restrictions and regulations apply, see sweepstakes entry for more details.

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North American fish species, many of which were on the brink of extinction at the turn of the last century. In North Carolina, we helped bring back the elk population from near extirpation. We now have state and federal wildlife and land and water management agencies doing conservation work that is supported by license fees and Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program funds. The WSFR, which is the cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation in North America, brings funding from the sporting arms, archery, and fishing industries and sportsmen and women back to state wildlife management agencies. These monies are critical for wildlife restoration and habitat management projects as well as for supporting hunter education, developing and managing shooting ranges, and providing public use and access to our wildlife resources. This strong partnership is the foundation of the most productive and cherished natural resource management system on earth. It is true that we have faced many challenges and achieved some great conservation successes. America’s sportsmen and sportswomen have always answered the call. But today we may be facing our greatest challenge of all and that is a continuing decline in the

number of people who are getting into hunting and fishing. This is a serious issue for the future of hunting, fishing, and conservation, and every one of us can do something about it. The focus for this year’s National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD), which is held Sept. 23, is to challenge every hunter and angler to become a mentor and actively help get more people into hunting, fishing, and target shooting. Please step up to this challenge by visiting the National Hunting and Fishing Day website or by calling (417) 225-1162 to join a mentoring program or take the pledge to be an active mentor in your community. By taking the pledge, you’ll have a chance to win a Richard Childress Racing VIP race weekend package for two or the Ultimate Outdoor Experience in America’s Conservation Capital from Big Cedar Lodge and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in the NHFD Challenge Sweepstakes. If you enjoy the great outdoors, I invite and encourage you to become a part of this great outdoor legacy. By Sept. 23, there are two things you can do to take part in National Hunting and Fishing

Day: 1) be a mentor and take someone out hunting, fishing, or target shooting, or 2) find a mentor to take you hunting, fishing, or target shooting. It is time well spent, and I promise it will enrich your life in many ways. Of all the accomplishments in my life, I am most proud of being an American sportsman and an important part of the past, present, and future in conserving our nation’s resources. I sincerely hope to see you out there in the forest, field, or on the water. Together we can enjoy the personal and satisfying connection to the great outdoors with friends and family and play a critical part in upholding our fish and wildlife legacy for generations to come. n

#HUNTSHOOTFISH TO GET INVOLVED IN THE NHF DAY CHALLENGE, VISIT NHFDAY.ORG OR CALL (417) 225-1162.

RICHARD CHILDRESS

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SOUTH DAKOTA PRAIRIE KING The 2016 fall archery pronghorn season started for us during the previous spring turkey season with scouting notations. Locations of animals and herd bucks were documented as we covered lots of ground in our hunting unit. Pronghorn numbers in our state had increased in recent years due to mild winters, and we were excited about some of the animals we put in our spotting scopes. After spending the summer months anticipating the archery pronghorn season in our home state of South Dakota—we made calls to gain permission on tracts of private ground and put in many hours fine-tuning our shooting skills—opening day, September 2, was upon us. Our first opportunity to make the 350mile trek to pronghorn country was in the works. My hunting partner/father has hunted pronghorn for over 40 years with firearm and archery equipment, so his experience was a valuable tool in determining our hunting approach. Near the end of the first day, after covering a lot of ground in search of a trophy animal, we had the spotting scope on what we knew was a true South Dakota trophy. A very dominant buck in his prime with a herd of nearly 20 does. We hunted that buck hard for four days and made several stalks—getting close a couple times, but things just would not come together. If you have ever archery hunted pronghorn in a spot-and-stalk fashion, you 66 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

are well aware the odds are stacked heavily against you. The often flat terrain and keen eyes of pronghorn among many other factors— including the vast amount of territory the animals can cover—can overwhelm any hunter. Not to mention high temps, wind, cactus and an occasional rattlesnake. During the stalk attempts, we were always careful to avoid alarming the herd or buck if the stalk was not working out. We did not want the trophy to feel the pressure and move from the territory we were able to access. We dealt with all the keen eyes, ears and noses of the large harem the king had gathered. For many reasons, each stalk failed; sometimes we narrowly missed a chance to take a shot. The last two days of the trip ended with the wind blowing up to 30 mph, which made the chance of any shot very risky. That trip ended with long-range pictures and dreams of a chance at a records-book buck. Early in the season the herd bucks had started gathering their harems, but the window of rut activity had not yet kicked in. Two weeks later another opportunity for a two-day hunt came about, and with very little question we were back on our way to see if we could once again find the king. We had added another trusted hunter to our group and once again made the trek west. When we returned the rut had definitely taken over as herd bucks had their harems

BEYOND THE SCORE

Keenan M. Soyland Photos Courtesy of Author

rounded up and were standing guard to fend off any intruders. We actually witnessed bucks chasing smaller satellite bucks away from the herds—just what we hoped and expected to see with the peak rut dates here. Herd bucks will commonly chase another buck several hundred yards away before returning to their herd after chasing the buck away. If it is another dominant buck, a furious head-to-head battle can take place with the champion earning the right to the herd. We worried about even finding the buck ever again, but after searching the area and putting the binoculars on a distant herd, there he was! Only eight does were with and he wasn’t too far from a small drainage. The window of opportunity was mine. I grabbed what I needed, took some advice from my dad and headed up the creek bed with no time to waste. Paying attention to the lay of the land, the wind and the feeding animals, I was able to sneak up quietly, crawling to within 150 yards of where they fed. After many failed sneaks in the past with this buck, today seemed different, and time went fast. As I looked through the sagebrush, my heart started pounding when I saw the buck unalarmed with his small herd. The advantage we had on this day was the fact that the rut was in high gear and our long-tested method of using an pronghorn buck decoy was about to be put into motion. Realizing my father was watching the

stalk unfold in his spotting scope from a half mile away, I readied an arrow and then raised the decoy and pushed its stake into the hard prairie to see if I could entice the buck into a showdown. Little did I realize how he would react! As soon as I put the decoy up and looked around the edge for a reaction the dominant king took one look and went into an immediate head down charge toward me. Wow! With the animal just over 150 yards away and on a dead sprint, I made a decision to pull my bow right away and wait behind the decoy for him to arrive and then see what the distance would be. As my father watched in the spotting scope, he later recalled that the instant the decoy went up, he watched an immediate charge and said to himself, “You better get ready, son—he’s coming in to kick your #$%.” There was one small depression just 30 yards in front of me and I briefly saw the tips of the buck’s horns at 40 yards still coming fast. Unbelievably the buck came around the decoy in short order and stopped dead in his tracks the moment he noticed the decoy with me at full draw behind it. He was only 25 yards away quartering toward me. It seemed like the whole scenario played out in just seconds and I knew I would use my closest sight pin. As I let the arrow fly I instantly heard the wallop and saw the red flash right near the tail end of the ribcage with the pronghorn slightly

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.

WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/SRCROMER

quartered toward me. It was a magnificent sight to have such a dominant, majestic buck within feet of where I hunched behind my decoy. My heart jumped as I realized I just arrowed the largest buck I had ever decoyed, and it appeared to be a lethal hit. It was almost surreal as the buck went 75 yards and stood motionless with his head down. Shortly after that he lay down, and even though I felt very good about the shot placement, I waited and tried to control my emotions until the binoculars told us he was lying on his side. As many hunters know, it is very tough to describe the excitement, thrill, and satisfaction of taking a trophy animal when the odds are stacked against you and the adrenalin of that moment overtakes you!

As my father watched in the spotting scope, he later recalled that the instant the decoy went up, he watched an immediate charge and said to himself, “You better get ready, son–he’s coming in to kick your #$%.”

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Keenan celebrated with his father Bill. His pronghorn, scoring 80-2/8 points was taken in Perkins County, South Dakota, in 2016.

As I held the animal’s horns in various positions to record photos of the thrilling moment, I was still shaking from the excitement. We were trying to soak up every second of a rare and exhilarating hunt, one which we will all remember for the rest of our lives. Sharing the thrill with my father and best friend only added to the entire experience.

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When my hunting partner, Carl Johnson, and my father Bill and I walked up on the buck, there was sheer celebration for several minutes. An admiration of a downed majestic trophy and the thanks and respect to the landowner who allowed us to do what we love to do. We felt blessed to have shared the hunt and the entire experience together. As I held the animal’s horns in various positions to record photos of the thrilling moment, I was still shaking from the excitement. We were trying to soak up every second of a rare and

exhilarating hunt, one which we will all remember for the rest of our lives. Sharing the thrill with my father and best friend only added to the entire experience. After making the trip back home and having the buck officially scored, his specs included a 16-7/8 horn length, 6½-inch bases, good prongs and heavy mass all the way to the top. His final score is 80-2/8, which officially makes him a “Booner.” He now ranks as the All-time No. 9 pronghorn for archery kills in South Dakota. The memories and challenges of archery hunting and harvesting a Boone and Crockett prairie king will be cherished forever. n

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onX and B&C

onX founder Eric Siegfried grew up spotting and stalking pronghorn and mule deer through the sagebrush plains of eastern Montana.

heodore Roosevelt was the most prolific author to ever hold the highest office of the country. While his love of writing and skill, in which he was able to execute these endeavors, is honored by the Club to this day with our top notch publication division, it was his love of the exchange of information that drove him to write. With topics such as wildlife conservation, a thoughtful course of both preservation and conservation through parks and national forests, and a whole laundry list of other topics of which he was an expert, it leaves no doubt that the newest business to step up as a Trailblazing Sponsor of the Boone and Crockett Club holds the topics of public lands and wildlife very close as did our founder as well. onX’s history of their founding highlights a love for what Boone and Crockett strives to ensure exists today and into the future; natural places, wildlife, and the promotion of the rugged life. Hunting Montana is a tale of changing landscapes. onX founder Eric Siegfried grew up spotting and stalking pronghorn and mule deer through the sagebrush plains of the east, but when his career path took him west, to Missoula, he found a land of dark timber and uncharted private property boundaries. Unfamiliar land is a big challenge facing a hunter and Siegfried took it head on. He started by loading public land data onto his GPS and immediately realized the importance of location data for explorers and hunters. With the use of his engineering degree from Montana State, he began the mass production of his personal GPS chip and onX became the leading name in GPS map data. In 2013 his new company took the outdoor tech industry to new levels by providing comprehensive landowner maps on a phone screen with the advent of the Hunt app, solidifying onX as a leader in the hunting industry.

Layer features and highlights U ses a heatmap to show concentrations of trophy animals taken across the country. The darker the color on the map means the more trophies harvested in that county from 1830 to present. n Tap and hold an area and the number of trophy animals per species per county will be brought up. n Choose records from 16 big game species including: black bear, bison, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Canada Moose, Columbian blacktail deer, cougar, Coues’ deer, desert bighorn sheep, American elk, mule deer, pronghorn, Roosevelt’s elk, Rocky Mountain goat, Shiras’ moose, whitetail deer and tule elk. n

In addition to their unwavering support of conservation, public land access and the Boone and Crockett Club, onX is offering a map layer that helps hunters find the highest concentrations of Boone and Crockett record entries for every county in the nation.

It is with great pleasure we announce this partnership and we ask our associates and members to reciprocate the favor by supporting onX when and where you can. From our beginnings to today, Boone and Crockett still promotes the exploration of these great lands and promotion of our wildlife. We are proud to have onX standing with us in this mission to help all enjoy the wildlife and habitat of this great country. 70 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for high quality game animals, the Boone and Crockett layer provides detailed information regarding trophy class species for every state in the country. For just $9.99/yr view the color-coded heat map of the US broken out by counties. This layer has been built in collaboration with the B&C Club, and a portion of all sales go to support their mission. For more information about the onX Hunt App go to onXmaps.com/hunt

proud supporter of

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OFFICIAL MEASURER RENEWAL MAILING I would like to personally thank all those Official Measurers who have expressed their commitment to B&C by renewing their appointments. I can assure you that your commitment to B&C is greatly appreciated. Please note that the renewal packets with your Official Measurer credentials were dropped in the mail the last week in May. If you have not received your packet by the time you are reading this column, please don’t hesitate to contact Justin or Kyle at B&C headquarters (406) 542-1888, and let them know; there is important information that you need to do your job as a measurer. RECORDS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIG GAME, 14TH EDITION TO BE PUBLISHED THIS FALL

This is a heads-up to let you know that B&C will be publishing the 14th edition of its extremely popular records book, Records of North American Big Game, this fall. This book, which is only published every six years, is the most comprehensive big game records book ever, cataloging the greatest big game taken in North America. Now in a two-volume set, it will include 32,000 trophy listings with over 650 color photos and a selection of intriguing chapters. The information provided in this edition can be used to assist in getting your trophy of a lifetime. This book will initially be available in a hardcover set limited to 1,000 copies, which comes packaged in a custom 72 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

slipcase. Order early and you’ll be able to pick up a set for 25 to 35 percent off the regular price of $200. Once the set is released this fall, the maximum discount is 20 percent if any copies remain. To pre-order your hardcover set, visit boone-crockett.org/ recordsbook or call headquarters weekdays from 9-4 at (406) 542-1888. Go to page 38 of this issue of Fair Chase for more details. NEW OFFICIAL MEASURERS

Richard Hale, Justin Spring, Kyle Lehr, and I would like to congratulate and welcome the 46 new Official Measurers, representing 25 states, who successfully completed one of two Official Measurer training workshops recently held in Missoula, Montana. All are qualified to immediately begin scoring trophies for all 38 categories of North American

TROPHY TALK

big game recognized by the Club. We are very pleased with the enthusiasm and professionalism everyone brought to these two workshops. If you’re interested in contacting one of these new measurers to score a trophy for you, or to contact the nearest qualified scorer in your state or province, please go to B&C’s website boone-crockett.org, click on the Big Game Records banner, then drop down to Find an Official Measurer. If you’re interested in being considered for a future Official Measurer appointment, please also click on the same banner and drop down to Becoming a Measurer to obtain an application. The records department is hoping to conduct several other workshops this year, but most are already full.

JACK RENEAU B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Director Emeritus

OFFICIAL MEASURER LU ZIMMERMAN

It is always with true sadness that I hear of the passing of one of our dedicated Official Measurers. So, it was no different when I recently heard of the untimely passing of Wisconsin Official Measurer Lu Zimmerman – Official Measurer Ken Zimmerman’s

RECENTLY APPOINTED OFFICIAL MEASURERS Michael Ali - Canastota, NY Robert D. Allen - Mt. Holly, NC Chad J. Bishop - Missoula, MT James C. Boyd - Butte, MT Richard H. Britt - Signal Mountain, TN Jason K. Browning - Las Cruces, NM Justin R. Bullard - Callahan, FL David L. Burkhead - Denison, TX Mark Clausen - Pierre, SD Gregory B. Davis - Farmington, AR Shawn Duchow - Mead, WA Kyle A. Easley - McKinney, TX Richie Estes - Columbia, KY Carey J. Ferrell - Cloquet, MN Aaron M. Freitas - Malin, OR TJ Gould - Missoula, MT Clifford T. Gray - Eagle, CO Arthur F. Hayes - Birney, MT Everett Headley - Stevensville, MT Ryan E. Huffman - Waterford, OH Stephen J. Hutton - Conrad, MT Erik G. Johnson - Mount Vernon, WA Arlen D. Lipper - Kimberling City, MO

Alec S. Lloyd - Pioche, NV Michael C. MacEachern - Council Bluffs, IA Clinton B. McPhaul - Paige, TX Dennis A. Michael - Lewiston, ID Joshua J. Millspaugh - Missoula, MT Brian Munis - Philipsburg, MT Thamera A. Munis - Phillipsburg, MT Jeffrey A. Onysko - Oakville, CA George A. Parris - Audubon, IA James R. Peterson - Missoula, MT Kenneth J. Rimer - Hammond, WI Aaron Roberts - Livingston, MT Brett C. Ross - Katy, TX Jeffrey L. Schneider - Bismarck, ND William F. Seybold - Lewiston, ID Gary M. Wegner - Franklin, WI Gerry R. Wegner - Cudahy, WI Mathias L. Weinzen - Coal Center, PA Robert P. Wood - Cincinnati, OH Jennifer L. Wood - Cincinnati, OH Donal A. Woodard - Pawhuska, OK Paul M. Zelisko - Lake Forest, IL Kenneth Z. Zimmerman - Martinsburg, PA

wife. Ken was appointed an Official Measurer in 1999, and Lu was appointed in 2011 after successfully completing an Official Measurer workshop here in Missoula, Montana. After sending our condolences to Ken and his family, I received a handwritten thankyou note from Ken along with a photograph of Lu’s stone. I was so touched, I thought I would share the note and photograph with everyone. Ken’s note said, “Dear Jack, Thank you so much for what you have done for Lu and me. Here is a picture of Lu’s stone, it meant so much to her to be an Official Measurer, and I really enjoyed going and measuring with her. I miss her so much and so many people enjoyed being with her. Thank you my friend! Ken” Ken and Lu are in our thoughts and prayers!

Lu and Ken are so dedicated that they put their Official Measurer appointments on their tombstone.

RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

I’m especially reminded at this time that there is a beginning and an end to all earthly things. This will be my last Trophy Talk column as I officially retire on August 1, 2017. I first started working with Boone and Crockett Club’s Awards Programs back in January 1976 when I was hired as a hunter information specialist by Harold Nesbitt, the manager of the Hunting Activities Department of the National Rifle Association, in Washington, D.C. From start to finish, that’s approaching 42 years, and what a ride it has been. I looked forward to going to work every morning. B&C and NRA were co-sponsoring the Club’s records-keeping activities at that time under an umbrella agreement known as the North American Big Game Awards Program, which was also known by its acronym as NABGAP. B&C remained the governing body of the Club’s records-keeping activities, and NRA provided the staff to process trophy entries, train measurers, conduct Awards Programs, publish records books, and a myriad of other day-to-day responsibilities.

April 21-25 Workshop Class

LEFT: Jack assisted with conducting 13 Awards Program banquets; served on 2 Judges Panels. BELOW: Jack Reneau at the 16th Awards Program in 1977, with the former World’s Record mountain caribou taken by Garry Beaubien.

I took a brief hiatus from NRA and the records program in 1979 to work for Six Rivers National Forest as a wildlife biologist on the Mad River Ranger District in Northern California. I wanted to get some first-hand field level experience early in my professional career before it was “too late.” When that cooperative agreement was dissolved in 1980, the Club set up its first office in Alexandria, Virginia, with Harold Nesbitt as the executive director. When I left NRA, he told me to call him if I ever wanted my position back. That phone call was made from a roadside phone booth (long before cell phones) June 9-13 Workshop Class

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TROPHY TALK in 1983 in Northern California on the way back from a pheasant hunt at Tule Lake to ask him if that offer was still good. He said yes and rehired me as the Director of Big Game Records before we hung up. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then. I have processed thousands of trophy entries; continued to develop the measurer training program; trained approximately 1,300 Official Measurers; coedited more than 50 B&C publications, including 7 all-time records books, 12 awards books, and 6 editions of the Official Measurer’s manual; assisted with conducting 13 Awards Program banquets; served on 2 Judges Panels; edited the Associates Newsletter/Fair Chase magazine for 30 years; and written 110 “Trophy Talk” columns. I

only missed two columns in all those years—one because the space was needed for another topic that took precedence, and I was ill for the second one. In 1986 I remember Harold Nesbitt telling me that he was thinking of creating an Associates Program with a newsletter that was going to be available to anyone who wanted a way to associate themselves with B&C. The first issue was published in February 1987. In addition to being the assistant editor of the fledgling newsletter, Harold assigned me the task of writing this quarterly column that he called “Trophy Talk.” It was to be the Club’s official publication of record to communicate official policies, scoring procedure/changes, updates, etc., with the public, but especially with Official Measurers. As I head into my retirement, at the risk of overlooking someone. I want to say goodbye, and thank those individuals who have supported me over the years. I would first LEFT: Richard Hale, chair of the Records Committee presented Jack with his Official Measurer belt buckle at the 29th Big Game Awards Program in Springfield, Missouri.

LEFT: Jack and Susan enjoying themselves at the 28th Big Game Awards Banquet in Reno, Nevada. 74 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

like to thank B&C’s cadre of Official Measurers and the patrons of this column alike. Over the years, I have come to consider all of you as personal friends even though we have rarely had a chance to visit in person, other than by email, over the phone, and/or through “Trophy Talk.” Thank you for all you have done for B&C. I have always appreciated our relationship. I want to thank Harold Nesbitt for hiring a young graduate student back in 1976 during the bicentennial year and again in 1983. It was a sincere pleasure and privilege to work with and for him. I especially appreciate the opportunities I had to spend time with him in Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado chasing pronghorn, deer, and elk. I want to thank all the members of the Boone and Crockett Club for their support over the years. It has been a sincere honor and pleasure to work with and for all of you over the years. I still look forward to continue working with the Club’s records program in the future. I also want to thank all 16 members of Boone and Crockett Club’s staff. Whether I ever said it or not, it was a

great experience working with all of you. Thank you for all the support you gave me, especially with my computer shortcomings, that enabled me to do my job. I have always thought we are all lucky to work for the Boone and Crockett Club in the shadows of Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, etc., and especially with such a dedicated, talented, and professional staff. However, there is no one I need to thank more than my wonderful wife Susan for supporting and putting up with me since I had the good fortune of meeting her 45 years ago at a square dance. Whether I was attending undergraduate (Colorado State University) or graduate school (Eastern Kentucky University), working for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and three national forests (Pike-San Isabel–Colorado; Daniel Boone– Kentucky; and Six Rivers–California), in addition to Boone and Crockett Club, Susan was always there to support me. Shortly after we were married, she assisted me with collecting (removing) gizzards from 3,000 hunter-taken ducks and Canada geese at a

BELOW: Jack Reneau, right, is pictured with his record typical Coues’ whitetail deer. Also pictured is B&C regular member, Manny Chee, left, and Fernando Manuel (center).

hunters goose processing plant near Paducah, Kentucky, for my master’s thesis titled, Incidences of Availability and Ingestion of Lead Pellets By Waterfowl in Ballard and Madison Counties, Kentucky. As the daughter of a U.S. Marine (WW II, Korea, and Vietnam veteran), who rose through the ranks from private to Lt. Colonel before he retired in 1967, she was used to moving. When there was a change in my career, she was ready to move on short notice, and I can’t thank her enough for that. One last observation I would like to make: as people found out I was retiring, I was repeatedly asked, “What are you going to do now?” The first time I was asked I must admit that I was a little stumped. After giving it some thought, I am really looking forward to spending more time with Susan, Boone and Crockett (our black lab retriever sisters), and Cloud the cat. We will be spending considerable time visiting children and young grandchildren and seeing parts of America and the world that we haven’t seen. As a Vietnam veteran, I will continue volunteering for veterans’ activities as a member of Missoula’s VFW Post 209, with the hopes of fulfilling the only real item on my lifelong bucket list, which is to visit the beaches of Normandy. The real bottom line is, however, that Susan and I plan to do what we really want to do when we want to do it. God bless all of you, God bless the Boone and Crockett Club, and God bless America! n

BOOK REVIEW PENNSYLVANIA BIG GAME RECORDS 2016 BY BOB D’ANGELO

I recently became aware that the Pennsylvania Game Commission published a records book titled, Pennsylvania Big Game Records 2016 that contains more than 4,200 entries from the Keystone State in 10 categories. Those are typical and non-typical whitetail deer, black bear, and typical and non-typical American elk—all taken with firearms and archery equipment. A few of the trophies listed in the records were taken 100 or more years ago, including a buck taken by Arthur Young (not of P&Y fame) in 1830. Many others have been taken in recent years, proving that the Keystone State is home to some truly outstanding big-game trophies. Highlights in the 2016 records book include a new No. 11 non-typical (firearms category) for a buck taken in 2015 that scored 200-7/8 inches; a typical buck taken with a bow on Jan. 2, 2016 that scored 162-5/8 inches; a new No. 4 black bear taken in 2015 (firearms category) that scored 22-13/16 inches; and a new No. 5-ranked bull elk in the non-typical firearms category harvested in 2015 that scored 400-1/8 inches. Where in Pennsylvania are the top counties for harvesting a trophy whitetail? This records book is not only interesting, but it is a useful tool to identify where the “big ones” are being taken. The 2016 records book is available for $6 plus $2.95 shipping, plus 6 percent sales tax for Pennsylvania residents. Call 1-888-888-3459 to order with your credit card, or visit “The Outdoor Shop” on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website at pgc.pa.gov. The 2017 edition can be ordered by calling the same number when it comes out.

BIG GAME RECORDS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA EDITOR DOUG JANZ

The 7th edition of the Big Game Records of British Columbia, published by the Wildlife Records Club of British Columbia, was released at the recent Sixteenth Trophy Competition Awards Banquet held in Kamloops, British Columbia. As the Foundation for the Wildlife Records Club (WRC) of British Columbia was originally conceived in Kamloops in 1967, the banquet also celebrated the 50year anniversary of the WRC. With the objective of maintaining a perpetual record of trophy-class big game from British Columbia, the WRC is dedicated to wildlife conservation, selective hunting, and fair chase. Based on Boone and Crockett Club’s scoring system, the 560page book contains more than 10,000 entries in 19 categories, including 1,400 new entries since the 2010 edition. Included are articles of general interest and a wide variety of pictures and entertaining hunting stories related to many of the recent entries. This is a book for all who have an interest in the outstanding diversity and abundance of big game species in British Columbia. The book retails for $35 plus $15 shipping per book. Go to wildliferecordsofbc.com to order online. PayPal and major credit cards are accepted. Purchases to be delivered to a Canadian address should be paid in Canadian funds; all orders to be shipped outside of Canada should be paid in U.S. funds. Copies can be ordered by mail by sending your check to Wildlife Records Club of BC, PO Box 151, Lantzville, BC, V0R 2H0, CANADA.

NORTH DAKOTA BIG GAME RECORDS BOOK BY PATRICIA STOCKDILL

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.

Patricia Stockdill has just published the 7th edition of North Dakota Big Game Records Book. The first edition was published by Lyle Hanson and George Lee in 1993, and Patricia just took over the editorship of this publication. This edition includes detailed trophy data lists on nine categories of North Dakota big game animals, including pronghorn, bighorn sheep, moose, typical and non-typical categories for whitetail deer, mule deer, and American elk. There is a good selection of hunting stories and photos of some of the finest big game specimens ever taken in North Dakota, as well as a chapter on the proper field care of big game. Copies of the 7th edition can be purchased by sending a check or money order for $15 per copy plus $3 shipping and handling to Patricia Stockdill, 1450 42nd Ave NW, Garrison ND 58540. For complete information about this publication, visit Patricia’s website at (www.dancingprairiearts.com).

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 75

JACK STEELE PARKER

GENERATION

NEXT FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

COUGAR 15

Bragg Creek, AB

TYPICAL MULE DEER 187 6/8 196 5/8 181 3/8 183 3/8

Lincoln Co., NV Elbert Co., CO

Easten A. Smith

2015

C. Dillabough

Mason G. Wells 2016 J. Tiberti Davis R. Kendrick 2016 J. Patrick

NON-TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL 155 4/8 159 2/8

Linn Co., OR

Couper L. Hess

2016

D. Waldbillig

TYPICAL SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER 102

106 2/8

Ugak Bay, AK

Michael U. Dickinson

2016

D. Widby

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 169 2/8 193 3/8 167 4/8 180 2/8 161 6/8 177 4/8

Erie Co., OH St. Croix Co., WI Buffalo Co., WI

Mason H. Yates 2016 Luke D. Zillig 2016 William L. Bruggeman IV 2016

A. Cramer W. Bowman J. Lunde

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 206 1/8 210 2/8

Stark Co., IL

Daniel E. Berchtold III

2015

E. Hendricks

BIGHORN SHEEP 180

180 2/8

Chouteau Co., MT

Abbey L. Wink

2016

B. Zundel

DALL’S SHEEP 171 4/8 172

Alaska Range, AK

Mason M. Young

2016

A. Jubenville

Easten A. Smith 76 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

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 Club’s 30th Big Game Awards Program, 2016-2018, 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. This listing represents only those trophies accepted since the Summer 2017 issue of Fair Chase was published.

Michael U. Dickinson

Mason M. Young Luke D. Zillig

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FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 77

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES The following pages list the most recent big game trophies accepted into Boone and Crockett Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 30th Big Game Awards Program, 2016-2018, which includes entries received between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. 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 Summer 2017 issue of Fair Chase was published. SPONSORED BY

78 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

30 BIG GAME AWARDS TH

LISTING AND PHOTO GALLERY Adam M. Schumacher took this typical Sitka blacktail deer, scoring 108-1/8 points, on a hunt on Kodiak Island, Alaska, in 2016. He was shooting a .300 Ultra.

TOP TO BOTTOM

BEAR & COUGAR FINAL SCORE

LOCATION

BLACK BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 23-10/16 23 1/16 22 7/16 21 7/16 21 5/16 21 3/16 21 1/16 21 1/16 21 20 14/16 20 13/16 20 11/16 20 7/16 20 7/16 20 3/16 20 3/16 20 2/16

Rio Arriba Co., NM Lake Manitoba, MB Lewis Co., WA Pitt Co., NC Washoe Co., NV La Plata Co., CO Peace River, AB Penobscot Co., ME Van Buren Co., AR Potter Co., PA Dawson Co., GA Lane Co., OR Orleans Co., VT Coconino Co., AZ Charles Lake, AB DeBolt, AB

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

Thomas B. Lyne III Brian D. Olson Kyle N. Aselton Ronald Harris, Jr. Jack O. Spencer, Jr. Russell D. Dufva Gordon B. Nuttall David A. Ferrari John C. Nelson Mark J. Samsell James C. Arrington Ryan D. Butler Jeremy R. McDonald Ronald J. Baron Evan J. Mitchell Serge Lariviere

2016 2015 2016 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2012

B. Lambert E. Parker R. Spaulding B. Nash L. Clark T. Watts R. Visscher A. Wentworth W. Spence R. Kingsley S. Frazier D. Heffner C. Smiley P. Dalrymple B. Daudelin R. Groleau

This Alaska brown bear, scoring 29-1/16 points, was taken by B&C Associate Jason B. Leeper, near Frazer Lake, Alaska, in 2016. He was shooting a .375 H&H. B&C Associate Michael A. Rendon was on an hunt in Catron County, New Mexico, when he took this cougar, scoring 14-9/16 points, in 2015. In 2015, Patricia R. Noriega harvested this 368-1/8-point typical American elk while on a hunt in White Pine County, Nevada.

GRIZZLY BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 27-13/16 24 11/16 23 15/16

Williston Lake, BC Three Mile Creek, BC

Julian Kurjata 2016 R. Berreth Malcolm R. Bachand 2016 R. Petrie

ALASKA BROWN BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 30-12/16 29 1/16 26 5/16 26 1/16

Frazer Lake, AK Cape Aliaksin, AK Iliamna Lake, AK

Jason B. Leeper Jay D. Otto Timothy M. Baydo

2016 K. Kelso 2008 R. Burtis 2011 R. Spaulding

COUGAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 16-4/16 15 2/16 15 1/16 15 14 9/16 14 8/16

Lemieux Creek, BC Paddle River, AB San Juan Co., UT Catron Co., NM Jefferson Co., OR

Russell A. Dana Brad W. McMann Toby T. Parker Michael A. Rendon Kyle C. Bemrose

2016 2015 2015 2015 2017

D. Milton A. England J. Ohmer K. Witt S. Wilkins

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

ELK & MULE DEER FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 442-5/8 405 6/8 411 3/8 383 7/8 394 3/8 376 389 373 5/8 390 2/8 370 2/8 390 5/8 368 6/8 385 3/8 368 1/8 374 6/8 364 7/8 369 1/8 364 2/8 385 2/8 362 5/8 368 3/8

Fergus Co., MT Brandon J. Monday White Pine Co., NV Michael T. Kinney Musselshell Co., MT Carl L. Stites Los Alamos Co., NM Douglas J. Aikin Las Animas Co., CO Lee J. Ledet Last Mountain Bradly A. Nameth Lake, SK White Pine Co., NV Patricia R Noriega Devils Lake, SK Glen R. Dodd Montezuma Co., CO Donald R. Janz Shell Valley, MB Curtis C. Bell

2016 2016 2016 2014 2016 2016

B. Smith S. Sanborn B. Novosad R. Madsen K. Witt J. Lorenz

2015 2016 2016 2016

S. Sanborn J. Lorenz B. Long G. Daneliuk

NON-TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 478-5/8 461 406 4/8 401 4/8 387 2/8

476 1/8 419 2/8 415 2/8 395

Long Lake, SK Centre Co., PA Wells Lake, SK Granite Creek, BC

Kyla R. Krushelniski Joshua D. Fuqua Cory G. Hjelsing Greg E. Munch

2016 2016 2015 2016

B. Rehman T. Ross J. Lorenz L. Hill

ROOSEVELT’S ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 404-6/8 331 2/8 321 1/8 314 5/8 308 4/8 288 1/8 284 6/8

339 6/8 335 6/8 325 7/8 315 6/8 299 2/8 308 6/8

Del Norte Co., CA Campbell Lake, BC Columbia Co., OR Campbell River, BC Polk Co., OR Elbow Creek, BC

Daniel D. Bowering David D. Jones Bruce W. Beswick Paul E. Wollenman Brandon Tisdel Brian H. Sommerfeld

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

C. Wenger K. Brunt T. Rozewski D. Eider T. Rozewski F. Pringle

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 79

TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 226-4/8 203 6/8 207 6/8 Sonora, MX Robert D. Davidson 2016 T. Caruthers 200 7/8 214 7/8 Boise Co., ID Michael B. Brown 2016 R. Addison 199 205 3/8 Gunnison Co., CO John N. Etchison 2016 J. Bugni 193 7/8 201 1/8 Nye Co., NV Paul T. Young 2016 S. Sanborn 187 7/8 192 2/8 Mohave Co., AZ Roy G. Williams 2016 P. Dalrymple 185 2/8 192 5/8 Ravalli Co., MT Kyla M. Blaine 2016 K. Lehr 181 3/8 203 Archuleta Co., CO Joseph M. Sanders 2016 E. Stanosheck 181 183 3/8 Natrona Co., WY Todd M. Glass 2016 D. Meger 180 7/8 196 7/8 El Paso Co., CO Chad T. Crittenden 2012 M. Stewart 180 4/8 188 6/8 Garfield Co., CO Timothy E. Thomsen 2016 D. Wellman 180 1/8 188 Kit Carson Co., CO Luke L. Tesvich III 2016 G. Adkisson NON-TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 355-2/8 265 1/8 286 245 6/8 255 6/8 233 3/8 236 232 2/8 237 7/8 226 7/8 234 4/8 225 230 3/8 219 2/8 223 2/8 216 2/8 218 6/8

Willow Bunch, SK Shawn R. Helland Cache Co., UT Scott J. Peterson Millard Co., UT Blake K. Myers Lake Sarah Schroeder Diefenbaker, SK Custer Co., ID Abraham C. Lloyd Elko Co., NV Gary R. Barrus Lemhi Co., ID Thomas R. Dodd North Chad E. Payne Saskatchewan River, SK

2016 2012 2016 2016

C. Fink D. Nielsen A. Wood D. Pezderic

2016 2016 2016 2016

R. Addison P. Podborny H. Wilson A. England

TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 182-2/8 136 5/8 135 3/8 131 3/8 130 7/8 129 7/8 126 3/8 125

157 4/8 139 1/8 141 132 7/8 133 3/8 129 4/8 127 7/8

Snohomish Co., WA Laurie A. Fuller Columbia Co., OR Jerry D. Donovan Lane Co., OR Spencer L. Traxtle San Mateo Co., CA Daniel R. Caughey III San Mateo Co., CA Daniel R. Caughey III Washington Co., OR Donald A. Benson San Mateo Co., CA Picked Up

2015 2016 2016 2008 2007 2016 2010

D. Waldbillig D. Waldbillig T. Rozewski D. Caughey D. Caughey T. Rozewski D. Caughey

TYPICAL SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 133 108 1/8 109 7/8 Kodiak Island, AK

Adam M. Schumacher 2016 C. Brent

WHITETAIL DEER FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

TOP TO BOTTOM:

This typical mule deer, scoring 187-7/8 points, was taken by Roy G. Williams in Mohave County, Arizona, on a hunt in 2016. He was shooting a .264 Winchester Mag. Sarah Schroeder was on a hunt near Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan, when she harvested this non-typical mule deer, scoring 232-2/8 points. She was shooting a .308 Winchester. Daniel R. Caughey III took this typical Columbia blacktail, scoring 129-7/8 points, in 2007 in San Mateo County, California. He was shooting a .300 Winchester Mag.

80 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 213-5/8 194 3/8 214 3/8 Clinton Co., OH Steven N. Davis 2016 G. Trent 187 3/8 198 3/8 Eau Claire Co., WI Picked Up 2016 J. Hjort 185 1/8 203 7/8 North William H. Hedges 2016 F. Giuliani Saskatchewan River, SK 181 3/8 193 Brown Co., NE Cody J. Childers 2016 W. Vodehnal 180 2/8 187 De Witt Co., IL William J. Macklin 2014 A. Crum 179 5/8 185 4/8 Furnas Co., NE Chad M. Slominski 2016 R. Stutheit 178 6/8 188 2/8 Monroe Co., MI Michael V. Wood 2016 B. Nash 177 2/8 182 2/8 Richland Co., WI Trevor A. Hinz 2016 T. Heil 175 3/8 182 2/8 Adams Co., IA Markus C. Moore 2016 C. Pierce 175 3/8 180 Stanley Co., SD Keith G. Cooper 2016 W. Jackson 175 2/8 177 4/8 Marathon Co., WI Jerry L. Bloch 2016 T. Heil 173 5/8 181 5/8 Adams Co., IL Adam B. Shelton 2016 S. Daniels 173 185 1/8 Carroll Co., OH Gwen R. Miller 2016 G. Block 172 5/8 188 3/8 Trempealeau Co., WI Kary J. Fox 2016 C. Pierce 172 1/8 176 Pierce Co., WI Trent J. Kowalchyk 2016 S. Ashley 172 174 7/8 Washington Co., KS Brian W. Fyfe 2016 T. Baine 171 5/8 186 Jefferson Co., KY Joseph C. Russell 2016 K. Stockdale 171 4/8 174 7/8 Ingham Co., MI Jason L. Cummings 2016 R. Banaszak 171 4/8 189 2/8 Beatton River, BC Anthony J. Brazil 2016 K. Ferris 170 6/8 185 Todd Co., KY Danny West 2016 W. Cooper 170 5/8 173 7/8 Oxford Co., ME Corey A. Bernard 2016 T. Montgomery 170 4/8 202 Franklin Co., KS Barry L. Carpenter 2015 R. Krueger 170 1/8 173 6/8 Bell Co., KY Rickey D. West 2016 D. Weddle 170 178 Lyman Co., SD Jeremy D. Funke 2016 B. Hagy 168 5/8 175 Buffalo Co., WI Jacob M. Schultz 2016 D. Boland 168 1/8 171 3/8 Wood Co., WV Norman N. Troyer 2016 J. Westfall 167 1/8 175 7/8 Geauga Co., OH Keith R. Landies 2015 R. Davis 166 6/8 176 7/8 Saint-François Carlos Alberto 2016 E. Tremblay River, QC Vazquez Herrera 166 5/8 172 2/8 Crisp Co., GA Jeff E. Davis 2016 W. Cooper

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER CONTINUED 166 4/8 174 7/8 166 171 7/8 165 2/8 194 6/8 165 177 4/8 164 6/8 175 1/8 164 6/8 168 3/8 164 1/8 172 6/8 164 1/8 167 163 7/8 178 5/8 163 7/8 193 6/8 163 6/8 181 2/8 163 2/8 189 1/8 163 2/8 173 6/8 163 174 7/8 162 5/8 173 6/8 162 4/8 165 5/8 162 3/8 180 1/8 162 2/8 173 1/8 162 2/8 174 1/8 162 1/8 180 161 7/8 173 4/8 161 5/8 167 3/8 161 5/8 175 161 4/8 164 5/8 161 2/8 164 161 2/8 164 1/8 161 188 5/8 160 6/8 163 5/8 160 3/8 181 7/8 160 3/8 164 2/8 160 2/8 166 7/8 160 2/8 176 4/8 160 2/8 164 5/8 160 1/8 162 7/8 160 170 4/8

Douglas Co., MN Leoville, SK Grant Co., WI Monroe Co., AR Barron Co., WI Marshall Co., IL Bureau Co., IL Calhoun Co., IA Cross Co., AR Pickaway Co., OH Jewell Co., KS Lorain Co., OH Throckmorton Co., TX Douglas Co., MN Eau Claire Co., WI Vinton Co., OH Clarke Co., IA Barron Co., WI Beaver Co., PA Laurel Co., KY Meigs Co., OH Hardin Co., KY Knox Co., KY Henderson Co., KY Calumet Co., WI Moniteau Co., MO Polk Co., WI Polk Co., WI Jackson Co., KY Jefferson Co., IA Coahoma Co., MS Jewell Co., KS Porter Co., IN Rutherford Co., TN Somerset Co., NJ

Randy J. Schoeneck Thomas J. Widmer Robert D. Burbach Billy E. Knight Kirk J. Brettingen Andrew M. LeRoy Jared R. Donna James A. Conley Janie C. Clark Mac L. Moore Louie D. Dillon, Jr. Troy L. Jude John E. Shelly III

2006 2016 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

D. Boland J. Knevel J. Lunde J. Harmon L. Zimmerman A. Shofner A. Shofner L. Miller D. Boland A. Cramer S. Durham A. Cramer E. Stanosheck

Thomas A. Morisette John J. Simon Matthew C. Combs Rodney L. Deal, Jr. Nicholas D. Zeamer Mark R. Hogan Dylan M. Brock Gary D. Underhill Patrick A. Meredith Cody L. Daniels Kevin D. Keaton Marlys A. Stroobants Keith B. Hendrix Alec C. Lloyd-Adams Trevor R. Carlson Terry W. Isaacs Kevin L. Durbin Thomas E. Baine Lane A. Underwood David R. Meyne Keith T. Wheat Michael G. Carr

2016 2016 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2012 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

T. Kalsbeck T. Heil G. Trent L. Miller S. Zirbel G. Block D. Weddle J. Satterfield D. Weddle D. Weddle S. Daniels S. Zirbel L. Redel J. Lunde J. Lunde D. Weddle C. Coburn W. Walters J. Lunde J. Bogucki R. Skoglund K. Griglak

TOP TO BOTTOM:

While on a 2016 crossbow hunt in Linn County, Iowa, Daron L. Dudley took this non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 213-2/8 points. This typical whitetail deer, scoring 170 points, was taken by Jeremy D. Funke while hunting in Lyman County, South Dakota, in 2016. “Thanks for all that your foundation does for us as hunters as a whole. This buck was harvested on public land with a compound bow. A hunt of a lifetime.” - Jeremy D. Funke

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 333-7/8 282 2/8 288 4/8 Fayette Co., IA Deric J. Sieck 2016 L. Streiff 246 6/8 258 1/8 Wabaunsee Co., KS Douglas A. Lewis 2016 S. Ivey 219 7/8 228 1/8 Pottawatomie Richard A. Anderson 2016 T. Reitz Co., KS 214 1/8 218 5/8 Cass Co., IL Bradley A. Fox 2015 T. Grover 213 2/8 220 2/8 Linn Co., IA Daron L. Dudley 2016 L. Miller 213 2/8 218 2/8 Marion Co., MO Jeffrey K. Hatton 2016 G. Webber 212 6/8 216 3/8 Monroe Co., IL Brock C. Durbin 2016 T. Walmsley 210 2/8 212 4/8 Athens Co., OH Patrick L. Price 2016 G. Surber 209 2/8 215 2/8 Crawford Co., WI William P. Wallock 2016 G. Hisey 209 1/8 221 2/8 Marshall Co., KS Jesse A. Brewer 2010 R. Krueger 209 224 3/8 Roger Mills Co., OK Clark A. Calaway 2015 M. Crocker 208 6/8 216 3/8 Pike Co., MO Gerald J. Jones III 2016 J. Detjen 208 216 4/8 Loon Lake, SK Scott A. Zerka 2016 L. Buck 206 6/8 212 4/8 Norton Co., KS Robert D. Miller 2016 M. Moline 206 1/8 208 2/8 Russell Co., KS Mark A. Morris 2016 T. Berger 202 2/8 203 6/8 Crawford Co., WI David W. Cummings 2016 S. Godfrey 202 2/8 213 7/8 Richardson Co., NE Anthony J. Ahern 2016 R. Mort 201 6/8 205 4/8 Casey Co., KY James B. Bishop 2016 D. Weddle 201 4/8 204 5/8 Benton Co., MO Kevin E. Charles 2016 J. Harmon 200 2/8 208 6/8 Warren Co., OH Paul L. McCandless 2016 G. Trent 199 6/8 208 2/8 Laclede Co., MO Justin M. Norman 2016 L. Redel 199 2/8 204 7/8 Crystal Beach Steven G. Seltenrich 2016 D. Pezderic Lake, SK 198 7/8 204 5/8 Douglas Co., NE Avery C. Rolland 2016 R. Krueger 198 1/8 204 3/8 Phillips Co., AR Joshua D. Bartlett 2016 B. Sanford 197 5/8 209 7/8 McDonald Co., MO Carter W. Boatright 2016 C. Newcomb 197 1/8 210 1/8 McCreary Co., KY Daniel M. Lay 2016 D. Weddle 196 7/8 210 Arkansas Co., AR Brandon A. Brewer 2016 B. Sanford 195 7/8 201 3/8 St. Charles Co., MO Trevor D. Besselman 2016 S. Corley 195 4/8 198 6/8 Knox Co., IN Keith D. Stephens 2015 R. Graber 195 3/8 200 3/8 Franklin Co., IN Brandon L. Watkins 2016 L. Loranzan 195 3/8 201 1/8 Quitman Co., MS Michael G. Lancaster 2016 R. Cannon 195 3/8 206 4/8 Sangamon Co., IL William W. Riggins, Jr. 2016 S. McCoy 195 3/8 210 6/8 Story Co., IA Chris A. Eggert 2016 K. Freymiller 195 2/8 201 3/8 Decatur Co., IN Jeffrey J. Berkemeier 2016 J. Hooten 195 206 7/8 Monroe Co., MO Peter C. Schmersahl 2016 D. Hollingsworth 194 200 5/8 Clay Co., AR T.J. Ellis 1904 D. Boland

FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 81

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER CONTINUED 193 6/8 201 4/8 192 3/8 198 4/8 192 3/8 197 6/8 191 3/8 208 191 193 4/8 190 6/8 195 3/8 190 3/8 205 6/8 190 1/8 195 4/8 188 5/8 193 7/8 188 2/8 204 3/8 187 4/8 190 5/8 187 4/8 203 6/8 185 7/8 198 5/8 185 191 4/8

Pulaski Co., KY Pickaway Co., OH St. Clair Co., MO Highland Co., OH Green Lake Co., WI Daviess Co., KY Brown Co., KS Bourbon Co., KS Green Lake Co., WI Perry Co., IN Calumet Co., WI Sullivan Co., IN Assiniboine River, SK Switzerland Co., IN

Brian W. Strunk 2016 C. Joseph Schneider 2016 Ty C. Cumley 2017 Timothy J. Bryson 2016 Gregory J. Kasubaski 2016 Isabela F. Sparks 2016 Victor L. Rimmer 2016 Michael W. Betts 2016 Craig A. Dreger 2016 Rodney E. Miller 2016 Nicole M. Stroobants 2016 W. Henry Vire 2016 Marla M. Geres 2016

D. Weddle R. Deis T. Donnelly T. Schlater M. Miller W. Cooper C. Newcomb R. Spencer M. Miller D. Belwood S. Zirbel J. Bogucki R. Soyka

Michael W. Chambliss 2016 J. Hooten

TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 144-1/8 116

120 6/8 Gila Co., AZ

Michael A. Rendon

2016 K. Witt

NON-TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 196-2/8 126 111 1/8

133 2/8 Greenlee Co., AZ 113 1/8 Sonora, MX

Jack L. Willey 2016 P. Dalrymple Daniel R. Caughey III 2008 D. Caughey

MOOSE AND CARIBOU FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

CANADA MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 242 205 1/8 208 1/8 197 5/8 209 1/8 194 195 2/8 192 6/8 203 2/8 188 5/8 190 1/8 187 191 6/8 185 187 7/8

Muhekun Lake, MB Forillon Peninsula, QC Ogoki Lake, ON Lac Bay, QC Tetsa River, BC Dease Lake, BC Somerset Co., ME

Darrell A. Kehler 2016 E. Parker André-Benoit Cotton 2015 L. Soucy Robert G. Meyer, Jr. Emilien Labelle Jack D. Corr Nicholas M. Blacker Warren M. Bryant

2016 1960 2016 2016 2015

J. Lunde M. Jerome R. Rippentrop R. Berreth J. Arsenault

ALASKA-YUKON MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 266-4/8 239 1/8 255 7/8 Yukon River, YT 233 4/8 236 Stony River, AK 227 2/8 237 7/8 Innoko River, AK 226 2/8 231 7/8 Ogilvie Mts., YT 219 7/8 220 3/8 Gakona River, AK 218 3/8 221 2/8 Innoko River, AK 218 2/8 229 Anvil Range, YT 216 222 4/8 Mackenzie Mts., NT

Kelly R. Kassian Trenton L. Kelley Timothy O. Lorenzini Glen A. Landrus Michael C. Schoneberger Matthew A. Thompson Michael E. Broadwell Ronald J. McMillen

2016 2015 2015 2016 2016

D. Turchanski S. Kleinsmith S. Bayless D. Waldbillig R. Dehart

2016 A. Crum 2016 T. Grabowski 2015 K. Freymiller

SHIRAS’ MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-4/8 177 2/8 175 5/8 147 6/8 146 7/8

186 3/8 176 7/8 151 6/8 154 2/8

Glacier Co., MT Jackson Co., CO Madison Co., MT Bonneville Co., ID

Pat Beane Robert C. Sigman Lucas J. Bateman Joann W. Barry

2016 2016 2013 2016

D. Waldbillig B. Smith K. Lehr T. Stanosheck

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

HORNED GAME FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

PRONGHORN - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 96-4/8

TOP TO BOTTOM:

Matthew C. Combs took this typical whitetail deer, scoring 162-4/8 points, in 2016 while bow hunting in Vinton County, Ohio. This Alaska-Yukon moose, scoring 227-2/8 points, was taken by Timothy O. Lorenzini near Innoko River, Alaska, in 2015. He was shooting a .300 Winchester Short Mag. Carl W. Rose was on a hunt in Humboldt County, Nevada, in 2016, when he harvested this pronghorn, scoring 88-2/8 points.

82 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

88 2/8 88 2/8 87 2/8 85 4/8 85 83 2/8 83 83 82 6/8 82 82 81 6/8 80 4/8

89 1/8 89 3/8 88 86 7/8 85 4/8 84 84 83 6/8 83 7/8 83 1/8 82 5/8 82 6/8 82

Cibola Co., NM Humboldt Co., NV Washoe Co., NV Carbon Co., WY Garfield Co., MT Mora Co., NM Carbon Co., WY Mora Co., NM Fremont Co., WY Coconino Co., AZ Fremont Co., WY Guadalupe Co., NM Mora Co., NM

Leo D. Sandoval Carl W. Rose Thomas E. Ames IV Jami C. Barker Chase E. Brown Grant A. Medlin Warden F. Patzer Van M. Gaskins Catherine E. Bulow Jerry C. Jenkins Vincent A. Cebuhar Daniel E. Schilling Jason Price

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2012 2016 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016

L. Rominger C. Lacey T. Humes R. Stayner B. Zundel T. Adams B. Wilkes O. Carpenter B. Wilkes M. Cupell F. King S. Kleinsmith O. Carpenter

LEFT, TOP TO BOTTOM:

B&C Associate Shawn T. Stolar took this bighorn sheep, scoring 176-5/8 points, in 2016 while hunting in Taos County, New Mexico. He was shooting a 7mm Remington Mag. This non-typical mule deer was taken by B&C Associate Abraham C. Lloyd on a hunt in Custer County, Idaho, in 2016. The buck scores 226-7/8 points. While on a 2016 hunt in Daviess County, Kentucky, Isabela F. Sparks took this non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 190-6/8 points. She was shooting a .270 Winchester.

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM:

B&C Associate Paul E. Wollenman was on a hunt near Campbell River, British Columbia, when he harvested this Rooseveltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elk scoring 308-4/8 points. He was shooting a .300 Ultra. Gordon B. Nuttall was on an archery hunt near Peace River, Alberta, in 2016, when he harvested this black bear scoring 21-1/16 points. FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 83

BISON - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 136-4/8 116 2/8 117 3/8 Farewell Lake, AK

Ryan S.F. Johnson

2015 S. Kleinsmith

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 57-4/8 52 4/8 50 2/8 50 49 4/8 48 4/8 48

53 50 3/8 50 5/8 49 5/8 48 5/8 48 2/8

Atlin Lake, BC Mount Brewer, BC Custer Co., SD Elko Co., NV Skeena Mts., BC Crab River, BC

Thomas D. Connolly 2016 George J. Lachkovics 1986 Robert J. Berg 2016 Raymond M. LaVoie 2016 W. Terry Watkins 2014 Ivan J. Muzljakovich 2014

T. Grabowski E. Swanson L. Gunner L. Clark A. Hammond R. Rockwell

MUSK OX - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 129 114 2/8 115 7/8 Unknown

Unknown

2004 G. Villnow

BIGHORN SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 209-4/8 200 3/8 201 1/8 Fergus Co., MT 194 3/8 195 2/8 Utah Co., UT *191 5/8 192 5/8 Mesa Co., CO 191 4/8 191 6/8 Fording River, BC 188 7/8 189 2/8 Blaine Co., MT 188 1/8 188 4/8 Kananaskis, AB 186 186 6/8 Ravalli Co., MT 185 1/8 188 7/8 Phillips Co., MT 184 6/8 184 7/8 Kananaskis, AB 181 1/8 182 1/8 Baker Co., OR 180 7/8 181 6/8 Granite Co., MT 179 1/8 179 7/8 Lake Co., MT 176 5/8 177 2/8 Taos Co., NM 176 4/8 178 3/8 Gilliam Co., OR

Ryan R. Skillestad 2016 Kyle Ekker 2016 Raymond J. 2015 Bumgardner Picked Up 2015 Ryan L. Amundson 2016 Caleb H. Stone 2016 Thomas D. Henderson 2016 Jonathan M. Harris 2016 Wallace N. Stone 2016 Victor M. Shults 2016 Brian A. Brown 2016 Mark G. Thomas 2016 Shawn T. Stolar 2016 M. Christine Getchell 2016

F. King S. Bagley T. Archibeque D. Patterson K. Monteith B. Seward K. Lehr F. King B. Seward T. Rozewski J. Spring K. Lehr D. Razza T. Rozewski

DESERT SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-1/8 178 4/8 178 1/8 176 2/8 173 2/8 172 2/8

179 178 3/8 176 6/8 173 6/8 174 6/8

Yuma Co., AZ Clark Co., NV Clark Co., NV Nye Co., NV Yuma Co., AZ

Clay E. Goldman Michael T. Kinney Sue A. Kinney Tallen L. Billings Tim B. Melton

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

W. Keebler C. Lacey C. Lacey L. Clark M. Zieser

* Correction from the Summer 2017 issue Trophy Listing

B&C Associate and Official Measurer Clay E. Goldman took this desert sheep, scoring 178-4/8 points, in 2016 while hunting in Yuma County, Arizona. He was shooting a .300 Winchester Short Mag.

TOP TO BOTTOM:

B&C Associate Ryan S.F. Johnson took this bison, scoring 116 2/8 points, in 2015 while hunting near Farewell Lake, Alaska. He was shooting a .300 Winchester Short Mag. Vincent A. Cebuhar took this pronghorn, scoring 82 points, in 2016 while hunting in Fremont County, Wyoming. This Shiras’ moose, scoring 175-5/8 points, was taken by Robert C. Sigman in Jackson County, Colorado, in 2016. He was shooting a .300 Weatherby.

84 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

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FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 85

INTRODUCING HUNT RIGHT; HUNT FAIR CHASE Unless you have been living under a rock for the past several years, this statement will come as no surprise; the image of the North American hunter is at risk. As inconvenient and as hard to believe as this is, it is a reality and one we must face. There was a time when sportsmen were admired and respected for their skills, and unquestioned in their commitments to conservation and how they went about their business. Today, it’s open season on hunting, and not just the activity, but the character of its participants—the hunters.

In the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the Boone and Crockett Club, along with support from industry, NGOs, and the outdoor media, is doing something about our tarnished image. The next reality we must face is that there is no Madison Avenue PR firm we can hire. There is no cleverly crafted national ad campaign targeting non-hunters telling them what a great group of guys and gals we are that stands a chance of polishing up our image and quieting the critics without sportsmen and sportswomen engaging in this effort themselves.

Hunt Right; Hunt Fair Chase is a two-year outreach and communications initiative for today’s sportsmen. Its purpose is to educate, inspire, and invigorate our commitment to fair chase hunting and to help all of us become better brand ambassadors for hunting. In any national debate, one in which your motives, actions, and relevance are under question, in order to be heard and understood you must first have earned your permission to speak. Fair chase is our permission to speak. It says that for over a century hunters have held themselves to a higher

standard of ethical behavior that extends beyond game laws. It says hunting is conducted by principled men and women committed to something greater than themselves and just a kill. Hunt Right; Hunt Fair Chase will appear as a national ad campaign across print and digital platforms. Below is a sample of what you will be seeing. To learn more visit huntfairchase.com

Be on the look out for Hunt Right; Hunt Fair Chase ads in your favorite hunting and conservation magazines.

THE

MEASURE

OF A HUNT Just any ram is not what it’s about for me. Mountain sheep are too special to just notch a tag because I could. Taking a mature ram or nothing at all is the contract I made with myself. The tape only tells me I lived up to my end of the deal.

Hunt Right, Hunt Hard

HUNT FAIR CHASE

The measure of a hunt is the measure of ourselves.

#HuntRight

86 FA I R CH A S E | FA LL 2 0 17

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FAIR CHAS E | FAL L 2 0 17 87

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