Fair Chase Spring 2018 by Boone and Crockett Club

SPRING 2018 | $9.95

CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROTECTING HUNTERS’ RIGHTS

It’s who we are. It’s what we do.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Volume 34 n Number 1 n Spring 2018

18. The .270: America’s Cartridge

26. Poach and Pay

FROM THE EDITOR

FROM THE PRESIDENT | Seeing the Forests for the Trees

CAPITOL COMMENTS | Will We See a “Science-based” Budget?

ACCURATE HUNTER | The Long-Range Game

THE .270: AMERICA’S CARTRIDGE

POACH AND PAY: AN OVERVIEW OF STATE FISH

WHY WE HUNT; THE ETHICS OF SPORT HUNTING Theodore R. Vitali

Doug Painter

58. Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt

48. Bad Shots

B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr.

Steven Williams

Craig Boddington

Wayne van Zwoll

AND WILDLIFE AGENCY RESTITUTION PROGRAMS FOR ILLEGALLY TAKEN BIG GAME SPECIES

Vickie Edwards

A LOOK BACK | Fair Chase Magazine and the B&C Associates Program

40 SCIENCE BLASTS | Wolves, Cougars, Elk, and Deer in Oregon John F. Organ 44 48

54. Talking About Ethics Only Divides Hunters

EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS The University of Georgia

BAD SHOTS

TALKING ABOUT ETHICS ONLY DIVIDES HUNTERS

WYOMING WOMEN’S ANTELOPE HUNT

BEYOND THE SCORE | Big Game, Big Rewards

TROPHY TALK | Policy and Procedure Changes

GENERATION NEXT | 30th Awards Youth Trophy List

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES AND TROPHY PHOTO GALLERY 30 th Awards Program Entries

COVER A mule deer buck in the brush in Colorado. © Peter Eades/ Images On The Wildside. @BooneAndCrockettClub #BooneAndCrockettClub

Jim Vincent

Brenda Weatherby

Byron Kibby

Justin Spring

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Photos from the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch

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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 Anthony J. Caligiuri Vice President of Communications CJ Buck Foundation President – R. Terrell McCombs Class of 2018 Paul V. Phillips Class of 2019 A.C. Smid Class of 2020 John P. Evans

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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 CJ Buck Kendall Hoxsey Kyle M. Lehr Marc Mondavi Jack Reneau Tony A. Schoonen Justin Spring Julie L. Tripp Editorial Contributors Craig Boddington Vickie Edwards B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Byron Kibby John F. Organ Doug Painter Justin Spring Jim Vincent Theodore R. Vitali Brenda Weatherby Steven Williams Wayne van Zwoll Photographic Contributors Peter Eades Donal M. Jones Mark Mesenko Mark Streissguth 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. 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

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 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 Class of 2020 Remo R. Pizzagalli Edward B. Rasmuson Benjamin A. Strickling III John A. Tomke Jeffrey A. Watkins

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 Office Manager – Sandy Poston Controller – Abra Loran Assistant Controller – Debbie Kochel Assistant Director of Big Game Records– 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 You may have seen the Liberty Mutual TV ad that touts the value of its roadside assistance plan as part of the company’s auto insurance coverage. There’s a scene in the ad that shows two teenage boys who are stranded on the side of the road at night with a flat tire. One of the teens is on his cell phone speaking to his father and says, “Don’t worry Dad, I know what a lug wrench looks like.” Covering the phone with one hand and holding up a pry bar in his other hand, he turns to his friend and says, “Is this a lug wrench?” His friend replies, “Uh, maybe.” I’m certainly not trying to poke fun at today’s teens. Frankly, it’s been more than a few decades since many of us spent a Saturday morning under the hood of our Chevy or Ford, changing points and plugs and setting the timing. And, back in the day of bias-ply tires, flats were fairly common. Not so much anymore. I know I’m going to jinx myself by saying so, but I can’t remember the last time I had

Let’s get that lug wrench in their hands and show them how to use it. Spring and summer are the perfect time to head out to the range whether it’s with youngsters, friends or co-workers in tow. And, if you’re looking for a place to shoot, check out the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s website, wheretoshoot.org. The site provides a state-bystate directory of open-to-thepublic facilities, including types of shooting available at each location. In some distant future, I hate to think there would be an ad with a teen holding a Model 70 or Model 700 and turning to his friend asking, “Is this a rifle?” Speaking of ways through which we can help ensure a strong future for our outdoor traditions, I’m happy to pass along some information on a new Boone and Crockett Club initiative called Guns for Conservation. This program provides all of us with the opportunity to support the Club by donating firearms, sporting collectibles, wildlife

Doug Painter EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

art and hunting books from ou r ow n col lect ions. Contributions can be made at any time, scheduled over a designated period or formally integrated into the estate planning process (see the ad on page 25). Funds raised through the Guns for Conservation program are placed in the Boone and Crockett Club Foundation endowment, a fund where the principal remains intact. Annual interest income generated is then dedicated to vital conservation programs. For additional information regarding the program or to discuss a contribution, please contact Jodi Bishop at Jodi@boone-crockett.org or (406) 542-1888. Hope to see you down the trail. n

Spring and summer are the perfect time to head out to the range whether it’s with youngsters, friends or co-workers in tow. And, if you’re looking for a place to shoot, check out the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s website, wheretoshoot.org.

a flat. Indeed, according to the AAA, almost a third of all new cars no longer even come with a spare tire. Like so many of you, I grew up with a gun in hand. As a kid I was able to set up a BB gun range in the backyard to practice with my Daisy Red Ryder. We had a place in the country where I could blast away at tin cans with my .22, and I learned to shoot clay targets at a nearby military base trap and skeet range. By the time I was ready to hunt, I had been taught the basics of firearms safety and knew how to handle and properly load and unload any gun I owned. I was, of course, no expert, but to borrow the analogy, I knew what a lug wrench was and how to use it. With concern about hunter numbers, there has been a renewed call for mentorship, encouraging today’s hunters to help newcomers get started in hunting. That’s great. We need to keep in mind that for many of today’s youngsters, the starting point for mentorship is not in the field but at the shooting range.

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SEEING THE FORESTS FOR THE TREES The Boone and Crockett Club has long “seen the forests for the trees.” One of the Club’s early efforts was aimed at the development and passage by the U.S. Congress of the Timberland Reserve Act in 1891, which reserved approximately 36 million acres for national forests. The Club later helped create and establish the National Forest System and the federal agency to oversee it. In the past 20 years, the Club has worked to create a system for the conservation and management of private forest land. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nationwide, public forestlands comprise 316 million acres (37 percent) and private forestlands comprise 423 million acres (63 percent). We recognize that forests—public and private—are the lifeblood for many species of wildlife, providing critical food, water, shelter, and space. And we realize that forests, if managed improperly, often have impaired ability to perform their vital wildlife habitat functions. Despite the great work of the Boone and Crockett Club relative to all forests, broader swaths of society do not always recognize how to manage our forests for a multitude of benefits. Those of you—members of this great Club—who possess valuable time and treasure for conservation, are uniquely positioned to increase the visibility of forest management and its connection with wildlife management in society at large. In addition to management, there are big problems 8

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on national forests regarding fire. More than 60 million acres of national forests are at high risk of wildfire or in need of restoration. More than 40 million acres are in the interior West alone. In the past 10 years, over 65 million acres have burned—with approximately 10 million acres burned in 2015 alone, killing 11 firefighters. Federal foresters estimate that an astounding 190 million acres of land managed by the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior are at unnatural risk to catastrophic wildfire, millions of which are infected by insect and disease. From a Forest Service perspective, wildfires average 6.9 million acres burned annually since 2000. It was approximately 3 million acres annually before 2000. In 1995, fire made up 16 percent of their annual appropriated budget. In 2015, fire made up 52 percent of their appropriated budget. That is a decrease in 36 percent of their funds that would be used for other activities, including research, wildlife habitat improvements, and maintenance. All of this poses a massive threat to the health, diversity, and sustainability of America’s forests, although the tragic loss of human life and property understandably occupy the forefront of wildfire-related news cycles and overshadow the wildlife impacts. Fire suppression policies and reduced timber harvest in recent decades have altered natural disturbance cycles, promoting forest diseases, insect infestations, and unnaturally large fuel loads

FROM THE PRESIDENT

that contribute to wildfires. Even before the onset of wildfires, overgrown forests can be starving grounds that offer poor habitats for deer, elk, game birds, and other species, which may move to new areas—some with limited hunting access—in search of suitable habitats. With the proper forest reforms, professionally trained wildlife biologists and foresters can restore these cherished landscapes back to a healthy condition by recommending proactive forest management that blends ecologically informed timber harvest and prescribed fire to safeguard wildlife habitats and populations. However, challenges arise and wildlife populations suffer when obstructionists prevent science-based forest management practices

B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. PRESIDENT

from being implemented—as has been the case in certain areas of the United States—resulting in catastrophic wildfires and loss of human lives and property. From a hunting perspective, the canopy closure of these dense, overgrown forests creates reduced hunter success rates, which leads to fewer license sales, which equates to less money for state fish and wildlife agencies. This is especially true with mule deer and elk in the West and whitetail deer in the East; these species depend on early forest succession stages for

With the proper forest reforms, professionally trained wildlife biologists and foresters can restore these cherished landscapes back to a healthy condition by recommending proactive forest management.

forbs, shrubs, and other food sources. The decline in forest conservation projects has resulted in a precipitous decline in species that are dependent on young forest habitat. If you are interested in climate change, you can’t separate the cause or contributing factors to the solution from active forest management and good forest health. They are linked. Wildfires emit carbon that contributes to poor air quality. Healthy forests, as well as forest products, are a carbon sink, sequestering carbon that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. Reforms are needed nationwide, not only in the western U.S. where the role of the federal government is largest. Fire is the biggest issue and must be addressed at

its root cause, which is the fire-prone condition of U.S. forests, particularly on public lands. The costs of wildfire and other forest management issues are secondary issues that can be solved by promoting more management because forestry—like wildlife conservation—can often pay its own bills. While the diversity of opinions and viewpoints regarding forest management is making it difficult to sway some members of Congress to support a proactive approach to forest management, the Boone and Crockett Club is currently playing a critical role in working to achieve an agreement in Congress on a forest management and wildfire fix that is beneficial for humans, forests, and wildlife alike. Forest health and the integrity of

our cherished wildlife populations are interwoven. The Boone and Crockett Club is extremely pleased that a professional forester, Tony Tooke, is the new chief of the Forest Service. He will oversee the agency to get our forests working again and make them better for a diversity of wildlife. These reforms are the tools he needs. The Club looks forward to working with Chief Tooke in conserving and protecting one of the most important resources in our great nation—our forests—for the benefit of generations to come. Join me as we continue our rich tradition of seeing the forest for the trees. n

LEARN MORE: n

Page 32 in the Fall 2017 issue of Fair Chase addresses Boone and Crockett Club’s position on wildlife conservation, the state of our Western federal forests and wildfire funding. Boone-Crockett.org lists our archived press releases regarding forest health. See how the Club has been influential in the two-part series in Fall 2011 and Winter 2011 issues of Fair Chase, written by the late Jack Ward Thomas.

The Boone and Crockett Club asks that you please thank our Trailblazers with your patronage. FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8

WILL WE SEE A “SCIENCE-BASED” BUDGET? Last issue I lamented the lack of understanding about basic science and the role that science plays in government decisions. I thought I would move on to another topic for this issue, but prior to putting fingers to keys, I read a Washington Post article that reported a curious story about the use of certain terms. It was reported that the employees at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were informed by CDC leadership that they should not submit a budget proposal that included the following terms: “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based,” or “science-based.” I cannot comprehend the rationale for that supervisory instruction. I suppose the elimination of the first five terms can be explained, if not defended, by ideological polemics; however, the most troubling terms that were apparently deemed off-limits were “evidence-based” and “science-based.” The CDC is an essential federal agency with respect to human health issues. Because “science” and “evidence” are integral to their mission, it is hard to imagine why the use of those terms has apparently been stricken from their lexicon. There were similar allegations that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Interior have demurred on the use of the term “climate change” in numerous documents and websites. It is too early to judge how the administration will handle climate change going 10 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

forward. What is most troubling to me is the apparent downplaying of science’s role in federal agencies. Three major science programs come to mind immediately, all of interest to wildlife conservationists and those who enjoy the results of wildlife resource management. The Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Forest Service each have a number of budget line items that support research and management on our public lands. These funds are essential for ongoing surveys, monitoring, and research focused on fish and wildlife that inhabit these lands. Because many public lands support critical summer and winter ranges for big game populations, the Boone and Crockett Club has a direct stake in the future funding associated with each of the federal agencies identified above. These science-based programs also support and supplement the work of state fish and wildlife agencies. In the past, I have written about the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC) that exist across the country. LCCs consist of federal and state resource agencies and conservation organizations. LCCs were developed to prioritize research programs for those species that cross state lines and to address regional conservation challenges such as climate change and human development’s encroachment on wildlife habitat. Somewhat controversial when proposed, LCCs have proven their worth

CAPITOL COMMENTS

to federal and state agencies in many areas of the country. All indications are that LCCs will not be funded in the upcoming president’s budget request (PBR). This would lead to termination of a promising and innovative partnership and approach to fish and wildlife conservation among state and federal resource agencies. Although the LCC model is relatively new, the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (Unit) have been a stalwart of fish and wildlife research since 1935. A cooperative endeavor among state fish and wildlife agencies, the federal government, universities and the Wildlife Management Institute, the Unit program is focused on applied science to assist resource management agencies, training the next generation of fish and wildlife professionals, and providing technical assistance to apply the latest science tools and technologies. The Boone and Crockett Club and its members were instrumental in the initiation of the Unit program (see Fair Chase Winter 2014). Currently, 40 units exist in 38 states. A number of states have expressed an interest in starting new units within their own universities (a powerful testament to the accomplishments of the Unit program). Thousands of fish and wildlife professionals owe their early careers to the Unit program, including myself. Because the Unit program is a science-based program that does not directly align with the research and development priorities expressed in an August 17, 2017

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

Office of Management and Budget memo to all executive departments and agencies, we must be focused on how Congress reacts to the PBR. I am optimistic that the value of this esteemed program will be recognized and it will be adequately funded; however, we all should be scrutinizing the PBR numbers when they come out this spring. At the time of this writing, we cannot know the funding levels that have been proposed in the president’s budget request but we should be vigilant and prepared to defend the very programs that are integral to fish and wildlife management on our nation’s public and private lands. Ultimately, Congress has the final say on funding levels and appropriations. In the meantime, we must let them know that evidence-based and science-based decisions are necessary for proper fish and wildlife management. As a Club, there is plenty of evidence that we have made historic investments in science programs at the federal, state, and university levels. Will we preserve that proud heritage or let it fail? n

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THERE IS UNCE The “no guarantees” nature of hunting is one of its most appealing attributes. We covet what we’ve earned through effort, honestly, fair and square. If we ever lose this aspect, something very special will be lost. At a minimum, if hunting were a sure thing, it would be hard to still call it hunting.

We hunt in order to be human. We seek to recover within ourselves our primordial relationship to the wildness of the land and its inhabitants. We hunt to recover our relationship to all living things that exist in the continuum of life and death that is the biotic world. We are not killers nor do we intend to be killers.

PG. 34 WHY WE HUNT BY THEODORE R. VITALI

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A message brought to you by

ERTAINTY TO HUNTING.

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CRAIG BODDINGTON PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

ACCURATE HUNTER THE LONGRANGE GAME

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pretty sure this 1978 Nevada mule deer was about a quarter-mile away, not because that was my guess but because I held a whole bunch of daylight over the back and the bullet hit where I intended. In pre-rangefinder days that was a very long poke. 14 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

Dialing the range for a longish shot with a Leupold CDS turret on a Jarrett .300 Winchester Magnum. I am convinced that dialing the range is the most precise system forideal long-range Perhaps the situation, at least for me, is to lie more or less prone over a pack. shooting—but dialing in the Obviously it’s essential have a clear path to field requires a hugetoamount the target, so often you must find a way to get of practice on the range. the rifle higher off the ground.

These days, long-range shooting is “in.” It is not my place to suggest to anyone how far he or she should or shouldn’t shoot, but honestly, I’m a bit horrified by the shooting distances thrown around these days. From the media, it would be easy to get the idea that shooting at game animals at a half-mile and more has become routine.

It’s easy to call the wind at the shooter. But especially in broken ground, the wind at the target and in between target and shooter may not have the same strength or direction. Wind is probably the greatest variable in long-range shooting.

Such things are not impossible. Ethical shots at game at any range depends on the conditions, the equipment, knowledge of the equipment, and the skill of the shooter. For sure, our capabilities have expanded since I was a young hunter! Even back then, it wasn’t uncommon to read about 500-yard shots in the sporting magazines. That was long before outdoor TV, internet, and effective rangefinders, so one must wonder how many of those wondrous shots were actually paced off? Realistically, pre-rangefinders, we figured a quarter-mile to be a pretty long poke. Making such a shot depended heavily on a close guesstimate of the actual distance—and then all the rest came into play: time and ability to get steady; knowledge of the trajectory; a good read on the wind. Today the compact, inexpensive, and shockingly accurate laser rangefinder has generally removed knowledge of distance as a variable. But all the rest comes into play, and I still figure a quarter-mile to be a pretty long poke—trajectories haven’t changed much in my lifetime. Bullet aerodynamics have improved things a bit, but most of Roy Weatherby’s magnums go back to the 1940s—and they’re still among our fastest and flattest-shooting sporting cartridges. Unless you sight-in ridiculously high—and thus, run the risk of over-shooting at closer ranges—at some point on the near or far side of 300 yards, you simply must know the trajectory. Once the trajectory is known, it’s just a number. Know the distance and know the number, and the shot is possible—theoretically. Exceptionally accurate rifles have been around since before the self-contained metallic cartridge, but it’s absolutely true that average accuracy is better today and also true that many of today’s inexpensive factory rifles deliver simply amazing accuracy, especially for the price. Jack O’Connor’s famous “Number 2” .270 was an out-of-the-box sub-MOA FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 15

rifle, and I have an R.F. Sedgley Springfield from the 1930s that’s a sub-MOA rifle—but such rifles were uncommon. Even today not all rifles (of any make) will do it, but in recent years I’ve shot a lot of inexpensive rifles that would group under an inch—and a few that, with some loads, will cut that in half. For sure factory ammunition is far more consistent than ever before, to the point where it’s been years since I was certain I could load a better cartridge than I could buy. These are incremental gains. Optics today are exponentially better. Consistent, repeatable adjustments, once rare, can be expected in even medium-quality glass. When I was a kid, variable-power scopes were widely distrusted and the fixed 4X was king. Variables have long been perfected, with little to no shift in zero as the power ring is turned. You can shoot better

(and farther) if you can see better. Today’s big variables make long-shooting a whole lot easier! Add in precise adjustments on dial-up turrets and it’s simply a matter of knowing your equipment, knowing the range, dialing and holding—at least to a point. Part of the allure of long-range shooting is that our snipers of the recent (and ongoing) Asian campaigns have become cult heroes— and they deserve the acclaim—but we want to emulate their feats. Long-range shooting is fun; it’s a great feeling to ring steel “way out there!” My problem is that hunting is not military sniping where any hit counts. Wind is an increasing variable as range increases. It’s easy to read wind at the shooter, but reading wind at the target and between target and shooter is an art form, not a science. Broken ground channelizes wind. Using smoke

This deer stand overlooks an endless powerline on a friend’s place in Georgia. I sit with rangefinder and binoculars ready.

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bombs, I’ve seen three different wind directions in just 500 yards. Get out there far enough and atmospherics— temperature, altitude, humidity, barometric pressure—all come into play. Then you have the practical realities of big game hunting, where all hits do not count. Today’s hunting bullets are better than ever, but at distance, energy yields are down, and as velocity drops, bullet performance changes and inevitably becomes less consistent. Military snipers work in teams, spotter and shooter. The spotter’s role in calling the wind and spotting the strike is actually just as important as the shooter’s role. Long-range hunters also often work in teams, which helps. But with reduced velocity and energy and often diminished bullet performance, strikes at long range can be hard to call. Most of the time, ethics demand that you go

AH look. So, in rough terrain, exactly how long does it take to cover a half-mile, and can you find the spot where the animal was standing when you get there? Again, the team approach helps, but shooting at distance in that critical last hour of daylight is probably a bad idea. All said, however, our “sensible range” envelope has increased. I still consider 400 yards a longish shot—never a chip shot—but if you can read the range, have time to get steady, and the wind seems constant, quarter-mile shooting is well within reach. With access to real-distance ranges for data verification and practice (lots of practice!), many of

Regardless of equipment and preparation, conditions dictate shooting ranges. On a day like this, rangefinders can’t read, and even if they can, 40-miles-per-hour winds greatly reduce effective ranges.

This Jarrett Ridge Walker in .300 Winchester Magnum is a recent addition. Obviously it groups very well; the far-left group is a 200-yard group with Hornady SST.

us can go somewhat farther— and some of us can go a lot farther. Again, it isn’t my place to say how far is too far; only that it’s mandatory to know what you’re doing, understand and evaluate the variables, and understand the risks and consequences. I never seek a long

shot. Quite the opposite! But in plains and mountains, I usually set up so that I’m ready if a long shot becomes necessary. Two favorite setups are a Blaser R8 and a Jarrett Ridge Walker, both in magnum .30s, both very accurate. There are many great scopes, but the last few years

Early on a Brooks Range sheep hunt in 2017, I passed on a 600-yard shot on this ram. I had the equipment, the data, and the time, but I couldn’t read the wind. Four days later, I took the same ram at 120 yards. Whether I eventually got him or not, the long shot simply wasn’t smart.

I’ve usually used Leupold VX6 scopes with their Custom Dial System (CDS) turret calibrated for the load I’m using. Important: I’ve verified the data at much longer distances than I would actually shoot at game. I have made long shots with both rifles. Come to think of it, I haven’t missed a long shot with either. On the other hand, I haven’t tried very often—the conditions have to be right, and I have to be sure. There have been a lot more times when I’ve waved off from a long poke and tried to get closer! In August 2017, I did a backpack sheep hunt in Alaska’s Brooks Range. That’s easy sheep country as such things go but still a stretch (and perhaps a foolish one) at my age. On the third evening we got onto a group of rams feeding around a bowl. Two were legal, the larger of them pretty good and good enough, but at a bit over 600 yards, we ran out of

cover and were completely stuck. I had the Jarrett dialed in with 200-grain Hornady ELD-X and I’d recently shot it out to 900 meters at similar elevation and temperature: I knew the data was correct. We’d had a long day chasing this group and I was at my limit. I really wanted to take the shot, but the wind in that bowl was strong and uncertain. It hurt to walk away, and it hurt even more to stumble back to our spike camp at midnight. But there was no point in kicking myself; I couldn’t read the wind well enough, and that was that. Four days passed, mostly bad weather, no more legal rams spotted—and then we found that same group again. This time a long, circuitous stalk paid off, and we got the shot at 120 yards. Honestly, I’d rather have it that way, but these days I’m prepared for longer shooting if the conditions are right. n

This 3-inch 600-yard group, fired from a field rest, is probably the best group I’ve ever shot, one-half MOA. The accuracy was there, but my data was slightly off, and the group is in the wrong place! At extreme range everything must be perfect.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 17

WAYNE C. VAN ZWOLL

The .270:

B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Photos Courtesy of Author

Its slim bullets killed all out of proportion to their weight, charming hunters and changing an industry.

Recently, the Jack Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Center in Lewiston, Idaho, commissioned a limited run of Winchester 70s patterned on the Biesen-stocked Featherweights the famous gun writer used on hunts around the world.

18 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

America’s Cartridge “Whoopee!” said Zefarino. “That’s the kind of rifle I like, one that has power. One shot and the buck doesn’t move. How do you call it?”

“The .270,” I said. So wrote Jack O’Connor after son Jerry had shot a Sonoran whitetail, which “turned clear over in the air and hit like a bag of potatoes.” Unabashedly fond of the .270 Winchester, O’Connor is often credited with its success at market. His long tenure as Outdoor Life’s shooting editor gave his opinions great currency. But the .270 had a lot going for it from the start. A .277 bullet may have seemed an odd choice in 1925. A more logical option for Winchester was a .284 (7mm). The 7x57 Mauser, in 1892, one of the world’s first smokeless rounds, had throngs of fans. In the British Isles it became the .275 Rigby. Germany’s 7x64 Brenneke, circa 1917, had more muscle, if not a military pedigree. Hollands’ .275 Magnums (flanged and belted) fired .284 bullets. The .280 Jeffery, .280 Ross and .280 Flanged Nitro Express were exceptions, with .287 bullets. Perhaps Winchester wanted a distinctive new number. Or, in the wake of the Great War, remove itself from Teutonic sevens.

The .270 arrived in 1925 with Winchester’s M54 rifle. Here: 1960s-era Power Point and current loads.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 19

Speculation aside, the .270 was a brilliant combination of tradition and innovation. The case had the .473-diameter head of the .30-06, the same 17 ½ degree shoulder angle. Length: just .005 greater. Any rifle accommodating the .30-06 fed .270 cartridges. Designed for stout bolt actions, the .270 was stoked to higher pressures than many contemporaries, including the ‘06. At an advertised 3,140 fps, the .270’s 130-grain bullets left the muzzle faster than 87-grain missiles from a .250 Savage, and reached 300 yards still clocking 2,320! A 150-grain bullet appeared in 1933; a thin-jacketed 100-grain four years later. This f lat-shooting round arrived at the perfect time. Awed by the power and reach of the .30-06, hunters were swapping lever-actions for bolt rifles. Optical sights were showing up in more deer camps, affording precise aim far beyond the range of traditional cartridges like the

.30-30. Then too, automobiles were bringing more hunters afield, diminishing the need for flat-sided, iron-sighted “saddle guns.” Still, not all deer hunters traded their carbines for .270s. A few whined that its fast spitzers ruined too much venison—a complaint with some cause. Early .270 bullets were prone to fragment at near-Mach 3 speeds (though some failed to open and zipped through like solids). When Winchester responded with a 150-grain load throttled to 2,675 fps, the market responded as it might to a shotshell with popcorn pellets. The meat-saver ammo vanished. Better bullets followed. For elk and moose hunters of the 1920s, the .270’s missile seemed alarmingly small. The .30-30 had been introduced just three decades earlier as a small-bore, high-velocity cartridge! Big animals had in black-powder days absorbed hits from bullets twice as heavy. Now there

was this pipsqueak .270…. Even the press gave it a lukewarm reception. Not until its third year did American Rifleman run a .270 feature. But doubts vanished as bullets evolved and hunters of stature used it successfully. Jack O’Connor bought his first .270, a Winchester 54, in 1925. His first scoped rifle was also a .270. On his maiden trip to Alberta’s Rockies, he took a .270 for sheep and deer, a .3006 for moose. But the .270 felled the moose too—one of a dozen bulls O’Connor would kill with this cartridge. The .270’s fortunes were bound to those of two Winchester rifles. In 1924, after fumbling for 30 years with sub-par bolt-action designs, Winchester hit upon the Model 54. It had the Springfield’s coned breech, Charles Newton’s ejector, a Mauser extractor, a stock patterned after custom Sedgelys. Its nickel-steel barrel on a cyanide-hardened receiver bottled 54,000 psi from the

hot new .270 round. The 54 sold well. But the 1920s savaged the gun industry. Early in 1929, Winchester collapsed. In December 1931, Franklin Olin’s Western Cartridge Company bought all Winchester assets. Franklin’s son John took the reins. The next decade would bring 23 new Winchester firearms. John Olin kept the 54 alive. In 1934 Winchester committed to improvements from T.C. Johnson and his crew, who had designed it. As many riflemen were still eating in soup kitchens, there was no rush to build the resulting Model 70. Winchester shipped the initial run of 2,238 rifles early in 1937. The 70’s barrel and receiver looked like the 54’s. But the trigger was adjustable, with a separate bolt stop. A side-swing, three-position safety soon replaced the first two-detent top lever. A plunger in the milled-steel guard secured a hinged floorplate. Each M70 receiver

With 17 foot-pounds of recoil, the .270 is easy on the shooter. Here: Wayne with an O’Connor-inspired 70.

20 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

began life as a 7½-pound chrome-moly billet; 75 machinings later it weighed 19¼ ounces. Heat treating brought it to 47C, Rockwell. Barrels, drop-forged like most small parts, were hand-straightened with 15-pound hammers, lathe-turned, deep-hole drilled and straightened again. Bores were reamed and hook-rifled by a single cutter making multiple passes. Stocks of American walnut were roughed from 2x36-inch blanks, and then contoured eight at a time on a duplicator. Final shaping and inletting were done by hand. A lacquer finish followed staining just before hand checkering. The first Model 70s listed for $61.25 in .22 Hornet, .220 Swift, .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts, .270, 7x57 and .30-06, also the .300 and .375 H&H Magnums. The .300 Savage followed as a chambering but not in catalogs. The .35 Remington appeared briefly. During the ‘50s Winchester added the .243, .308 and .358

(and its 6 ½-pound Featherweight rifle). Belted magnums —.458, .338, .264 and .300— followed, from 1956 to ’63. Pre-64 M70s comprised 29 basic styles, 48 sub-styles. But a loyal fan base and market dominance couldn’t rescue the Model 70 from rising labor costs. In 1960 Winchester accountants ordered an overhaul. Engineers completed 50 changes by 1963, none of which pleased shooters. Scrambling to stem defections to Remington’s 700, the company got some of the faithful back in 1980, as it re-instated Mauser’s controlled-feed extractor and revamped the stock. Predictably, the .270 has prospered in the Model 70. Of the 581,471 M70s built before the rifle’s 1963 overhaul, 208,218 were .30-06s; 122,323 were .270s. No other chambering came close. Remington picked up the cartridge for its new Model 721 in 1948, and as a charter offering for the 700 in ’62. Savage has had the .270

The .270 was a brilliant combination of tradition and innovation.

Jack O’Connor with his guide after taking a Dall’s sheep.

in its Model 110 family since it appeared in 1958. Myriad rifles worldwide have been bored for the .270. Besides bolt guns, Remington and Browning have cataloged autoloaders, Ruger and Browning dropping-block single-shots. Add Remington slide-actions and Browning lever-actions. Most .270 barrels have a rifling pitch of 1-in-10. Husqvarna chose 1-in-9½, Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1-in-9. Jack O’Connor proved an able crusader for the cartridge, using it on “everything from javelina to Alaska-Yu-

kon moose.” He wrote that one year he’d fired 10,000 rounds! Hand loading 130-grain bullets, he liked “62 grains of No. 4831 in W-W cases with the CCI Magnum primer….” He seated Nosler’s 150-grain Partitions ahead of 58.5 grains. Gunmaker Al Biesen built Jack’s first custom rifle and two .270s that became favorites. “Number 1” was a 1953 M70. Biesen turned down the 24-inch barrel and shortened it to 22 (this before Winchester had a Featherweight). He added a 4x Stith Kollmorgen in Tilden mounts. In 1954, Jack killed a Wyoming elk with this rifle; later, a Dall’s ram in the Yukon. He used it in Africa and India too. In 1959 Erb Hardware in Lewiston sold Jack a Featherweight 70 in .270. “Make this

In 1948 the .270 appeared as a charter chambering in Remington’s 721, with the .30-06, .300 H&H.

E c

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 21

ABOVE: This early Model 70 bolt face shows its stout Mauser extractor and slot for the mechanical ejector. BELOW: “The best hunting-rifle trigger ever,” said gun guru Don Allen of the original M70’s. Wayne agrees.

one up like the first,” Jack told Al. With its Leupold Mountaineer 4x in Buehler mounts, “Number 2” shot so well it became Jack’s go-to rifle. It served him abroad and in British Columbia took three Stone’s sheep. I knew Al Biesen well. “Shortly after O’Connor started writing in 1937,” Al told me, “I offered to build him a rifle. He sent a Titus barrel and a Springfield action. I put them together and stocked the rifle. He didn’t like it, so I made him a .30-06 on Mauser metal…. I moved to Spokane in 1948, just after Jack wrote his first article about me. I bought my house for $8,000, later sold it for $10,000, bought it back for $6,000, then moved it….” Biesen raised six children on the income from his basement bench. Jack O’Connor retired from Outdoor Life in 1972. Six years later, he died at sea of natural causes. Alvin Biesen, larger than life building rifles or officiating at prone matches in Spokane, passed in 2016. The .270 endures, though gaggles of small- and

From left, the .270 Winchester was followed in 1943 by the .270 Weatherby, much later by the WSM.

22 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

mid-bore magnums have appeared in its wake. In surveys of elk hunters I conducted during the 1990s, it consistently placed third in popularity behind the .30-06 and 7mm Remington Magnum. It has put many entries into Boone and Crockett records. A decade after Remington’s big seven appeared, Colorado hunter Anton Purkat trailed an elk into a Chaffee County canyon. The bull burst from cover, and Anton triggered his .270. He was home in time for church—with antlers that scored over 380 inches! My .270s haven’t killed elk that big. But they’ve downed them with certainty. Once, swinging my Model 70 to get ahead of a young Oregon bull racing down a grassy slope, I loosed a 150-grain Partition. At full throttle, the elk somersaulted, scrambled to its feet, then pitched on its nose. A beautiful Utah bull I’d followed with a client for hours caught his .270 Hornady bullet through the chest. The elk reared like a horse, then toppled backward, planting its antlers to lie stone-still belly up.

Dale Leonard, one of few Colorado hunters to put both mule deer and elk in B&C records, carried a .270. On a snowy day in 1961, easing along near ridge-top, he spied an enormous elk peering back from under low-hanging branches just 50 yards away! One shot sufficed. Fifteen years later, hunting deer on a cold morning, Dale got no shot at the wide-racked animal that jumped from its bed and sped over a ridge. His second chance came that afternoon as two bucks dashed off, then paused. The biggest deer dropped to the blast of his .270. Its antlers spanned 32 inches and scored 200 points! Having gathered lesser bone with the .270, I can’t think of a better deer cartridge. An M70 whose many scars, fencepost wood and tacked-on recoil pad pulled the price within my reach at a gun show long ago, remains a favorite—and not just for its buttery bolt travel. If I can quarter a buck’s chest with that 3x Lyman, the result is certain. On a frosty morning above timber in Oregon’s Wallowas, I spied antlers far down slope. Snugging the sling, I sat, nudged the wire a hand’s width high and dropped a 130 Speer into the vitals. That Winchester is an old friend. When I hunt deer with other rifles, I always wonder why. The .270 is surely best known for its exploits on the sheep mountain. Hunters famous and obscure have found this an ideal cartridge for North America’s rams. “I was well aware that I might never [make] a bighorn hunt again,” Richard Browne noted after drawing a Montana tag in 1968. So he committed all his energies to the quest. His rifle: a Remington 721 in .270. One December afternoon, in clouded peaks above the Clark Fork, he let himself down an icy cliff “by hanging onto the top of a limber Douglas-fir.”

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Rocks clattered behind him. He whirled in time to see a huge ram race up a rockslide. The animal topped out at 80 yards. “I sighted below his spine, and the .270 roared. The ram lurched [and] tumbled head over heels…. I dropped my rifle and ran ahead with the crazy idea of trying to stop that plunging body. Then I came to my senses… my bighorn rolled past me and bounced over a rise….” But the magnificent horns were saved when a fallen tree stopped the animal. They taped 43 and 45 inches, for a B&C score of 192! My first bighorn fell to a lovely Henriksen-stocked Mauser with a .270 barrel. It wore a 6x Pecar, a German scope now all but forgotten. When the animal appeared in rocks far below, I bellied down on a ledge, and given the steep angle, resisted the urge to hold high. My 150-grain Partition punched the lungs. The .270 Winchester’s reputation afield owes much to its mild recoil and the reasonable price of ammo. Both encourage frequent shooting, which improves marksmanship. Mid-level loads in an 8-pound rifle hit you with about 17 foot-pounds of energy. The .30-06 averages 19 footpounds, as do the .270 Weatherby and .270 WSM, the only other popular hunting rounds using .277 bullets. You endure 25 foot-pounds behind a .300 Winchester Magnum. A .223 delivers just 3 foot-pounds, a .243 10. The 1909 British Textbook of Small Arms proposed 15 foot-pounds as the most recoil that should be imposed on infantrymen. While the cost of cartridges rises as inexorably as that of government, the .270’s sales volume and efficient design keep a lid on price. In 1955, when Winchester’s Featherweight M70 was still new (at $120.95), factory-fresh .270 cartridges listed for $3.70 a box. Yes, you 24 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

could save shekels hand loading; a pound of DuPont 4350 powder cost $2. By then, Winchester was pioneering a path to better bullets for frisky cartridges. It had fielded the “pointed soft-point expanding” missiles for the .270, with substantial jackets of gilding metal (90 percent copper, 10 percent zinc) to nix break-up. Tin-coating, to reduce metal fouling, gave them a silver hue. In a few years the tin was dropped—as was tin in DuPont powders like No. 15 ½ (the “½” for the tin). DuPont IMR or Improved Military Rifle powders that followed left none of the gummy residue caused by the tin. Superb pointed .270 game bullets—130, 140 and 150 grains—now abound. In this age of the long shot, round-nose 160s have gone the way of the dodo. My Oehler chronograph shows some factory loads send 130s at the blistering speed of 3,300 fps! Thank new powders (and elevated pressure lids). I still get accurate, game-killing hand loads with war-surplus H4831. Is the .270 inherently accurate? Hard to say. But many loads have shot well for me in many rifles. Not long ago I had a chance to fire a Model 54 Winchester built during the Depression. Its stock had been chopped, the bolt shank and safety altered for scope use. Wood and metal were scuffed and scratched. No cherry, this! But it cycled silkily, and three Winchester Power Points drilled a triangle just an inch across. The 54 listed for $59.75 when discontinued in 1936. True, the .270 is seldom voted best all-around cartridge for North American game. What’s wrong with voters these days? “It shoots a good ball,” I said,—“a very fast ball.” “Like the lightning!” said Zefarino. n

“I can’t think of a better mule deer cartridge.” This Dakota buck fell to a Winchester factory load.

The modest cost and light recoil of .270 ammo encourage frequent practice from field positions!

Guns for

Conservation

A dynamic way to support the Boone and Crockett Club

Support the Boone and Crockett Club by contributing:

The Boone and Crockett Club is fortunate to serve a membership that shares a profound dedication to the mission. Now it is a pleasure to introduce Guns For Conservation, a program that creates a great way to contribute to the Boone and Crockett Club.

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.

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 is then dedicated to vital conservation programs.

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 they return full value.

Firearms Sporting Collectibles Wildlife Art Books & Accessories

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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 CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 25

An Overview of State Fish and Wildlife Agency Restitution Programs for Illegally Taken Big Game Species

RESTITUTION

Terminology associated with restitution penalties varied among states, with no consistent patterns of use. For the purposes of this research, “restitution” incorporates what some states may refer to as restitution, replacement costs, recovery of damages, reimbursable damages, penalty enhancement, further penalty, wild animal protection surcharge, or civil liability. Hereafter, all the above will be described as “restitution.”

SPONSORED BY

26 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

The illegal take or possession of big game is a serious issue in the United States, with poachers stealing wildlife from the public, taking away recreational opportunities, and in some cases, negatively affecting wildlife populations. State fish and game agencies manage and conserve wildlife as trustees of the public’s resources, with agency oversight and wildlife laws grounded in the Public Trust Doctrine, a key component of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Those convicted of the unlawful take or possession of wildlife may have to pay restitution, a monetary payment to the state as compensation for the loss of the public’s resource. Restitution ordered by the courts in a criminal case usually is required in addition to fines, community service, imprisonment, forfeiture of equipment, license suspension or revocation, and/or felony charges.

In some states, the agency may seek restitution through a civil process as a stand-alone case or in addition to the criminal violation. In civil cases, the restitution usually is sought through monetary damages making the party “whole” again. Restitution and other penalties imposed by judges sends a message to poachers that wildlife matter to the citizens in their states, and that the illegal activity of poaching and stealing the public’s resource is not tolerated. Boone and Crockett Club’s (B&C’s) official measurement and big game scoring system is an important enforcement tool that some fish and game agencies use to determine restitution payment for illegally taken, trophy wildlife. However, not every state uses the system and among those that do, there are inconsistencies in how it is applied. This may lead to a reduction in the effectiveness for these states in using the B&C measuring criteria as an enforcement tool. To better understand the level of use of the B&C scoring system and its effectiveness, as well as to collect baseline information on either-sex and trophy restitution programs, B&C, along with the support of its partner, American optics maker, Leupold & Stevens sponsored this research as part of its recently established Poach and Pay Program. B&C’s Poach and Pay Program was implemented to assist states, if needed, in strengthening their restitution programs. Phase one is the research component that includes a comprehensive overview of state restitution programs for the illegal take or possession of big game. In addition, the research includes information on the obstacles enforcement officers encounter while trying to convict poachers, which may negatively affect the effectiveness of state restitution programs. The results of the

VICKIE EDWARDS ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC. EXCERPTS FROM THE FULL REPORT PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2017

NO - 23%

UNCERTAIN - 10%

YES - 67%

IS RESTITUTION AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT? research will help guide future phases of the Poach and Pay Program and will provide state agencies and hunting and enforcement organizations with a resource for assessing and comparing state restitution programs for future policy and decision making. I conducted surveys and interviews with state fish and wildlife enforcement officers, as well as online research to gather baseline information and agency personnel perspectives on the following: 1. Do poaching fines accurately reflect the crime and current value of big game animals? 2. Which states utilize a restitution program, and if

applicable, which states have established measuring criteria to determine trophy restitution? 3. How and why were those measuring specifications chosen? 4. What are the advantages and disadvantages to using those criteria? 5. What is the process and authority required to determine the criteria and values? 6. Is restitution an effective deterrent? In addition, questions were asked to better understand the needs of state agencies in convicting poachers and opportunities for B&C or other partners to assist those states.

SURVEY AND INTERVIEW RESULTS

Forty-two states participating in the study, 81 percent had restitution programs for illegally taken big game. Of the 81 percent of states that have restitution for illegally taken big game species. Ninety-four percent of those states have either-sex restitution and 62 percent have trophy restitution with measuring, point and/or weight criteria defined in state statute, code or policy. However, in 15 percent of states, restitution was limited to a subset of the big game species. Eight different measuring systems and combinations of criteria were used by states to assess trophy level restitution, with the highest percentage using some component of B&Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official measuring system (50 percent). The second most common criteria used included a combination of total points and

Oklahoma Game Warden Joe Alexander finished an investigation to mark the first wildlife charges filed in Washington County for 2018. The case involved the illegal taking of this large whitetail buck carrying an impressive 17 points. Multiple charges are pending, including restitution along with the seizure of equipment used in the crime.

measurements (other than an official measuring system). Due to the variations and the relatively small sample sizes of the different measuring systems, there were limitations to the data analysis comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each of the criteria. The most common species with restitution identified by states included wild turkey, white-tailed deer, black bear, and elk. Restitution values for each species by state are described in Table 1. MEASURING CRITERIA

Of the 21 states with trophy restitution programs with measuring systems, the majority use some component of the B&C measuring system. The second most common system includes a combination of minimum points and other measurements besides B&C, Pope and Young, or Safari Club International. PROCESS AND AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE CRITERIA AND VALUES

The majority of states require legislative approval/action to add or amend restitution programs. Other state agencies and commissions have some level of authority granted to FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 27

them by the legislature to set restitution values, recommend restitution within ranges to the courts, make adjustments to values, change restitution values outside of trophy values, and/or define trophy criteria. In North Carolina, trophy restitution could be either a rule or a law. A law would have to go through the legislature, but an agency rule would have to go through a Rules Committee and extensive public process. Arkansas Game and Fish is a constitutionally independent agency with a commission that has the authority to determine fish and game code, including restitution. The majority of agencies that have the authority to determine components or all of restitution programs in their states have to go through a public review processes to obtain public input and support for adjustments to codes, rules and/or regulations. ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES

Obstacles that enforcement officers encounter while trying to convict poachers may reduce the effectiveness of restitution as a deterrent for the illegal take of wildlife. These obstacles are complex and resulted in multifaceted responses from interviewees, who often

EVERY WILDLIFE POACHING CASE THAT IS DISMISSED OR REDUCED TO A LESSER CHARGE, AND EVERY VIOLATOR WHO IS GIVEN A MARGINAL PENALTY ERODES THE FOUNDATION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN OUR COUNTRY. 28 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

TABLE 1. RESTITUTION FOR ILLEGALLY TAKEN BIG GAME SPECIES

Additional states and species listed in the full report available online at boone-crockett.org State

Whitetail Deer

AK AR

ES $300-$600, value $400; but as low as $0, JD

Black Bear

Elk

ES $600

ES $ 800

ES $250-$750, value $500; but as low as $0, JD

ES $750-$2,500, value $1,500; but as low as $0, JD

ES Min. $1,500, 2nd $3,000, 3rd $4,500

F & MNT Min. $2,500, $5,000 2nd, $7,500 3rd; MT $ 8,000, 2nd $16,000, 3rd $24,000

MT $10,000

A- $1,500; M ≤ 150" = $2,000$5,000 + CS, but if no CS $4,000-$10,000; MT if > 150" = $5,000-$10,000 + CS, but if no CS = $10,000-$20,000

ES $2,500 (NHP)

ID a

ES MNT $400, MT $2,000

T Fine Min. $5,000 + MT Restitution = (gross score 100)² X $2

ES $753.84 (RC) + MT value = (gross score - 100)² X $1.65

ES $1,000 (RC) + ES $1,000

ES $1,788.91 (RC) + MT value = (gross score - 255)² X $1.65

ES MNT $1,000; MT $1,000 + pt $ (8-10 = $500/pt; 11+ = $750/pt)

ES $3,500

ES $5,000 + MT 8-10 points $250/pt., MT 11 or more pts. $500/pt.

A- $300; MNT $500; MT $ 8,000

ES $1,000

ES NT $1,000; MT $ 8,000

ES $602

ES $2,232

ES $2,500

ES NT $250 or MT $2,000, $4,000, $6,000 or $10,000

ES $500

ES NT $500 or MT $2,000, $4,000, $6,000, $ 8,000 or $10,000; if score > 399.9 points, director may pursue civil liability > $10,000

A- $250; A+ NT $500; T = ([gross score-100]² X $1.65) + base value (min. $500)

ES $2,500 (endangered)

F $1,000-$1,500; MNT $1,500$2,000; MT $2,000-$5,000

FNT $1,500-$2,500; MNT F $1,500-$2,500; MNT $2,000-$3,000; ES T $2,000-$3,000; MT $2,000$2,000-$5,000 $5,000

ES NT $1,000 or MT $7,500

ES $7,500

ES NT $5,000 or MT $15,000

ES $ 800 or MT $5,000

ES $1,500 or ES T $5,000

ES $1,500 or MT $5,000

ES $200

ES $1,500

SD d

ES NT $1,000; MT $2,000 $5,000

TN b

A- & MNT not < $1,000; not < $1,000 + $500/pt (8-10 pts); not < $1,000 + $750/pt (11 or > pts)

ES & for each orphaned bear cub not < $5,000

F $273.50, M $ 881.50 + MT ((gross score - 100)² X $1.65)

ES $4,780.50 (NHP - T sp.)

ES NT $500; MT depending ES $3,000 on msmt. $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, or $2,500; subsequent violations X 2 amt.

ES NT $5,000; MT $7,500 (NHP)

ES $43.75

ES $175

ES $2,000 (NHP)

ES $200 + MT depending on msmt. $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 or $2,500

ES $500

ES $4,500 (NHP)

ES Rec. $4,000, JD

ES Rec. $5,000, JD

ES Rec. $6,000, JD

KEY:

ES $400

F & MNT $750, MT $5,000 T Fine Min. $5,000 + MT Restitution = (gross score 200)² X $2

ES NT $5,000; MT $6,000 $10,000 A- & MNT not < $1,500; not < $1,500 + $500/pt (8-10 pts); not < $1,500 + $750/pt (11 or > pts) + cost reintro.

ES-either-sex, M-male, F-female, NT non-trophy, T trophy, FMV fair market value, A- antlerless, A+ antlered, NHP non-huntable population, JD judge’s discretion, RC recovery cost, CS community service

a For each additional animal of the same category killed during a 12 month period, the amount doubles from the amount for each animal previously. b Did not participate in interviews. Data obtained online. c Restitution values and criteria not yet established. d If a person has taken > 2x’s the lawfully daily limit, such person is liable for twice the damages.

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qualified their answers. When interview participants were asked, “What obstacles do your enforcement officers encounter while trying to convict poachers,” the most common themes that emerged from responses focused on issues associated with the court system, followed by enforcement staffing and time constraints. The term “the courts” appeared to primarily include judges and prosecutors; however jurors also were mentioned in conjunction with judges and/or prosecutors by some of the respondents. Reasons that respondents listed the court system as an obstacle fell into four main categories: n

Wildlife crimes and cases were not a priority. Courts were not consistently imposing fines, dismissing, and/or dropping cases. Judges were weak on prosecution because of cultural, traditional or other personal reasons.

There was a lack of knowledge and understanding of fish and game laws by judges and prosecutors . Many of the interviewees mentioned multiple categories per statement. In many cases, respondents did not speak negatively of the court system, but instead clarified their responses by stating that the courts were overburdened with high caseloads and/or wildlife cases were heard with other non-wildlife cases. Some also mentioned positive aspects of the court system as part, or all of their responses. However, others thought that some judges were weak on n

30 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

prosecution because of their lack of hunting, fishing and outdoor experience, lack of understanding of wildlife management and conservation, and/or personal biases and motivations. DISCUSSION AND NEXT STEPS

Baseline information collected on state restitution programs revealed a broad range of monetary penalties for poaching wildlife, and complex and diverse issues associated with the effectiveness of those penalties as a deterrent to poachers. Survey and interview results suggest the majority of participants believe that poaching fines and restitution in their states accurately reflect the crime and current values of big game animals; however the effectiveness of those fines as a deterrent may be reduced by the level of support provided by the court system and, in some cases, whether or not monetary penalties were combined with other deterrents. Concern that the court system does not place sufficient value on poaching violations reflects similar findings who determined there are five main issues facing wildlife law enforcement officers in Montana, including lack of support from the court system, and agency budget issues and time constraints of enforcement officers. Enforcement budget and staffing constraints also were mentioned in this research as obstacles to convicting poachers. B&C and other non-governmental entities may be able to help alleviate some of the issues enforcement officers encounter with the court system by lobbying for agency wildlife prosecutor positions, as well as wildlife case only court dockets. Groups may offer additional support to agencies by conducting outreach and

education to judges and prosecutors emphasizing the importance of hunting as a component of wildlife conservation and the role of enforcement in ensuring the protection of the public’s resource. Specific fine information for illegal possession and other criminal charges was not presented as part of this study, but the results reflect a need to compile this data at a nationwide level for a multitude of big game species to better understand fine ranges and opportunities for improvements if needed. Currently data is available from the Quality Deer Management Association on minimum fines for illegally killed white-tailed deer, which averaged $354 per first offense, with an overall range of $0 - $1,500. In some cases, the Quality Deer Management Association found that the minimum fines imposed by some courts were less than the cost of purchasing a hunting license, which would significantly reduce the effectiveness of imposing fines as a deterrent for poaching deer. An expansion of this research to include other big game species would be helpful for the public, wildlife agencies, and non-governmental organizations to petition for increased fines, if appropriate. CONCLUSION

The baseline information collected on state restitution programs within this report provides a valuable resource

for state agencies and non-governmental hunting, enforcement and other conservation organizations to compare programs and evaluate the need for implementing and/or amending new or current systems. The advantages and disadvantages of different measuring systems and levels of fines and restitution becomes irrelevant, however, if the laws that are in place are not applied to deter poachers from committing wildlife crimes. Every wildlife poaching case that is dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge, and every violator who is given a marginal penalty erodes the foundation of wildlife conservation in our country. Implementation of the recommendations in this report would help to address concerns expressed by the interview participants in this study. Many of these recommendations may be outside the scope of the Boone and Crockett Club’s Poach and Pay Program. However, the data ref lects the need for a multi-faceted, collaborative approach among non-governmental hunting and enforcement organizations and the public to assist state enforcement personnel in addressing obstacles they encounter while trying to convict poachers. In turn, these efforts would help improve the effectiveness of restitution and other monetary penalties as wildlife poaching deterrents. n

The Boone and Crockett Club has a long history with sustainable use conservation dating back to the Club’s founders, Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell, that began with the protection of Yellowstone National Park. The park’s wildlife was supposed to be protected, but was being plundered by poachers. Grinnell, who was editor of Forest & Stream magazine, sensationalized an incident that involved the poaching of six of the Park’s remaining bison in 1893. Public outrage over the illegal killing led to Congress passing the Yellowstone National Park Game Protection Act of 1894, which was drafted and endorsed by the Club and also spurred the Club’s development of the nation’s first game laws.

BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB APPLAUDS CALIFORNIA DFW FOR NEW POACHING RESTITUTION PROGRAM TUESDAY, JANUARY 09, 2018

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently instituted a new program to stiffen the penalties for the poaching of deer, elk and other big game species, one that the Boone and Crockett Club views as a win for the state’s wildlife, wildlife officials and sportsmen. “Poaching is the illegal killing of game animals and other wildlife,” said Boone and Crockett Club President Ben Hollingsworth Jr. “Poachers are not hunters. They are thieves. The Club supports any measure that deters poaching, as I believe all sportsmen would support as well.” Now under California’s Fish and Game Code (FGC) section 12013.3, the fine for the illegal take of what the state has determined as a mature, trophy animal is significantly stiffer than the previous fine. California’s Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 748.6 outlines what constitutes a mature, trophy animal. “What used to carry a fine of $1,500, along with other penalties and privileges lost for the poaching of a deer, can now cost up to $5,150,” explained Lt. Chris Stoots, communications officer for California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Law Enforcement Division. “Our agency and the citizens of California value our wildlife. I think this new law sends a clear message that poaching will not be taken lightly or tolerated.” With the support of Leupold & Stevens, the Boone and Crockett Club just concluded a two-year research project titled “Poach and Pay” to determine how many states are now using a higher restitution system for the poaching of mature, trophy animals, how these systems are working, and if they can be improved. “Wildlife is a public trust resource and our state agencies work hard, dedicating time and resources to managing these resources,” Hollingsworth Jr. explained. “Law-abiding sportsmen do their part by cooperating in this management, following the rules when it comes to the opportunity to harvest a special animal, and reporting on poachers. Mature animals on the landscape means we have balanced, healthy game populations. People illegally targeting these animals represent a serious issue that requires serious actions.” Some states have adopted the Boone and Crockett’s universally accepted scoring system for big game to establish higher restitution penalties for the theft of a trophy. Others, like California, have adopted a system based on the number of antler points, or length of horn for species like pronghorn and bighorn sheep, although they did borrow some language from Boone and Crockett to develop their measuring standards. The Boone and Crockett Club will only accept an illegally-taken animal into its big game records program if that animal has been confiscated and is owned by a state or provincial wildlife agency, and entered by that agency on behalf of its citizens. The poacher’s name is not listed in these records. Hollingsworth Jr. said, “We do this because our records reflect successful wildlife management and conservation efforts. The results of these efforts are a matter of historical record. These animals and the states that produced them should be recognized.” Read more about B&C’s Poach and Pay Program online by searching for Poach and Pay at boone-crockett.org and in the Winter 2015 and Summer 2010 issues of Fair Chase magazine.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 31

THEODORE R. VITALI B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER HUNTER AND CONSERVATION ETHICS SUB-COMMITTEE

WHY WE HUNT

The Ethics of Sport Hunting

Sport hunting differs from subsistence and sustenance hunting because sport hunting is practiced for the sake of the human experience/human flourishing; not solely or simply for sustaining and enhancing the biotic community (Aldo Leopold) or food or game management. The fundamental object and justifying reason for sport hunting is the exercise of precisely human virtues and the radical reconnection of the hunter to the life-death continuum of the natural, wild community.

32 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

In 1992, while attending a conference on hunting ethics, a video was shown to the participants in which a man was shown getting out of a car, dressed in street clothes, approaching and shooting a tiger lying beneath a tree. The chair of the conference asked about the morality of such hunting? I responded that this was not hunting. This was simply killing. It may have been moral or immoral, but it had nothing to do with hunting. The reason? There was no relationship between the hunter, the tiger and the land— understood as Aldo Leopold understood it. Hunting is a human enterprise in which the human hunter intentionally engages the continuum of life and death within the context of the biotic community in which both are members, both sharers of the land. The hunter, especially the modern urbanized hunter, hunts precisely to engage the wildness of the land, engaging in its mystery, its unpredictability, its intimacy. The hunter approaches the wild animal on the wild animal’s own terms within the predator-prey relationship, taking not only the life and flesh of the animal, but also accepting the animal’s spirit given to him through the act of killing. The animal gives him or herself to the hunter who has earned it through the intimacy and integrity of the chase—the spiritual and physical pursuit. Is it any wonder that the hunter truly loves the animal he/she hunts? In fact, without such love, the hunter is not a hunter at all but only and merely a killer. We hunt in order to be human. We seek to recover within ourselves our primordial relationship to the wildness of the land and its inhabitants. We hunt to recover our relationship to all living things that exist in the continuum of life and death that is the biotic world. We are not killers nor do we intend to be killers. We are simply and solely active and passive members, participants, in the spiritual life of the living and dying world. The morality and thus the ethics of hunting rests ultimately on this basic truth: we exist to foster the well-being of the biotic community by being engaged in that community as integral members as if it were of the living world. We hunt morally when we hunt as active contributors to and as intimate and loving members of this community. n

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A LOOK BACK

Fair Chase Magazine and the B&C Associates Program

Our Club has been at the epicenter of inspiring change since its inception. It was a tremendous uphill battle to convince subsistence and market hunters that they needed to respect bag limits and seasons. It could not have been popular to propose a tax on firearms and ammunition. Those steps required a deep understanding that the status quo was not sustainable and therefore changes in behaviors across a broad spectrum of the population were necessary. While we have been amazingly effective in stewarding wildlife management policy and conservation legislation through the maze of federal agencies and legislators, we face an additional challenge today. Hunting, one of the cornerstones of effective conservation is under assault for a number of reasons. Most disturbing is hunting is being increasingly questioned on moral grounds from a population that has become more separated from rural and frontier experiences than in any other time in our nation’s history. Truths surrounding the morality of hunting and the emotional personification of animals are no longer self-evident to a majority of Americans. Nature has been digitized, available on demand through flat screens and mobile devices. It is now more convenient than ever to believe in the myth of a balance of nature where no animal dies unless it is for food to feed another. We also now live in an age of social media where opinions are shaped by the mob that does not have the training to distinguish myth from reality. Now, the behavior of a minority of hunters is the lens in which all hunting is viewed. This alone could swing the balance towards the elimination of hunting.

The first issue of the Boone & Crockett News was released in February 1984. President Bill Spencer and member George Harrison conceived the idea of this newsletter to improve communications with the members and “stimulate a more active membership.” This at the very early stages of planning for the Club’s centennial celebration.

The Associates Program was launched in 1985, at which time the name switch occurred. Associate Members became what we now refer to as Professional Members. The Club President James H. ‘Red’ Duke addressed the new program in the Boone & Crockett News released in May 1985 (see right).

1984

1985

36 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

The Boone and Crockett Club is also experiencing a little modernization. After examining our requirements to proceed positively into the second century, and after extensive design and redesign efforts, a plan has been devised and work has begun. The development of the Associates Program, a fresh and creative approach, has been generated with the purpose of recruiting into the immediate sphere of influenc e of the Boone and Crockett activities a vast number of individuals who would other wise remain excluded. It is hoped that via this grassroots network of information dissemination, the principl es, purposes, and programs of the Boone and Crockett Club can be understood and shared by those who have common interests. The authors of this concept are to be saluted. - President James H. ‘Red’ Duke - 1985

CJ BUCK

JOHN P. SCHREINER

JULIE TRIPP

B&C VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

B&C ASSOCIATES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

B&C DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

It was in this vein, to safeguard the future of hunting and once again drive behavioral evolution beyond our influential but small membership that in 1985, with James H. “Red” Duke at our helm, the Associates program was born. Communicating with this group was critical to keep them engaged. The first issue of the Associates newsletter was released in 1986, two years after the Members Newsletter was first published in 1984. In 1992, with the hire of Julie Tripp and with George Bettas as Associates Program Chair, the Associates newsletter titled “News Journal” morphed into the very first issue of Fair Chase Magazine. The Associates Program has been instrumental in reaching out to a steady stream of supporters that include potential new candidates for Regular or Professional Membership. Our 1,059 Lifetime Associates represent a strong indication that there are folks who want to do more to support the mission of the Club. By making financial contributions it is clear that this group of focused individuals stands ready to engage. The Associates community represents a group of highly passionate outdoorsmen and women who have connected with the message and principles of the Club. Our Associates have the potential to help spread the message of the Boone and Crockett Club and stand by, ready to answer the call to support the organization and its ideals. Fair Chase Magazine had evolved over the years in content but in 2012, the Communications division was tasked with reinvigorating the goals, deliverables and format of the magazine in order to improve communication with our Associates. We needed to inspire a dynamically growing and engaged Associates program where Associates feel involved and that they truly can make an impact on conservation. In 2013 new operating guidelines were drawn up within the editorial board. Ethics, science and thought leadership are now integrated within real life adventure stories that exemplify the Club’s values in ways that our hunters can internalize and emulate. Humility, respect and competence have always been

The first issue of the Associates Newsletter was released in February 1986, with Harold Nesbitt serving as the editor. Boone & Crockett News has remained a steady publication since those early days. It has now morphed into what is currently the monthly e-mail newsletter to Members.

1986

The title of a magazine should be short in length and should convey to the reader significant insights into the magazine’s content. If the magazine is the official publication of an organization it should “ring’’ of the organization’s focus. The Boone and Crockett Club’s three major focus areas are: Hunter and Conservation Ethics, Big Game Records Keeping and Recognition, and Conservation Research. Rolling all of these into one or two words is not easy. So why did we select “Fair Chase” as the title of our magazine? The fair chase concept has been synonymous with the Boone and Crockett Club since it was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt. In today’s world, the term “fair chase” promulgates the idea of an ethical, respectful relationship between man and the animals we hunt and the way we use the land. Its definition has been extended to include conservation ethics, which encompass hunting. Fair chase brings to mind the basic precepts laid down by Theodore Roosevelt, when he founded the Boone and Crockett Club. The ethic of fair chase goes beyond where laws go. It is the essence of hunting. It is the essence of conservation. It is the essence of man’s modern role in conserving environment al quality, biological diversity, and related quality wildlife populations and hunting opportunities. It is fitting that Fair Chase is the title of the official publication of the Boone and Crockett Club for fair chase is the very essence of the Boone and Crockett Club. - Associates Chairman George Bettas - 1994

The first issue of the Associates Newsletter included a call to “tell your hunting pals about it” as well as articles about: n Invitation to the 19th Big Game Awards n Viewpoint by Wildlife Management Institute President Dan Poole n Field photos submitted by Associates n Jack Reneau’s Trophy Talk column about Big Game Records n Numerous short hunting stories n Several conservation/hunting updates

In 1992, the Club officially put together an Associates Committee with Regular Member George Bettas as chairman. A year later, George hired Julie Tripp to create and launch the first issue of Fair Chase, taking the Associates Newsletter up a notch from a newsletter to a magazine. The first issue of Fair Chase was published in early 1994.

1992

1994

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 37

A LOOK FORWARD the cornerstones of the Fair Chase hunter and we would have that continue to be the norm into the future. Since making those changes we have received much feedback from both Associates and Members that they appreciate the new tone and the courageous positions the Club is signing on to. Having access to the salient points we considered in finalizing our positions on Game Farming or Long Range Shooting, or insights into true outdoor expertise from legendary outdoorsmen is exactly why our readership is responding so positively. As technology advances the Boone and Crockett Club continues to stay involved with digital editions of Fair Chase available to read online, and an annual online readers survey to keep a pulse on what our Associates would like to see in the pages of Fair Chase. In 2015 Fair Chase took on a new look, and for the first time since its inception in 1994, a redesigned masthead. The Boone and Crockett Club has also began using social media to engage with our Associates with up-to-date press releases, field photos, hunting information, and Club activities.

SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH OTHER ASSOCIATES! It doesn’t have to be about the biggest trophy. Fair Chase magazine is interested in your journey becoming a hunter, the one that got away, the dangerous, the hilarious, the camaraderie, and spirit that makes hunting so important to you. Tell us about what fair chase and ethical hunting mean to you. Submit your story to Karlie Slayer at Karlie@Boone-Crockett.org or send it to our headquarters at 250 Station Drive, Missoula, Montana 59801. It will be reviewed by our editorial board. Your story could be considered for print in Fair Chase magazine.

Fair Chase takes on a new masthead design. Inaugural cover - Winter 1994

2015

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All of the benefits of a B&C Associate listed above, plus: One-year subscription to B&C’s Online Trophy Database Search— a $50 value! n Sportsman Associate Decal n Significant tax deduction n B&C Boyt Summit Sling n

28 CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE WILDERNESS WARRIOR SOCIETY The Wilderness Warrior Society is the Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier major gifts society. It is named after Doug Brinkleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic book about Theodore Roosevelt and his Crusade for America and 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 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 gifts to recognize and honor you for your contribution. The $125,000 donation can be paid with a $25,000 current contribution and the balance payable over a maximum of 4 years. 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. There are now twenty-eight members of the Society. This translates to more than $3.5 million for the endowment and has been a major portion of the growth of these funds. It has been a huge success by any measure. Please join us in this grand effort. Contact the Boone and Crockett Club today to find out how you can become a member of the Wilderness Warrior Society. 2017 Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia

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 George C. Hixon 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 CH AS|ES|PSRI P RI FAIR CHASE N GN2G02170 1 839 39

WOLVES, COUGARS, ELK, AND DEER IN OREGON Wildlife managers and hunter-conservationists have long been interested in understanding the impacts of predators on game species. In the United States, predators were persecuted relentlessly from the pioneer days through the mid-20th century. The driving force for most of this persecution was conflict between humans and predators, principally over agricultural activities. In the early 20th century, groups including the American Society of Mammalogists (publisher of the highly regarded Journal of Mammalogy) protested against policies of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey (predecessor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) for their wolf extermination programs. Aldo Leopold’s classic essay, “Thinking Like a Mountain” chronicled his change in attitude towards wolves, from his early years in believing the only good wolf was a dead one, to a realization that wolves played a key role in ecosystem balance by preventing large herbivores like deer from stripping vegetation from the landscape. Today, the management and conservation of carnivorans (mammals in the Order Carnivora) remains one of the most controversial and contested components of the wildlife conservation enterprise. Two species that are front and center in management discussions are the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and cougar (Puma concolor). Much has been written and debated 40 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

about the impact of reintroduced and expanding wolf populations on elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Likewise, controversy over controlling cougar populations to aid recovery of isolated threatened populations of desert bighorn sheep has been ongoing for a number of years. Focusing on a predator species’ impact on a particular prey species may seem simple, but teasing out the science is complex. It is difficult to control for the myriad variables that can cause “noise” in the system. The traditional and proven method of capturing animals and fitting them with telemetry devices is extremely costly, especially for rare and elusive carnivorans. Work in “the field” is different than work in a laboratory setting; in the field it is difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a true experiment where, for example, you can study a prey population in an environment with no predators, and another with only the predator species you are interested in. In the field, you work with what you have, and in most cases it is not ideal. Now that I’ve established the challenges in predator-prey studies, let’s consider another dimension. Let’s suppose you have a cougar population that preys on deer and elk, and wolves from a neighboring state enter the picture and recolonize. What’s the impact on cougars? What’s the impact on deer and elk? Now that’s a challenge, but it is a challenge the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and

SCIENCE BLASTS

the USGS Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (Coop Unit) set out to investigate. Graduate student Elizabeth Orning and Dr. Katie Dugger of the Coop Unit, along with Darren Clark of ODFW examined wolf and cougar predation patterns before (2009-2012) and after (20142016) wolves recolonized the Mt. Emily Wildlife Management Unit in northeast Oregon. Since the fall of 2013 they have GPS collared 28 cougars and 11 wolves (from 4 packs). The wolves were collared as part of the ODFW wolf monitoring program. They identified 1,213 and 541 prey items utilized by cougars in the preand post-wolf periods, respectively. They also identified 158 prey items utilized by wolves. Cougar diet was similar between the pre- and post-wolf time periods. Cougar preyed predominantly on deer, (mule deer [Odocoileus hemionus] and white-tailed deer [O. virginianus]; (58 percent and 53 percent of all ungulate kills

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

pre- and post-wolf, respectively) and primarily killed fawns (53 percent and 44 percent of all deer kills, pre- and postwolf, respectively). When cougar preyed on elk (Cervus canadensis), they primarily preyed on calves pre – (77 percent) and post-wolf (71 percent) recolonization. Wolves preyed predominantly on elk (61 percent of all ungulate kills) and primarily killed the calf age class of elk in summer (83 percent) and winter (49 percent), but preyed on adult elk nearly as often as calves in winter (46 percent). Through field investigation and GPS collar data for both wolves and cougars, the researchers documented 20 cases of wolf-cougar interactions (direct and indirect). The most common interaction they documented was wolves at cougar caches or

Work in “the field” is different than work in a laboratory setting; in the field it is difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a true experiment where, for example, you can study a prey population in an environment with no predators, and another with only the predator species you are interested in. In the field, you work with what you have, and in most cases it is not ideal.

kills (70 percent). From cluster work (both wolf and cougar), they have identified seven cases of wolves scavenging kills from cougar and four cases where wolves visited a cougar cache but scavenging could not be determined. They also identified two cases where cougar visited a wolf kill. Further, they have identified two cases where wolves chased cougars up trees, three cases of wolves chasing a collared cougar off a fresh kill, and one case of wolves killing young cougar kittens. With wolves on the landscape, cougars killed deer and elk less frequently in late winter and spring, contrary

to expectations that they would have to kill more frequently to compensate for wolves chasing them off of their kills. Strong selective predation on elk calves coupled with high density cougar populations explained the low recruitment and reduced population growth rates of elk in Oregon prior to this study and before wolves recolonized the state. The continued selection of elk calves by cougars, previously measured at high densities, coupled with additional pressures of wolf predation, could intensify the effects of carnivorans on elk populations. However, lower kill rates and longer kill

intervals suggest the net effect on elk calf recruitment may be â&#x20AC;&#x153;compensatory.â&#x20AC;? If cougar populations decline in response to the presence of wolves, this could provide further evidence toward compensatory predation effects with little change relative to pre-wolf conditions. Of note, is that elk populations in Mt. Emily WMU (and the rest of northeast Oregon) have actually been increasing in the presence of wolves (and cougars), where elk in the study area increased from 2,800 in 2011 to 3,100 in 2015. There often is a tendency to react to things such as news of a recolonizing

ungulate predator on the landscape. Prior to management intervention, it is critical to establish a scientific basis for decisions. So much uncertainty exists in these complex predator-prey systems, we need to tease out the facts, and establish a base so that we can truly measure the effects of management actionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and learn from them. Kudos to ODFW for investing in science; the wildlife resource and those of us who value it will be the beneficiaries. n

Graduate student Elizabeth Orning collared cougars in 2013 in northeast Oregon as part of the ODFW wolf monitoring program.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 41

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FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 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:

University of Georgia UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WILDLIFE PROGRAM

The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia (UGA) specializes in educating future wildlife professionals through practical application of science to benefit wildlife, habitats and society. The program includes 130 wildlife and fisheries undergraduates and 80 graduate students concentrating on wildlife research. There are 16 wildlife faculty at UGA, including three faculty members specifically focusing on big game species in their research. Students gain a strong background in the biological, technical and management aspects of the profession while meeting the educational requirements to become Certified Wildlife Biologists through The Wildlife Society. Graduates of the program go on to work as biologists, researchers, administrators, and consultants in state and federal agencies and in private industry.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BOONE AND CROCKETT CONSERVATION PROGRAM

The Boone and Crockett Conservation Program at UGA will focus on management of native big game species in the southeastern United States. The effort is strongly supported by Boone and Crockett Regular Members from Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Quality Deer Management Association. The Distinguished Boone and Crockett Professor will train undergraduate and graduate students to strategically position them for leadership roles to advocate for wildlife resources and the men and women who fund conservation efforts through their hunting license dollars. This program will further strengthen UGA’s longstanding commitment to game management research, education and outreach.

“The students ranged from metropolis to rural, avid hunters to those who had never shot a gun, those with limited travel experience to biologists who had conducted wildlife research in the Chernobyl region. The combination of science, law, and political influences resulted in informative, enlightening, and even entertaining discussions.” - Hamilton Garner, Instructor of Wildlife Law Course at UGA 44 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

BROADENING THE SCOPE OF WILDLIFE EDUCATION AT UGA

One part of the initiative at UGA includes the establishment of the Boone and Crockett Wildlife Policy and Law Center to provide students the opportunity to learn, not only from wildlife faculty, but also from campus experts in law, political science and business. Together, they can study the legal, social and financial components of wildlife management. The Warnell School worked with the UGA Law School to develop and a new Wildlife Law course. Mr. J. Hamilton Garner, an attorney from Moultrie, Georgia, taught the course during spring semester 2017. A total of 42 students enrolled in the class, including 35 law students and 7 wildlife graduate students. The course focused on state-level law in the United States, particularly sustainable use and regulated hunting as components of conservation. Selected topics included the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the Public Trust Doctrine and policy related to wildlife management on public and private lands.

Read more about all of our university programs in the 2017 University Programs Annual Report available at Boone-Crockett.org.

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The next day was cold and windy. By mid-morning, Fred had located a group of antelope bedded out of the wind at the head of a ravine. The wind was perfect, and the ravine provided cover enabling Fred and Laurie to stalk to within 80 yards of the antelope. It was at that point Fred said to Laurie, “this is going to happen.” Laurie realized at that moment she was about ready to live Dirk’s legacy. The anticipation of the shot after all of her preparation came in the form of happy tears. PG. 60 WYOMING WOMEN’S ANTELOPE HUNT BY BRENDA WEATHERBY

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BAD

Â© W W W.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ T WILDLIFE

SHOTS

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Jim Vincent with a 6x6 public hunting archery elk in 2016. A good shot.

JIM VINCENT BOONE AND CROCKETT LIFETIME ASSOCIATE

During my 50-year archery and

rifle hunting career, sometimes I’ve killed animals with less than perfect shots, and I’ve lost a couple of animals as well. I’ve met hunters who’ve told me about wounding two or three elk in a season before they “harvested” one. This is where I draw the ethical line. To me, fair chase means that if I shoot and wound an animal in a single buck or bull area, this is the only one I will shoot at for the season.

Over the years, I have taken several pronghorns with a bow. But this year, it was either bad luck or bad skills that made for a trying season—maybe a combination of both. In late July, I put my wood 6x8 foot Taj Mahal box blind out in the desert on a water tank. It was ready for the pronghorn bow season. Our local game warden, Tom Burkhart, and I also put up two pop-up blinds at watering holes for two young hunters.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 49

I was fly fishing in Canada a week before the pronghorn season when Tom texted to say that another archer had put his blind right next to mine—unethical among bow hunters. On August 15, opening day, I sat in my blind all day and saw nothing, masochistically suffocating in the stifling 95-degree interior, a purgatory on Earth. This is the self-torture one must endure to hunt pronghorns with a bow. Why? Because the hotter the day, the better the chance a buck will come to a water hole. At dark, I closed the window on the blind, filled my espresso coffee pot for the morning jolt and rolled out my air mattress and sleeping bag. The next day was the same, except I started to come down with a cough. I went home, after leaving a note with my phone number for the other hunter, politely giving him my opinion of his putting a blind on top of me. After three weeks of being ill and finally recovering, I returned to my blind, still coughing up crud from

time to time. That evening at 8:00, still within a half-hour of legal shooting light, a pronghorn buck showed up, cautious and nervous. He left but came back, and I got my bow down from the hanger on the ceiling. The buck at 25 yards climbed over the huge tire water trough and started to drink. I pulled back, drawing the arrow, but as usual, the sight pin had gone completely black. Idaho hunting regulations keep the intent of primitive weapons: no expandable broadheads, no lighted nocks, and muzzle loaders can only have peep or open sights and load from the muzzle. I agree with all these regulations. The Idaho hunting regulations also state no lighted sights on bows. Yet, I can prove that all sights pins in a blind go black. I believe it is much more ethical to have a pin that is bright so that one can make a clean, ethical shot. So I fought for the darkened sight picture and released the arrow; maybe too quickly. The buck heard the bow release and reared

straight up into the air. He then walked about 80 yards and stopped. I waited for him to fall over. He laid down for an hour, and just at twilight he stood up and moved off a little further. Damn, I thought, did I make a bad shot through the rumen? I had a sleepless night. The next morning, I left the blind, looking for the arrow. I found it. No blood but some hair and rumen material on it. Yes, it was a gut shot. I had been sick for three weeks and had not practiced shooting. Was I so weak from the illness that it contributed to making a bad shot? I felt confident that I would still find the buck, as they usually expire within 10 hours of a poor gut shot. I found not a drop of blood in any place he had been, including where he had lain for an hour the night before. I searched for three hours moving further away from the blind. Thinking that maybe he might come back for water, I returned to the blind. I felt terrible wounding this gorgeous animal. During the day,

Tom guided his son Victor on a mule deer hunt in 2013.

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three other bucks came to the water tank. I did not shoot because I figured I’d already shot and killed one. I left the next morning for home. A few days later, I got a call from Tom, who informed me that the two popup blinds of mine that his son and son’s friend were using had been stolen. Thieves. Why some mutants think they deserve someone else’s property is beyond comprehension. A friend of mine had his four-wheeler stolen while bear hunting this past spring. And there is more theft all the time. I told the two young hunters to use my wood blind as I was not going to use it again. I had shot and lost an animal. I was done with pronghorn season. This same dark cloud followed me when I hunted elk on our 80-acre property that we manage for wildlife. One evening, I sat in my tree stand in our woods with the river flowing behind me. I was looking for elk or a big whitetail buck. At 6 p.m., I saw a beautiful 6 x 6 bull heading my way.

Tom Burkhart on an elk hunt with his son Connor.

I was sitting, but when he went behind some trees, I stood to retrieve my bow. I had an arrow in the rest, and the release hooked on the D-loop attached to the string. I used my range finder twice and measured him at 42 yards. I asked myself a question. I have a fair amount of elk venison in our freezers, but even though it is vacuumed packed, some of it is 3 years old. Did I really want to kill this 6x6 bull? Yes, it was too good an opportunity. I could give away the older elk meat to non-hunting friends. I drew back and centered the 40-yard pin on the vitals of this majestic beast. The arrow flew straight, and I thought it looked really great. It felt like a good shot. The bull whirled around and dug hard to return the way he came. I heard him crash through some timber and then nothing. A few minutes later, I saw the rump of an elk through the trees, maybe 70 yards off, walk slowly away. I waited another 20 minutes, texted Tom and climbed down from the tree stand. I looked for my arrow

but did not find it. Usually an arrow through the vitals will pass through both sides of the animal’s body. I found no blood where I shot. I looked for an hour until Tom arrived. Tom, a career game warden and expert tracker, found hoof marks where the bull had dug up the ground trying to leave by his back trail. Thirty yards further I found the arrow. It had broken just behind the heavy insert. Blood was on the end and what looked like spotted blood marks up the shaft for 10 inches. There also was a little bit of hair. The shaft did not smell like I’d hit rumen. There was no blood, not a drop on the ground. Maybe I had hit the scapula. It was getting dark, so we agreed to come back in the morning. Tom was going to bring a young hunter with sharp eyes. The next morning, we looked for four hours. We found a few hoof prints but that was all. I walked the length of the property four times looking for any sign. We hoped if the bull was dead, that the magpies would start

screaming—as they usually do on a dead animal—but besides the occasional chirp that gave us hope, we heard nothing. I walked the neighbor’s fence line and there was no sign of the bull jumping it. He was either dead on our property or he had crossed the river to the other side. Perhaps he had survived, but probably not. Damn. Two lost animals. Tom told me he had shot two big deer on our property with the same broadhead brand, and both times he did not find one drop of blood. Luckily he was able to track and recover the bucks in the November snow. Then I remembered Tim Moon, another archer friend, telling me he had quit using these same broadheads because he had shot a pronghorn and a whitetail buck a couple of years ago and did not find one drop of blood. He felt he was lucky finding the animals. Tim thought the solid steel twoblade broadhead was great for matching field point accuracy but the hole in an animal shot

by these broadheads closed immediately. When I returned to the house, I took my practice broadheads and shot my target at 42 yards. Except for the first shot which veered low, all arrows were in a four-inch circle. I changed all my broadheads to ones I used successfully years before that I knew would leave a blood trail and started to sight in the bow for point of impact. Many of the shots were exactly where I thought they would be, but sometimes I would have a flyer. Was I getting tired shooting? Then I noticed some frayed fibers and a bunched up cable string where the string and cable buss meet. The top portion of string was out of the little plastic clip that rides on the cable post. This mechanism allows the fletching to clear the rest. It is critical for accuracy. I had not waxed the string for a month and never noticed this bunched up frayed area. Over the next few days, I went out in the morning and walked our property and the

MAKING THE HUMANE ETHICAL SHOT IS A COMBINATION OF ASSURING THAT YOUR EQUIPMENT IS TUNED, GETTING LOTS OF PRACTICE, KNOWING YOUR MAXIMUM RANGE, AND BEING MENTALLY CALM AND CENTERED TO Tom and Victor in 2013.

MAKE THE BEST SHOT.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 51

neighbor’s listening for magpies or coyotes, unsuccessfully. I cow-called and got a response. Since I had shot and most likely killed an elk, I made the decision not to shoot another. One morning I left just before dawn to walk down our lane that enters the woods. I did not want to disturb the roosting turkeys that I had to walk by. I started to walk onto the neighbor’s property on the west, calling from time to time. Suddenly I heard in the distance, across the river a couple of bull bugles. One was further upstream across the river from my property. I started cow calling with a diaphragm call. I elicited a response from time to time, but the bugles seemed half-hearted. It was the last day of the bull archery season and maybe their ardor had faded. I kept calling and then started hyper estrus calling where instead of a cow call of EEEowww, the estrus call goes up and down in volume slightly more like a whine. At times during the peak of the rut, it works. At other times, it will scare bulls to the next county. Suddenly I saw a bull on the opposite bank. I gave

one more call. He started for the water. I could not believe what I was seeing. He swam 150 yards across the river in about a half minute. I was behind a curtain of brush. If I were to shoot, the mortally wounded bull would turn and go back into the river. That is what they do. They always run back the way they came. It is their security escape. There he would drown in the river or possibly die on the other side. It would be another lost animal. I watched him as he climbed the bank and stood just 10 yards from me, directly from where I had called. I froze, not blinking an eye. His massive body shook the water off. At first I thought he was a 5x5 but then realized he was a small six. The top fork beyond the sword tine was small, five inches on each side. The light wind was perfect going from him to me. He stood there for two or three minutes never seeing me and then not finding an amorous cow, turned around and went back into the river and swam to the other side. I called a couple times, and he would stop and bugle but he had been fooled once and once was enough.

BAD

This made my day, and my elk season. I keep asking myself, why the failures? I practice shooting every other day and feel confident of kill shots to 50 yards though 40 is a practical maximum. Was it because I was sick for so long? Or was the non-blood trail broadhead part of the problem, or the frayed cable buss or was it that I had buck fever and did not relax enough, get centered mentally for an extra two seconds to let the pin settle down to make sure of the shot? Was I too quick releasing the arrow and flustered like the young talented quarterback who throws bullet passes to his wide receivers during team scrimmage and interceptions during a game? I am depressed when I occasionally watch the horn porn hunting shows on cable TV and see terrible bow and rifle shots. Then the star jumps up, yells and screams, and high-fives the camera person. The drama is played out as if it is on public hunting grounds but commonly takes

SHOTS

place on canned hunts within high fences. I’ve talked to bow hunters who brag about “harvesting” with a 70- to 100yard shot, and rifle hunters with the latest electronic solutions who tell me 700 to 1,000 yards are easy. Wind drift with either will wound animals, and one can’t call a bullet or arrow back. Obviously not all bad shots are fatal, but I hate wounding an animal or making that animal suffer. Archers account for 5 percent of harvested animals; rifle hunters take the rest, so wounding happens no matter which weapon is used. Making the humane ethical shot is a combination of assuring that your equipment is tuned, getting lots of practice, knowing your maximum range, and being mentally calm and centered to make the best shot. n

TOM, A CAREER GAME WARDEN AND EXPERT TRACKER, FOUND HOOF MARKS WHERE THE BULL HAD DUG UP THE GROUND TRYING TO LEAVE BY HIS BACK TRAIL. THIRTY YARDS FURTHER I Tom took this whitetail during archery season.

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FOUND THE ARROW.

Take the Long View When Theodore Roosevelt and a few like minded individuals established the Boone and Crockett Club, they took the long view. They were the visionaries, the leaders, the legacy builders. Their spirit, energy, and dedication created a great conservation organization at a crucial time in the development of our nation. Today, 131 years later, this organization thrives because successive generations of people like you have met the challenge to carry on a worthy tradition. Your leadership is needed today.

Take the long view. Join the Roughriders Society. Your bequest, gift annuity, unitrust, or charitable lead trust will help support the Boone and Crockett Club into the next generation. Thank you.

For more information, please contact: Winton C. Smith, J.D. (901)327-2700 FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 53

TALKING ABOUT ETHICS ONLY DIVIDES HUNTERS? Using whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal or not legal in different states as pushback against a discussion about ethics misses the bigger picture: our game laws are not solely based on ethics, which would dismiss the fact that wildlife sciences and management is involved.

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“Thank you for these thoughtful essays. I support open, robust, ongoing conversations about hunting ethics. And I know there will forever be lots of gray areas for the reasons you mention. But we should always try.” -Facebook Comment from HuntFairChase.com

When the Club chose to lead a conversation about hunting ethics and fair chase, our end goal was to improve the image of hunters and hunting by helping sportsmen become better brand ambassadors for hunting. To do this, we first needed to make the case that our public image is not what it once was. This was an easy case to make for those who had been paying attention to what has been making the news the past several years. We also expected to confirm a few assumptions from this effort. One was that not everyone was in agreement that our image is tarnished and instead believed that the future of hunting is secure because we can still hunt. There were also signs that a fair number of people were convinced that whatever poor image hunting might have, animal rights and anti-hunting groups were to blame. This is essentially saying the hunting community is not responsible at all, or only slightly, for the image we are projecting.

The one thing we suspected but did not anticipate would be as strong or disturbing is the point of this article: A significant number of people have expressed their opinion that any talk about hunting ethics or hunter behavior only divides hunters when hunters should be united. As a counter, we have heard from an equally significant number who believe the hunting community does have a responsibility to talk more about ethics in order to get more people pointed on the right path to protect the image of hunting. This divide in the debate warrants a closer look. A conversation about ethics in any human activity can spark controversy because someone inevitably is going to be offended if they find themselves swimming against the current. Others will be offended by those acting inappropriately, giving everyone a bad rap. The most common viewpoints in opposition to a conversation on ethics, hunter behavior, and fair chase have been:

hunters are too few to be divided amongst ourselves over something as trivial as how someone else chooses to hunt; n that such debates provide anti-hunters with ammunition to use against hunters and hunting; n all this talk of fair chase is nothing more than making apologies, and we should never apologize for hunting, and, n if it’s legal, why should anyone care who is doing what? It’s true, hunters are in the minority, and we do live in a country where the opinion of the majority matters. Those concerned over hunters being divided shows they have already accepted the fact that the majority is watching what we do and can have influence on the future of hunting, good and bad. This is a good thing because it accepts a reality that is one of the primary purposes of the Hunt Right, Hunt Fair Chase effort—that our image matters, and there are things that are tarnishing this image. Since we are concerned with what others think about hunting and the influence n

they can have, an obvious question is, what’s the better approach? Is it better to keep our heads down and look the other way, or talk about our ethics and proactively police our image and ourselves? The next question is, are we really leaving any ammunition behind for anti-hunters to use against us by talking about our ethics and what guides hunting beyond the laws? The anti-hunter establishment already has a full magazine of ammo to choose from with the headlines some hunters are making—from social media and some depictions of hunting shows on outdoor television, neither of which is very flattering toward hunting in general. Why wouldn’t we want to get more of our own people on board with a positive image

Hunt Right

HUNT FAIR CHASE FAIR FAIR CHCH ASE AS|ES|PSRI PN RIGN2G0 21 80 1 8 55

and putting our best foot forward? Nobody likes to be judged, unless you’re on the winning end, but that’s the nature of ethics. Once you get out of your lane, people will let you know about it. If anything, the ammunition we should not be leaving behind is proof of hunters behaving poorly, which unfortunately in today’s world of instant access and social media is not hard to find. Hunters following the law and a code of ethics and policing themselves is not something the `1 are running around putting on billboards to make their case against hunters. But maybe we should. There is something to be said for standing our ground over an activity that has done so much for wildlife, conservation, and so many people. But ethics and fair chase as some sort of an apology, guilt trip, or cavein? It’s hard to imagine anyone viewing what the NFL is doing about domestic violence among its players as being an apology, guilt trip, or cave-in. It’s just the right thing to do, even if they are protecting their brand in the process. We know that something may be legal in one state and not another, but that’s not the argument behind, “as long as it’s legal, why should anyone care who is doing what?” What is and isn’t legal is determined by local traditions, the type of game being hunted and

under what conditions. This is also determined by state wildlife officials needing to increase success rates or limit harvest. Using what’s legal or not legal in different states as pushback against a discussion about ethics misses the bigger picture: our game laws are not solely based on ethics, which would dismiss the fact that wildlife sciences and management is involved. Case in point: it has been made illegal to hunt mountain lions in California, but that does not mean ethically hunting them in another state is now impossible or should be illegal as well. This was a decision not based on science or what was necessarily the best for lions, their prey base, and the people of California living with lions. The majority of voters in this state considered hunters being allowed to kill mountain lions as socially unacceptable, and they voted it away. What we should be more concerned with is how others are intentionally misrepresenting illegal (as always about ethics, not about science or management goals) to sway public opinion. In other words, “If lion hunting in California is illegal, it should be illegal everywhere, right?” “All you’re doing is dividing hunters when hunters should be united” is an interesting position, but one that doesn’t hold much water, especially if

you understand the reasons for having ethics in the first place. In any human activity, ethics are the guiding principles people agree upon as the right and responsible approach. Talking about them actually does the exact opposite—it unites like-minded people behind a common belief or practice. Our ethics and principles like fair chase are what makes hunting a fulfilling, honorable, credible, and defensible experience, which also makes hunting acceptable and good for everyone, even to those who might question its legitimacy. The answer to the thought behind this position might just lie elsewhere. Either people don’t believe the image of hunters, and therefore, hunting is at risk, or it’s a cover for unethical behavior itself. Another option if the majority of hunters do not believe that what you are doing or offering is not fair chase, it would make sense you would kick dirt on anyone making noise about fair chase. This is likely why we’re hearing from the deer breeding and canned-shoot industry. Granted, they are not declaring who they are on the website forums or on Facebook, just that the Club should be “ashamed for dividing hunters” when all should be united. Interesting. There are many ways to measure success. n

“The ethics of hunting carries a lot of personal choice bias but for a good many of us it is not about the equipment used as much as it is about the respect for the game and the environment that we hunt in. We can broaden that to the respect of the property owners who allow us to hunt, to our fellow hunters in their pursuit of the hunt, and yes even the non-hunter who may not share our interests in the hunt. Oh, we have our share of slobs, disrespectful folks that would claim to hunt but we lessen the name hunter to include them and honestly they don’t change no matter what equipment they use. I’m not for divisions among us but we should call out the slobs and disrespectful, they hurt us much more than they help us.” -Facebook Comment from HuntFairChase.com

Join the conversation, read other comments and learn more at www.huntfairchase.com #HuntRight

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MADE IN THE USA

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BRENDA WEATHERBY Photos Courtesy of Steven and Rachel Girt, Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt

en’s Ant om el W

unt eH op

Wyomi ng

Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt

This unique annual event gathers over 40 women from all over the country to hunt pronghorn over two days in a mentored hunt. 58 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

The ranch at Ucross is the basecamp for all the hunters.

In 2013, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation

created the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt, the nation’s first women’s-only antelope hunt, to promote camaraderie and mentorship through hunting, as well as to raise funds for grants and special projects to help women and girls across the state.

The hunt celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2017, thanks to many generous sponsors including the Boone and Crockett Club, which helped the hunt’s inaugural year by establishing an awards structure that promotes fair chase hunting and ethics for the event. Every year since then, B&C has sponsored the Teddy Roosevelt Award, named after the Club’s founder and father of American conservation. The courage and perseverance of 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Award recipient Laurie DeVries, of Atascadero, California, inspired many at last fall’s hunt (October 12-15, 2017) at the beautiful Ranch at Ucross in northeastern Wyoming. Here is her story told by her friend, Brenda Weatherby of Paso Robles, California, who encouraged Laurie to pursue her dream to hunt. THE JOURNEY

For me, the idea of any hunt suggests certain sights, sounds, smells, and feelings. The image of God’s varied landscapes, the fresh scent of good old dirt and the sense of challenge, defeat, and victory make the hunt memorable. But, most of all, being with people who then become friends is what tops it all. On my short tenure as a hunter, I have met so many wonderfully unique and quality individuals. Some have been great mentors to me, others are intensely intimate friends that have shared highs and lows, and then there are the ladies that give me pure inspiration. Laurie is one that inspires; she just has that outgoing personality coupled with extreme optimism and perspective. She spent many years teaching middle school physical education and volunteering at her church’s youth group. Her husband Dirk was an avid hunter and Laurie always went along as camp cook, nurse, and mama to all. She raised two beautiful daughters and now has grandchildren as well. Life for FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 59

Laurie has always been full because her joy emanates and her faith always brings her hope and peace. When in 2015 her husband Dirk was diagnosed with cancer, she battled alongside him with encouragement, hope, and love. It was then that Laurie and I formed a special bond. I usually saw her in the parking lot of our church when she was leaving one service and I was walking into the next service. Somehow, God always had us at least wave, smile, or exchange a few words. When we did, she would always talk about some Instagram post of some recent hunting adventure I had been on. She would tell me that it inspired her, that it was helping her get through this trying time with Dirk. Laurie’s husband, earlier that year, had drawn an elk tag in Arizona for a hunt that he had been longing to do most of his life. He already had a custom gun built and bought expensive backcountry gear. But Dirk never made it to that elk hunt; he battled cancer instead, and his wife knew how much he had longed for that opportunity. But God had other plans and eternity beckoned Dirk home. The hunt was donated to a veteran with assistance from Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs, but the experience sparked a flame in Laurie. Many of our interactions in the parking lot ended in tears as we shared the losses through that year. But, one day, she told me, “Brenda, after this is all over, I’m going to do that, I want to do that.” I responded, “Really? Well, I look forward to that day, and when it comes, I’ll be here to help.” That began a journey for Laurie.

About three months after Dirk’s death, I texted Laurie asking her if she had her hunting safety certification yet. A month or so passed and she sent me a picture of the hunter safety card, saying it was a bittersweet moment without Dirk. Of course it was, but she pressed on. We planned some practice sessions anticipating maybe a fall turkey hunt. We sat together in the trees, saw no birds but talked about the start of something new in her and how it just felt right for her life, no matter how many people thought she was crazy. Over the months, she’d text me about gun cleaning products, and we would laugh together about her experiences at the range with all the guys. She was seriously dedicated, practicing every chance she could get with both rifle and shotgun. Everything I suggested to her, she did. She was a perfect student, taking responsibility for herself and this journey but humble enough to ask questions and apply knowledge that others would offer her. And through it all, the story of Dirk would surface with the people she met. Her new hunting hobby was becoming an inspiration to others without Laurie even knowing it. In April, she got her first turkey, a beautiful tom. Shortly after, she asked me, “What’s next?” I directed her to a ladies hunting camp in Oregon, put on by my dear friends Candy and Randy Yow. She registered, and we spent a weekend together with 50 other ladies sharpening our skills in rifle, shotgun, hunting techniques, orienteering, and

TOP: Hunters sight in their rifles the first afternoon under the supervision of women mentors and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. MIDDLE: On the first night hunters met their partners and guides. Laurie DeVries is pictured with her mentor Katie McCrary. BOTTOM: Brenda Weatherby was the keynote speaker on the first night, talking about her journey of learning to hunt. 60 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

even self-defense. Before the time ended, Laurie was inspiring them with her story and ready for the next challenge. WYOMING WOMEN’S ANTELOPE HUNT

As was my role, I teed up the next opportunity. This time it was the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt at Ucross. This unique annual event gathers over 40 women from all over the country to hunt over two days in a mentored hunt. Most of the new hunters had never harvested a big game animal, so the nerves were high and the excitement uncontainable. The mentor hunters were just thrilled to walk others through their first experience. Laurie was beaming at the thought of where she was and what she was doing. Her dream was coming true, and after so many years of being by Dirk’s side doing what he loved, she now was experiencing it for herself. She explained it as truly healing for her and boasted of God’s goodness to her. The hunt proved to be challenging; actually not what I promised her. Every other antelope hunt in Wyoming I had ever done was pretty easy with plentiful numbers to choose from and no worries that I wouldn’t tag out. I remember telling her that it would be the perfect learning experience—with little pressure. Boy, was I wrong. After the first day of extreme hiking and belly crawl stalking, we both reconvened at dinner to share our stories. Both of our groups, in different locations, had experienced similar tough hunting conditions. A good learning experience for

sure, but the pressure was mounting with only one day left to hunt. Laurie was teamed up with mentor hunter Katie McCrary from Mississippi, guide Fred Williams of Meeteetse, Wyoming, and Gloria Esguerra Courser of Jackson, Wyoming, who returned in 2017 as a guide-in-training after attending the first four years. Fred was impressed and motivated by Laurie’s enthusiasm, tenacity, energy, and drive to enjoy the entire experience of the hunt. They attempted and experienced several failed stalks on the first day while covering more than seven miles. The area they hunted was non-typical terrain for antelope hunting and looked more like mule deer habitat with steep hills and deep ravines. Laurie’s enthusiasm was unwavering despite the day ending without a shot opportunity and knowing that they only had one more day to harvest antelope for both her and Katie, who, having hunted big game before, insisted that Laurie harvest first. The next day was cold and windy. By mid-morning, Fred had located a group of antelope bedded out of the wind at the head of a ravine. The wind was perfect, and the ravine provided cover enabling Fred and Laurie to stalk to within 80 yards of the antelope. It was at that point Fred said to Laurie “this is going to happen.” Laurie realized at that moment she was about ready to live Dirk’s legacy. The anticipation of the shot after all of her preparation came in the form of happy tears.

“this is going to happen”

TOP AND MIDDLE: Fred was impressed and motivated by Laurie’s enthusiasm, tenacity, energy, and drive to enjoy the entire experience of the hunt. BOTTOM: (left to right) Gloria Esguerra Courser of Jackson; Fred Williams of Meeteetse, Wyoming; Laurie DeVries of Atascadero, California; and Katie McCrary from Mississippi.

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“I did it. Gosh I actually did it!”

Fred and Laurie sat in the ravine while the antelope remained bedded for some time talking and preparing for the shot. Laurie’s tears eventually faded, and her composure transformed into a hunter focused on the ethical harvest of an animal. They got into position undetected, with Laurie sitting and using a bipod. The buck finally stood after several attempts to get the antelopes’ attention. A couple of minutes seemed like an eternity waiting for a clear broadside shot. Finally, Fred was able to say “there’s your shot” and all of Laurie’s practice paid off with a perfect one-shot kill. I will never forget the message I received from Laurie that day. Her words were mixed with pure elation and joyful laughter, “Brenda, I did it. Gosh I actually did it.” At that moment, my hunt faded in importance, and her victory overshadowed the 10 miles of hiking and windburn I felt on my face. I have observed a woman, full of recent loss, but ready to live something new with abandon. What had started as me inspiring her had just flipped 180 degrees. She had become the inspiration, not just to pick up the tradition of hunting, but to walk through life with purpose, fully aware that God blesses us far more than we deserve and connects us with people for intimate friendship. In addition, both Katie and Brenda successfully harvested antelope by the time

TOP AND MIDDLE: Hunters who harvest an antelope early in the weekend will have the opportunity to take part in workshops on meat processing, cooking with game meat, fly fishing and trap and skeet. BOTTOM: Laurie DeVries with her pronghorn. 62 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

the hunt was over. After Katie was willing to risk not having an opportunity to harvest in effort to help Laurie be successful her hunt went down to the wire, harvesting her antelope in the last hour of the last day. When we returned to the lodge that night, we embraced at the sight of our victory, both antelopes harvested. And later that night, Laurie received the Teddy Roosevelt award. The guides vote on the recipient, and it is given to a lady who had the fortitude to keep trying, was determined and persisted through the two full days of hunting. This award celebrates the type of personal character Roosevelt held in highest regard—an adventurous spirit, determination, self-reliance, and the need to give back more than had taken—all he believed defined what was inside every true sportsman and sportswoman. Teddy is known to have said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Read the story of the first Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt winner online in the Associates community in Summer 2014 issue of Fair Chase.

Laurie is certainly a Teddy Roosevelt kind of lady. And believe it or not, the night wasn’t over before Laurie asked, “What’s next?” I looked to Fred smiling and knowing that she now had a growing number of mentors in her life. Fred said, “I think mule deer.” Laurie nodded and replied, “Mule deer it is.” n

The Boone and Crockett Club has helped create a legacy of encouraging more women to hunt by supporting the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt. The event develops new hunters by offering scholarships and hunter education to women who otherwise may not get the opportunity to hunt and pairs them with conservationminded guides and experienced female hunting partners for maximum learning opportunities. Next year’s event is slated for October 11-14, 2018. Learn more at wyomingwomensantelopehunt.org.

RIGHT: Fred, Laurie and Gloria with Laurie after winning the award. BELOW: Group shot of all the guides, hunters, volunteers and sponsors in 2017.

What had started as me inspiring her had just flipped 180 degrees. She had become the inspiration. FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 63

BIG GAME BIG REWARDS A year ago, my then 10-yearold grandson, Clark Kibby, accompanied me and my wife Becky to Springfield, Missouri, for the Boone and Crockett Club’s 29th Big Game Awards program. The three of us attended all the festivities provided, including the live auction. In reviewing the many auction items with Clark, he was instantly drawn to the black bear hunt donated by Sonny’s Guiding Service in British Columbia. Clark was adamant that he was up to the challenge should we be able to be the successful bidder. Realizing Clark’s enthusiasm, I called his father (my son Clay) for his input. After a conversation between the three of us, Clay gave his wholehearted approval to bid on the hunt. Fortunately, we were the successful bidder.

Eleven-yearold Clark ready to begin the challenge he had been dreaming of for a year.

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BEYOND THE SCORE

Byron Kibby Lifetime Associate #513 Photos Courtesy of Author

In conversation with the outfitter Sonny Perkinson, the five-and-a-half-day hunt was scheduled to begin on June 5 of last year. The three of us knew this would be a hunt of a lifetime, and we decided early on that Clay and I would accompany Clark as non-hunters to make this big game hunt all about Clark. We departed Austin, Texas, on June 4 and flew to Vancouver where we overnighted. Early the next morning we boarded a turboprop plane to fly to Smithers, British Columbia; besides us, there were five other passengers on the plane. Our outfitter Sonny picked us up at the airport in Smithers, and three hours later, we were at our remote hunting camp. As the three of us would learn as the hunt progressed, Sonny, our outfitter, guide and cook was

gracious, courteous, and had complete knowledge of the game and territory he has hunted for 21 years. The accommodations, the meals, the equipment and the vehicles were all top of the line. As we unpacked our gear and readied ourselves for the afternoon hunt, we were pleasantly surprised by the mild weather we encountered. Nighttime lows were in the upper 30s while daytime highs were in the low- to mid-50s. Rainfall was at a minimum as we only lost a half day of hunting because of the weather. After Clark sighted in his rifle, the three of us were ready to begin the hunt we had been dreaming about for a year. Clark, now 11 years old, was ready for the challenge. Clark has hunted since he was 7 and has successfully harvested several whitetail deer

including a low-fence typical 12-point that scored 146. Other trophies include two alligators and many feral hogs. We knew in advance that this territory was a two-bear limit, and a second license could be purchased in the event of an early kill. Sure enough, Clark spotted a mature black bear which he shot at 200 yards with his .308 caliber rifle. The bear squared 5½ feet. Not wanting the hunt to end on the first day, Clay notified Sonny of our desire to purchase a second tag. At this point, Clark let us all know that for the second bear he wanted to bag a 7-foot bruin. Though it was unlikely that such a bear would present itself, we encouraged Clark to hunt hard and stay true to his objective. For the next five days, we hunted using an Argo, a tandem eight-wheel-drive

The countryside consisted of rolling hills with numerous streams dissecting the landscape. The territory was in a logging area of heavily forested pine trees.

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.

open-air vehicle—which can literally go anywhere—or by a four-wheel-drive flatbed pickup. Still-hunting techniques were utilized to survey open meadows. The countryside consisted of rolling hills with numerous streams dissecting the landscape. The territory was in a logging area of heavily forested pine trees. Many times we had to pull our pickup over on the side of the gravel roads so as not to be run over by fully loaded logging trucks—at times a nail biting ordeal! Miles of trails and washboard roads offered up an abundance of other big game animals including Canada moose, mule deer and mountain goats. During this time, Clark saw at least 12 black bears. Sonny knew from large bear tracks and scat deposits that a monster bear inhabited one particular meadow. Each day we hunted the meadow—which we fondly named the mosquito patch—without successfully finding the giant. At last, we encountered the bruin on the final day after a still-hunt on the mosquito patch. The wind was in our favor, and the bear had no idea of our presence as it ambled behind alders about 50 yards away. Though visible, Clark knew not to attempt a shot until the bear was in a clear line of sight. After what seemed like an eternity, the bear presented himself in a clearing. Taking careful aim, Clark placed a 165-grain Nosler Byron and his grandson, Clark attended all the events at the Big Game Awards program in Springfield, Missouri, in 2016. At the live auction Byron was the successful bidder on a British Columbia black bear hunt, which he gave to his grandson.

B&C’S BIG GAME AWARDS BANQUET What originally started as a way to recognize the achievements of fair chase sportsmen and their trophies, has grown over the last 70 years into a celebration of successful wildlife conservation and management. Nowhere will you be able to see some of the largest record-book trophies entered over the last three years from across North America, including some the largest in recorded history. One of the highlights is the Jack Steele Parker Generation Next Youth Banquet. All hunters 16 or younger when they harvested their B&C trophy are invited to exhibit their trophies, and those attending are recognized at this banquet. The future of our wildlife and public hunting depends on these young hunter-conservationists. The smiles on these young people’s faces tells it all. The trophies will be on display for people to view at the Bass Pros Shops flagship store in Springfield, Missouri. This is the largest event the Boone and Crockett Club hosts every three years. We guarantee this will be an amazing experience for your whole family.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

FOR THE 30TH BIG GAME AWARDS

JULY 2019!

Read about all of the events that took place at the 29th Big Game Awards in Springfield, Missouri in 2016 in the Fall 2016 issue of Fair Chase.

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The bear was estimated to weigh over 350 pounds and measured 7 feet 1 inch, with a skull green score of 19-4/16 inches. Though not a Boone and Crockett qualifier, it will make the big game records of British Columbia with a final score of 19-1/16 inches.

bullet through the bear’s shoulder, instantly getting the attention of the bear, which took off running. Likewise, we all ran, and when the bear momentarily stopped, Clark finished off the animal with a second shot. Excitement overwhelmed us as we saw the enormity of the bruin. Both Clay and I have harvested black bears before, but neither of us came close to the size of this one. I told Clark, though only 11 years old, that he could hunt black bear every year for the rest of his life and never encounter a bear of this size. The smile on Clark’s face stretched from ear to ear. The bear was estimated to weigh over 350 pounds and measured 7 feet 1 inch, with a skull green score of 19-4/16 inches. Though not a Boone and Crockett qualifier, it will make the big game records of British Columbia (19-inch minimum) with an after-drying score of 19-1/16 inches. Clark’s bear will be made into a full body wall mount with the bear descending an outcropping appropriate to the local geography. When finished, it will be prominently displayed in the family trophy room. Though Clay and I have hunted extensively throughout North America, this was truly the hunt of a lifetime for our three generations. Thank you, Boone and Crockett Club, for selecting this excellent hunt for the live auction. n

I told Clark, though only 11 years old, that he could hunt black bear every year for the rest of his life and never encounter a bear of this size. The smile on Clark’s face stretched from ear to ear. Clay, Byron and Clark with Clark’s black bear. Three generations enjoying a hunt of a lifetime together.

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POLICY AND PROCEDURE CHANGES

TROPHY TALK

JUSTIN SPRING B&C PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Director of Big Game Records

I hope this column finds all of you well and you had a joyous holiday season. As has been the case since our founding, Boone and Crockett Club’s annual meeting is held every year in early December. For 2017, we met in Savannah, Georgia, with the Records Committee meeting being one of the first on the two-day meeting docket. This opportunity allows the 30-member committee to review records-related issues that have come up over the previous year as well as discuss any policy or procedure changes that may be warranted. These agendas span quite an array of topics: permission to use Boone and Crockett’s scoring system, Official Measurer actions and trainings, difficult or new scoring questions, and policy review are common topics on the list. This year was another great meeting, and there are two topics we addressed that I want to share with you as it may impact some of our Official Measurers (OMs). First is the process in which asterisked trophies (those that were not sent in for panel judging) must go through to have an asterisk removed. Trophy owners are familiar with our policy that any trophy not sent in for panel judging will be asterisked in that awards period’s publication. The only exception to this rule is trophies that

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cannot be sent to a Judges Panel due to legal constraints—currently these include polar bear and walrus entries from Canada. All other trophies must be in attendance or will be asterisked in the awards book for the program for which they were invited. In some cases, a trophy cannot be sent due to extenuating circumstances, though the trophy owner would like the asterisk removed before it’s listed in the next All-time book. Our policy reads: In lieu of score verification by a Judges Panel, trophy scores can be verified by the submission of two additional score charts prepared independently by two more Official Measurers other than the one that prepared the entry score chart. Our discussion was a clarification on what would be accepted for these score charts. In some cases, two Official Measurers would collaborate and send in a single verifying score chart, and in many cases this was accepted. The question before the committee was whether this was in violation of our written rule, and the committee determined that the intent of having two different OMs prepare independent charts best served the purpose of

score verification. In the event a single score chart is used to verify an entry score, any variation that exists leaves us only two options to consider. Three independent charts gives the committee three qualified assessments of the measurement in question and allows a more definitive verification if a measurement from the entry score chart may need updated. As such, going forward, all trophies will need to be independently scored by two separate Official Measurers beyond the original Official Measurer and submitted to the office for review to verify an entry score on an asterisked trophy.

The second issue before the committee had to do with ascertaining the length of prong on a prong that has been broken off. According to the manual, measuring should take place along the top of the prong to the tip but there are no instructions on a broken prong. While the likelihood of a pronghorn with a broken prong making the Boone and Crockett minimum score is unlikely, we are commonly questioned on these type of things to ensure uniform scoring on all trophies regardless if they make the minimum entry score or not. Generally speaking, horned

Official Measurers scoring pronghorn will have updated information in the next measuring manual.

90°

Figure 1

game is carded to determine, for example, a horn length on sheep where brooming is common. On a whitetail point that is rounded, similar to a thumb, is the wording in the manual, the tine length is wrapped around to the end. In addressing the broken prong issue on a pronghorn, obviously a horned animal, it was determined that carding was the correct procedure to be utilized. Going forward, the length of a broken prong will be determined by placing a card perpendicular to the line created by the furthest extending top edge of the unbroken prong. The updated manual wording will be as follows with the accompanying diagrams (above): The proper measure of a broken prong starts at the point created by the edge of a card laid perpendicular to the line created by the unbroken top edge of the prong. (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2) The measurement will then continue along this established line to the top edge of the prong to the point where it meets horn

90°

Figure 2

material. From this point of contact with unbroken horn material, the measurement continues as described for non-broken prong length measurement. In certain cases, a prong may be broken to the point where an unbroken top edge of the prong does not exist to establish an angle of the prong for carding. In this case, the length of prong will start where the top of the prong would have been and only include the width of the horn terminated by point of contact on the rear of the prong. (Fig. 3) This particular pronghorn was brought up on the newly created B&C Official Measurers Facebook group. I would encourage all OMs that are comfortable using Facebook to contact us about being added to this group. While many technologies in hunting have become problematic in that the skill of the hunter and the chase has been diminished, this pa r ticula r

Figure 3

technology allows the nearly instantaneous discussion of scoring procedures throughout our community of 1,400 Official Measurers from all over North America. If you have a question on scoring caribou and you live in Florida, this allows those measurers from farther north with significant experience measuring caribou and the issues that arise to help talk you through a problem or question. Not only does this serve to get you an answer, it allows the records office to confirm the ruling and use it to teach all Official Measurers how this particular antler or horn configuration should be treated or explain the basis and wording that these type of decisions are made on. In this case, it brought to our attention an issue that had not been previously addressed. Once brought before the committee they formally developed a uniform procedure to use going forward. Speaking of technologies, most all of you by now realize that our Assistant Director of Big Game Records Kyle Lehr is producing an online monthly newsletter for all

of our Official Measurers. This forum allows him to review the different categories as a refresher course and to assist with disseminating information to Official Measurers in a timelier manner than is accomplished with this column in a quarterly publication. As measurers we know just as much as anyone that there is far more to a trophy than a number, and we would appreciate you forwarding any hunting pictures from the previous seasons for inclusion in that publication. You are a force of 1,400 conservationists working toward a common goal of documenting the top specimens of free-ranging big game in North America. We are well aware of the time and effort you all put into this, and if we can share in each other’s success, it brings us closer together. We would be honored to say a small thank you by sharing your moment of success. Be it your best buck to date, a great picture of you and your grandkids in the stand, or your daughter’s first doe, hunting has a long tradition of family and camaraderie, which, in some cases, may be slipping. This reminds

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TROPHY TALK us of our roots and perhaps will bring a bigger smile to your face as you pass this along while you score a hunter’s first 8-point that will be lucky to go 75. A final note on the newsletter is bringing to your attention the Official Measurer Associate Drive. Boone and Crockett’s mission first and foremost is that of a conservation organization. The Club’s Records Program is by far the most well-known program, but what we do extends much further. We have our Conservation Policy Committee which works daily to drive our mission in Washington D.C. Our University programs that are at the forefront of research and educating the next generation of wildlife professionals. The Conservation Grants program that provides money to researchers trying to find solutions to the most pressing issues facing our wildlife. And the Elmer E. Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Center at the TRM Ranch that provides a facility for educational

workshops, courses, and presentations for natural resources and other special topics. All these help us be a driving force for conservation and the promotion of fair chase hunting. As you hear the hunting stories or watch a proud mother or father stand by as their child has a deer scored, make sure to emphasize these parts of the Club. It truly is not about a number, and with your help in educating them in all we do and where their support goes, we can show them that the model we promote is what enabled them to have this opportunity, and its continuation is what will take these opportunities into the future. Besides, if you get good at it and sign up a hundred folks as B&C Associates, we will give you a Kimber rifle for your efforts! Keep up the good work, and here’s to the odds being in your favor as hunt results begin to creep into our browsers at work this spring. n

Each time an OM signs up a B&C Associate we’ll put a credit by their name. HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN 3 Associates – $25 off any item in the B&C store 5 Associates – Buck Knife 10 Associates – B&C Boyt sling 25 Associates – OM Wool Vest 50 Associates – Sitka Gear

Associate Sign-Up Incentive Program Leader Board *As of January 25, 2018

CONGRATS TO OUR TOP PRIZE-WINNERS! Bucky Ihlenfeldt – 30 Carl Frey – 4 Ken Witt – 18 Ralph Stayner – 4 Stanley Zirbel – 17 Roger Kingsley – 3 Daniel A. Doughty III – 9 Mark Miller – 3 Jerry E. Lunde – 5 2 ASSOCIATE SIGN-UPS Don Biggs, Richard A. Bonander, Buck Buckner, John Busic, Chad A. Coburn, Ab England, Stephen J. Hutton, Marvin D. LaRose, Michael Moline, Toby Montgomery John Ohmer, Eric M Rominger, Jim Williams, and Harrel Wilson 1 ASSOCIATE SIGN-UP Mark Bara, Bob Black, Steve Boero, John Bogucki, Jason Browning, Richard Burley, Brent Christensen, L. Victor Clark, Dean H. Cook, Brian Dam, Tim Donnelly, Randal Dufault, Tracy Dunkin, Mark A. Erspamer, Ronnie Gadberry, HP Giger, Mike Golightly, TJ Gould, Clifford Gray, Jeffrey Gunnels, Charles Harden, Arthur F Hayes, Gilbert Hernandez, Daniel Hollingsworth, Gary R. Howard, Tim Humes, Stacee Kleinsmith, Chris Lacey, John Legnard, Ron Madsen, James W. Martin, Thomas Milne, Skip Moore, Bill Nash Jr., Ronald Newman, Rob Newton IV, Matt Nilsen, Frank S. Noska, Robert Novosad, Don Patterson, Ron G. Pesek, Richard A. Pflanz, John Ramsey, Ryan Rauscher, Tim Rozewski, Jeffrey L. Schneider, Glen Sellsted, Ted Spraker, John Stein, Kelly Stockdale, Darrel Sudduth, Victor Trujillo, Brent Trumbo, Tony Vidrine, Lee Wahlund, Gary Wegner, Gerry Wegner, and Brent Wilkes

(value up to $350)

75 Associates – Yeti cooler and rambler package (value up to $500) 100 Associates – Congratulations! YOU’LL RECEIVE A KIMBER RIFLE! NOTE: Limit to one rifle per year, three rifles per Official Measurer.

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Current Associates! Would you like to give an Official Measurer credit for your renewal? Let them know when it is your time to renew and they will provide their OMID number to include with your renewal so they will receive credit.

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artifacts and milestones that celebrate conservation efforts. Visitors will experience the story of conservation from the Native Americans to Lewis and Clark to Teddy Roosevelt and the wildlife management practices championed by hunters and anglers that helped shape the conservation movement.

The wildlife galleries were inspired by Johnny Morris’ lifetime spent in nature and his deep admiration for fellow hunter and angler conservationists like Roosevelt and Audubon. These conservation heroes, through time spent hunting and fishing, grew to appreciate the vital importance of wildlife habitats and management. The creation of the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium, located in the heart of America, Springfield, Missouri, establishes a destination accessible to tens of millions of people who may never have the opportunity to travel to the great museums in New York or Washington DC. Guests can get closer to record-setting game animals than ever before, stand in awe observing nature’s most striking exotic animal habitats, and discover the origins of the conservation movement with historic

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JACK STEELE PARKER

GENERATION

NEXT FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

BLACK BEAR

21 Fremont Co., WY 20 6/16 Fayette Co., PA 20 1/16 Tazewell Co., VA

Tanner Supino Drake E. Croushore Matthew G. Blankenship

2017 2016 2017

B. Wilkes J. Medeiros B. Hyder

The Boone and Crockett Club would like to celebrate young hunters who have embraced the outdoor way of life and embody the spirit of fair chase hunting. The following is a list of the most recent big game trophies accepted into Boone and Crockett Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 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 Winter 2017 issue of Fair Chase was published.

TYPICAL MULE DEER 204 2/8 200 183 7/8 180 2/8

212 5/8 210 6/8 188 4/8 192

Utah Co., UT Cache Co., UT Rio Arriba Co., NM Pondera Co., MT

Boston W. Bradford 2016 Talon D. Johnson 2016 Matthew I. Martinez, Jr. 2016 Abigail L. McCollom 2016

S. Bagley T. Mortenson E. Rominger R. Rauscher

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 181 187 6/8 173 7/8 182 4/8 161 7/8 172 7/8

Etomami River, SK Kain J. Salmond Garrard Co., KY Rylan S. Genco Fayette Co., IA Rhys T. Land

2016 2016 2016

B. Mitchell D. Weddle J. Brummer

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 199 6/8 205 2/8 189 6/8 200 1/8

Crawford Co., IL Effingham Co., IL

Troy E. Metzger 2016 Christopher K. Holland 2016

D. Good D. Good

PRONGHORN 81 2/8

81 7/8

Box Elder Co., UT

Bryson M. Noble

2016

R. Hall

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT 49 47 6/8

49 5/8 47 7/8

Wilson Arm, AK Marvin H. McCloud III 1997 Broadwater Co., MT Savannah S. Schneider 2016

J. Baichtal J. Pallister

TANNER SUPINO

RHYS T. LAND

72 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

Bryson M. NOBLE

MATTHEW I. MARTINEZ, JR.

Abigail was on a family hunt within the block management program on B&Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch west of Dupuyer, Montana.

ABIGAIL L. MCCOLLOM

Needless to say, it was the hunt of a lifetime!

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 73

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 Winter 2017 issue of Fair Chase was published.

B&C President Ben Hollingsworth, Jr. took this non-typical American elk, scoring 391 points, on a hunt in Navajo County, Arizona, in 2016.

74 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

30 BIG GAME AWARDS TH

LISTING AND PHOTO GALLERY

TOP TO BOTTOM

BEAR & COUGAR FINAL SCORE

LOCATION

BLACK BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 23-10/16

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

22 1/16 La Crosse Co., WI Jeffrey R. Scovell 2015 D. Boland 21 14/16 Yavapai Co., AZ John A. Potenza 2016 S. Stiver 21 10/16 Albemarle Co., VA J. Ray Brooks 2015 B. Trumbo 21 10/16 Camden Co., NC Christopher P. Speer 2016 J. Tkac 21 10/16 Forest Co., PA Ronald J. Reitlinger 2016 J. Medeiros 21 5/16 Archuleta Co., CO Tabatha A. Short 2016 T. Watts 21 5/16 Lundar, MB Luke C. Bossuyt 2017 E. Parker 21 4/16 Montezuma Co., CO Thomas E. Jayo 2017 R. Stayner 21 4/16 Preston Co., WV Donald W. Virts, Sr. 2016 J. Evans 21 3/16 Indiana Co., PA James L. Rodgers 2016 G. Block 21 3/16 Lebanon Co., PA Brian M. Boyer 2016 R. D’Angelo 21 3/16 Lycoming Co., PA Ray A. Kolb 2016 R. Kingsley 21 1/16 Dauphin Lake, MB Edward M. 2017 S. Moore Willenborg 21 1/16 Price Co., WI Robert L. Thompson 2015 A. Crum 20 15/16 Pike Co., PA Bryan R. Diehl 2016 D. Lynch 20 13/16 Oakburn, MB E. Dale Inman 2017 D. Butler 20 11/16 Clarion Co., PA Raymond H. Fry, Jr. 2016 D. Bastow 20 11/16 Lac Dasserat, QC Joseph R. Pfohman 2016 K. Schilling 20 10/16 Hyde Co., NC Christopher S. 2016 M. Bara Huggins 20 9/16 Bronson Forest, SK Dale K. Lawrence 2016 A. England 20 8/16 Schoharie Co., NY Tyler J. Latta 2016 P. Liddle 20 8/16 Worcester Co., MA James E. Mundell 2015 T. Montgomery 20 7/16 Menominee Co., MI Robert F. Bartoszek 2016 D. Wellman 20 7/16 Bass Lake, ON Hillary K. Kigar 2017 R. Banaszak 20 6/16 Mendocino Co., CA Randy L. Tews 2015 R. McDrew 20 6/16 Price Co., WI Benjamin J. 2016 T. Heil Przybylski 20 3/16 Elk Co., PA George M. Murray 2016 M. Blazosky 20 3/16 Navajo Co., AZ William M. Sumner 2016 R. Stayner 20 1/16 Aroostook Co., ME Mariah L. Corriveau 2015 G. Humphrey 20 1/16 Hyde Co., NC Bruce A. Weber 2016 B. Novosad 20 1/16 St. Louis Co., MN William D. Lewis 2016 T. Kalsbeck 20 Boise Co., ID Gregory R. Browne 2017 M. Demick 20 Navajo Co., AZ Joshua B. Vandenbout 2016 R. Stayner 20 Nez Perce Co., ID Tracy D. Bennett 2016 L. Carey

While on a 2016 bow hunt in Camden County, North Carolina, B&C Associate Christopher P. Speer took this black bear, scoring 21-10/16 points. This Alaska brown bear, scoring 28-4/16 points, was taken by B&C Associate Kenneth A. Espenshade while hunting near Olds River, Alaska, in 2016. He was shooting a .300 Weatherby. B&C Associate Kate L. Thompson took this cougar, scoring 15-6/16 points, in 2017 while hunting near Fox Creek, Alberta. She was shooting a .30-30 Winchester.

GRIZZLY BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 27-13/16 25 14/16 Tanana Flats, AK 25 2/16 Nigu River, AK 25 1/16 Kotzebue, AK 24 13/16 Pinguk River, AK 24 6/16 Halfway River, BC 23 8/16 Kildala River, BC

Evan L. Wheeler Ronald B. Pope Tim D. Hiner John A. Cravens Anthony J. Zandbergen John A. McCall, Jr.

2016 2016 2017 2017 2016

A. Jubenville W. Phifer C. Brent C. Neill A. Berreth

2016 J. Gunnels

ALASKA BROWN BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 30-12/16 29 3/16 Spiridon Bay, AK 29 2/16 Ugak Bay, AK 28 7/16 Kodiak Island, AK 28 6/16 Pavlof Bay, AK 28 4/16 Olds River, AK 28 1/16 Dog Salmon River, AK 26 5/16 Lake Aleknagik, AK

Scott N. Roberts James L. Scull, Jr. Paul M. Cownie William B. Mayes Kenneth A. Espenshade William D. Gray

2017 2016 2016 2016 2016

D. Cook G. English C. Brent D. Boland C. Graybill

Frederick E. Hilger

2017 S. Ashley

2016 J. Ohmer

COUGAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 16-4/16 15 6/16 14 12/16 14 12/16 14 11/16 14 10/16

Fox Creek, AB Lawrence Co., SD Powell Co., MT Coconino Co., AZ Crook Co., WY

Kate L. Thompson Eric J. Botkin Brandi Dearing Leo J. Milas Laird B. Larson

2017 2017 2016 2016 2016

C. Fennema J. Boke J. Pallister T. Smail L. Fredrickson

Share your field photos with us! Follow: @BooneandCrockettClub Tag: #booneandcrockettclub FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 75

ELK & MULE DEER FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 442-5/8 400 5/8 391 383 378 377 6/8 377 1/8 376 5/8 370 4/8 368 361

409 2/8 406 4/8 393 2/8 387 1/8 385 7/8 385 4/8 383 2/8 383 374 3/8 370 2/8

Phillips Co., MT Elko Co., NV Millard Co., UT Apache Co., AZ Coconino Co., AZ Park Co., WY Navajo Co., AZ Garfield Co., UT Park Co., WY Treasure Co., MT

Jim C. Robinson 2016 Jesse W. Warrick 2016 Douglas C. Hannah 2016 Cole H. Buser 2016 Donald E. Perrien 2016 Breanne R. Thiel 2016 Marion D. Anderson 2016 Matheson M. Houston 2016 Rodney A. Lindsten 2016 Hannah K. Patterson 2016

M. Malone C. Lacey W. Bowles L. Rominger H. Tonkin B. Zundel R. Stayner D. Nielsen W. Hepworth M. Malone

NON-TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 478-5/8 391 5/8 402 7/8 Navajo Co., AZ 391 407 6/8 Navajo Co., AZ 388 2/8 401 3/8 Unknown

Horace Smith, Jr. 2016 R. Stayner Ben Hollingsworth, Jr. 2016 B. Dupke Unknown 1900 W. Phifer

ROOSEVELT’S ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 404-6/8 329 6/8 335 7/8 329 343 6/8 316 7/8 326 2/8 305 1/8 310 3/8 298 1/8 309 4/8 296 1/8 301 2/8

Gold River, BC Vancouver Island, BC Columbia Co., OR Coos Co., OR Campbell River, BC Coos Co., OR

Russell D. Jeter Kevin T. Klumper

2016 M. Opitz 2015 J. Weise

Dale E. Webb Rob D. Miller Ricardo Longoria Paul J. Mitchell

2016 2004 2012 2016

Kevin T. Klumper Weston S. Arvin

2015 J. Weise 2016 B. Abele

T. Rozewski D. Heffner M. Barrett D. Heffner

TULE ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 379 297 5/8 306 5/8 Solano Co., CA 291 4/8 298 4/8 Solano Co., CA

TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 226-4/8 203 2/8 212 4/8 194 7/8 200 5/8 194 5/8 207 2/8 193 4/8 200 6/8 190 7/8 211 2/8 189 6/8 205 3/8 187 2/8 191 4/8 186 6/8 198 7/8 186 1/8 203 7/8 185 5/8 189 5/8 183 5/8 188 2/8 181 4/8 185 6/8

Washington Co., ID Unknown Reid Lake, SK Rio Arriba Co., NM Maple Creek, SK Climax, SK Utah Co., UT Willow Bunch Lake, SK Carbon Co., WY Montrose Co., CO Perkins Co., NE Montrose Co., CO

Melvin A. Dotson Unknown Donald J. Luthi McLean Bowman Marty B. Bohnet George P. Bourassa Joshua A. Brittain Gerald A. Churko

1965 1900 2016 1971 2015 2016 2016 2015

R. Hatfield R. Black D. Francais J. Stein R. Schaal M. Halirewich D. Nielsen H. Dreger

Charles J. Engstrom Dan C. Cooper Seth M. Cockerill Cherrissa E. Cooper

2016 2006 2007 2010

B. Wilkes R. Black L. Meduna R. Black

NON-TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 355-2/8 270 2/8 265 6/8 238 2/8 233 5/8 231 6/8 230 4/8 223 5/8

277 5/8 274 2/8 242 6/8 238 2/8 235 4/8 241 236 2/8

Oneida Co., ID Cassia Co., ID Cassia Co., ID Garfield Co., CO Carbon Co., UT Lincoln Co., NV Owyhee Co., ID

Robert D. Dorius Larry Carson Don E. Drew Michael G. Harpster Bart W. Davis Adam B. Kearney Robert L. Stockton

1978 1955 1985 2015 2016 2016 1970

R. Hatfield R. Hatfield R. Hatfield J. Kubalak D. Jones L. Clark R. Hatfield

TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 182-2/8

TOP TO BOTTOM:

This typical American elk, scoring 377-1/8 points, was taken by Breanne R. Thiel in Park County, Wyoming, on a hunt in 2016. She was shooting a .300 Winchester Mag. B&C Associate Adam B. Kearney was on a hunt in Lincoln County, Nevada, when he harvested this non-typical mule deer, scoring 230-4/8 points. He was shooting a .300 Ultra. Travis A. Jarrett took this typical Columbia blacktail deer, scoring 138-4/8 points, in Trinity County, California, in 2015. 76 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

144 146 6/8 Humboldt Co., CA 141 4/8 144 2/8 Skagit Co., WA 138 4/8 143 5/8 Trinity Co., CA 135 1/8 138 6/8 Humboldt Co., CA 132 6/8 140 5/8 Curry Co., OR 128 134 5/8 Mendocino Co., CA

Mark E. Miranda Patrick L. Morgenthaler Travis A. Jarrett Robert J. Dinsmore William D. Douglas Lee H. Vagt

2016 G. Hooper 2016 E. Johnson 2015 2016 2015 2016

S. Boero G. Hooper S. Nasby D. Biggs

TYPICAL SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 133 100 5/8 108 3/8 Afognak Island, AK Mark L. Carter

2016 M. Opitz

TOP TO BOTTOM:

This non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 240 points, was taken by Kaleb B. Watson while hunting in Highland County, Ohio, in 2016.

WHITETAIL DEER FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 213-5/8 199 4/8 206 Macon Co., MO William T. Duncan 2016 G. Webber 194 1/8 204 Clarke Co., IA Austin R. Pontier 2016 R. McPherren 190 1/8 203 1/8 Hitchcock Co., NE Kyle D. Newcomb 2016 B. Wiese 184 5/8 217 7/8 Otter Tail Co., MN Robert Hietala 1999 T. Kucera 184 3/8 207 5/8 Chickasaw Co., IA Mark R. McGowan 2016 S. Grabow 183 6/8 209 6/8 Perry Co., MO Roger L. Schremp 2016 R. Gadberry 180 7/8 194 7/8 Wayne Co., IA Cody J. Kerkove 2016 R. Bishop 178 6/8 185 2/8 Ogle Co., IL Joshua C. Shipman 2016 D. Hollingsworth 178 3/8 182 3/8 Morris Co., KS Mark A. Carson 2016 M. Peek 176 6/8 186 4/8 Fairfax Co., VA Keith E. Broyles 2016 R. Mayer 175 3/8 180 Webb Co., TX Grant E. Adami IV 2016 R. Barrientos 174 2/8 179 1/8 Todd Co., SD Eric J. Antoine 2016 N. Elk Looks Back 174 1/8 177 5/8 Chase Co., KS Gordon M. Turner 2016 C. Ruth 173 4/8 185 7/8 Val Verde Co., TX John E. Williams, Jr. 2015 J. Arnold 173 3/8 177 7/8 Washington Co., IN Joseph H. White 2016 P. Hawkins 173 195 5/8 Madison Co., VA Collin R. Tucker 2016 R. Mayer 173 191 2/8 Sumner Co., TN Harold L. Thompson 2016 R. Skoglund 172 6/8 185 2/8 Morrison Co., MN Thomas M. Adamek 2015 M. Harrison 172 2/8 179 4/8 Otter Tail Co., MN Robert Hietala 2001 D. Boland 171 7/8 186 4/8 Stark Co., OH Danny R. Paul 2016 R. Stephen 171 4/8 178 7/8 Ohio Co., KY Kenny R. Fallaway 2016 W. Cooper 171 1/8 176 2/8 Buffalo Co., WI Michael G. Perinovic 2016 G. Wegner 171 1/8 176 5/8 Jefferson Co., MO Timothy B. Smith 2016 J. Hindman 170 7/8 179 5/8 Carter Co., TN Ralph E. Greene 2016 S. Daniels 170 6/8 203 2/8 Stark Co., OH Picked Up 2017 R. Stephen 170 6/8 202 7/8 Sullivan Co., IN Randall J. Ridge 2016 S. Petkovich 170 2/8 179 2/8 Little River Co., AR Walter K. Sharp 2016 D. Doughty 170 2/8 182 7/8 Smoky River, AB Randy L. Mendenhall 2015 J. Pallister 170 1/8 186 2/8 Stony Creek, MB Ivan G. Cop 2016 G. Sellsted 169 2/8 173 4/8 Buffalo Co., WI Jacob L. Guelig 2015 M. Miller 169 1/8 174 1/8 Dodge Co., NE Terry L. Hoeneman 2016 R. Krueger 169 186 5/8 Morton Co., ND Lonnie G. Levy 2016 J. Schneider 168 7/8 172 2/8 Otter Tail Co., MN 2016 C. Kozitka 168 1/8 175 6/8 Clay Co., IA Michael E. Callahan 2016 G. Salow 166 4/8 168 4/8 Chain Lakes, AB Brent Thesen 2016 C. Dillabough 166 1/8 169 Dewey Co., SD Ryan G. Patterson 2016 L. Gunner 166 170 6/8 Buffalo Co., WI David C. 2016 J. Hjort Schoenberger 166 188 2/8 Webb Co., TX Grant E. Adami III 2016 R. Barrientos 165 7/8 186 1/8 Highland Co., OH Matthew D. Esch 2016 B. Novosad 165 6/8 170 3/8 Adams Co., IN Craig L. Beer 2016 T. Wright 165 4/8 168 2/8 Winona Co., MN Gerald P. Kieffer 2016 C. Pierce 164 7/8 177 Trigg Co., KY Micheal C. Oliver 2016 W. Cooper 164 6/8 175 5/8 Tallahatchie Co., MS Douglas C. Mauldin 2016 C. Neill 164 5/8 175 7/8 Parke Co., IN Benjamin B. Hartman 2016 T. Wright 164 5/8 168 1/8 Warren Co., PA John P. Schaaf III 2016 D. Chanda 164 4/8 175 3/8 Gonzales Co., TX Dean Davis 2016 H. Gore 164 4/8 168 Roane Co., WV Destiny M. Reynolds 2016 J. McCrady 164 176 6/8 Muskingum Co., OH Jon W. McCoy 2016 D. Haynes 164 171 1/8 Talbot Co., GA James C. Sams 2016 D. McGowan 163 5/8 171 4/8 DeKalb Co., IN Kyla M. Krafft 2016 W. Novy 163 5/8 172 2/8 Phillips Co., AR Bradley S. Pryor 2016 D. Doughty 162 7/8 167 1/8 Daviess Co., IN Gary S. Allen 2007 R. Graber 162 6/8 165 4/8 Breckinridge Co., KY Laura L. Ashbaugh 2016 K. Morphew 162 5/8 173 7/8 Saline Co., MO Preston N. Hisle 2016 B. Harriman 162 3/8 168 3/8 Brown Co., OH James T. Hooghe 2016 J. Wood 162 1/8 171 7/8 Washington Co., PA Brian J. Douglass 2016 G. Block 161 5/8 171 1/8 East Carroll Co., LA Grady W. Brown, Jr. 2016 L. Barr 161 5/8 187 3/8 Marshall Co., KS Jeff C. Cooper 2015 S. Grabow 161 1/8 185 7/8 Marion Co., KS Gregory W. Snider 2016 T. Donnelly 160 7/8 173 5/8 Clark Co., WI Michael J. Konieczny 2016 J. Lunde 160 6/8 167 1/8 Callaway Co., MO Michael E. Henderson 2016 L. Lueckenhoff 160 6/8 182 2/8 Highland Co., OH Todd L. Daugherty 2016 L. Loranzan 160 2/8 170 2/8 Benton Co., MN Jesse P. Corrigan 2015 D. Ohman 160 2/8 178 4/8 Botetourt Co., VA Timothy R. Flanagan 2016 B. Trumbo 160 2/8 173 Prince George Raymond L. 2016 R. Mayer Co., VA Pollard, Jr. 160 1/8 169 5/8 Jones Co., SD LaTonya M. Erikson 2016 L. Fredrickson 160 181 2/8 Spokane Co., WA Travis H. Goldsmith 2016 D. Duchow

In 2015, Thomas M. Adamek harvested this 172 6/8-point typical whitetail deer while on a hunt in Morrison County, Minnesota. He was shooting a .270 Winchester. In 2017, B&C Associate Scott M. Hill harvested this 138-point nontypical Coues’ whitetail while on a hunt in Sonora, Mexico.

FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 77

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 333-7/8 251 6/8 259 5/8 Marion Co., IL Jeffrey R. Heimann 2016 D. Hollingsworth 246 6/8 253 3/8 Peoria Co., IL Steven W. Sprout 1998 D. Hollingsworth 240 251 6/8 Highland Co., OH Kaleb B. Watson 2016 G. Trent 235 7/8 240 4/8 Bates Co., MO Ben C. Cameron 2016 G. Salow 229 3/8 240 3/8 Richardson Co., NE Rachel L. Kechely 2016 R. Mort 219 2/8 224 Barron Co., WI Picked Up 2016 D. Meger 216 5/8 227 7/8 Portage Co., OH Douglas N. Kisamore 2016 R. Pepper 216 3/8 220 6/8 Franklin Co., IN Arnold D. Fields 2016 T. Wright 216 218 7/8 Mercer Co., ND Daniel J. Weinand 2016 D. Eider 216 227 Pike Co., IN Daniel J. Johnson 2016 R. Pflanz 210 7/8 217 Baraga Co., MI Dennis Bess 1981 G. Villnow 209 7/8 216 Crawford Co., PA Frank J. Cafardi 2016 G. Block 208 3/8 218 3/8 Atchison Co., KS Adam Hays III 2016 G. Salow 206 209 7/8 Keokuk Co., IA Cody C. Van Fleet 2016 D. Baumler 204 4/8 213 6/8 McCurtain Co., OK Ross A. Fenley 2016 G. Moore 196 4/8 205 4/8 Holmes Co., OH Clayton T. Mullett 2016 W. Goodland 195 1/8 199 3/8 Polk Co., AR David A. Blake 2016 D. Doughty 193 6/8 203 3/8 Val Verde Co., TX John E. Williams, Jr. 2015 J. Arnold 193 3/8 198 2/8 Muskegon Co., MI Dennis J. Williams 2014 R. Banaszak 193 1/8 198 7/8 Williams Co., OH Troy S. Langenderfer 2012 W. Novy 192 1/8 197 4/8 Monroe Co., AR James F. 2016 D. Doughty Richardson, Jr. 191 7/8 194 6/8 Newton Co., IN Scott S. Homans 2015 J. Bogucki 191 7/8 196 4/8 Parke Co., IN Wendell J. Williams 2016 G. Howard 189 191 6/8 Blindman River, AB Scott J. Beaulieu 2015 D. Powell 188 7/8 194 1/8 Otter Tail Co., MN Picked Up 2016 T. Kalsbeck 188 6/8 194 6/8 Eau Claire Co., WI Justin R. Sperber 2016 J. Hjort 186 189 3/8 Edmonson Co., KY Warren A. Blevins 2016 W. Cooper 185 5/8 191 2/8 Gregory Co., SD Garrett Knutson 2016 M. Mauney 185 4/8 189 5/8 Butler Co., KS Jeremiah K. Roberson 2016 L. Konyndyk 185 4/8 192 5/8 Dubois Co., IN Richard J. Trevino 2016 R. Pflanz 185 2/8 188 3/8 Custer Co., NE Kenneth J. Myers 2016 R. Dierking

TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 144-1/8 118 4/8 113 4/8 108 1/8 103 1/8 102 3/8 101 7/8

126 5/8 119 4/8 111 111 1/8 104 4/8 106 6/8

Sonora, MX Sonora, MX Sonora, MX Cochise Co., AZ Sonora, MX Grant Co., NM

Steven J. McElwain Wade C. McElwain Donald E. Perrien Bryan K. DeJarnett Donald E. Perrien Zack C. Law

2017 2017 2017 2016 2015 2016

M. Golightly M. Golightly H. Tonkin E. Fanchin H. Tonkin J. Edwards

NON-TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 196-2/8 138 141 7/8 Sonora, MX 121 6/8 124 7/8 Sonora, MX 107 3/8 114 1/8 Catron Co., NM

Scott M. Hill 2017 C. Lacey Ernesto M. Santana 2017 E. Hendricks Timothe R. Bramble 2016 J. Stein

MOOSE AND CARIBOU FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

CANADA MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 242 203 4/8 211 2/8 Jordan Lake, MB 202 1/8 203 4/8 Omineca Mts., BC 187 195 7/8 Kamuchawie Lake, SK

Fred Felbad David R. Human Tracy A. Coakes

2006 G. Villnow 2016 S. Corley 2016 R. Pesek

ALASKA-YUKON MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 266-4/8

TOP TO BOTTOM:

Douglas N. Kisamore took this non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 2165/8 points, in 2016 while on an archery hunt in Portage County, Ohio. This Shiras’ moose, scoring 159-6/8 points, was taken by B&C Associate Kevin T. Klumper in Pend Oreille County, Washington, in 2016. He was shooting a 7mm Remington Mag.

234 243 5/8 Ogilvie Mts., YT 228 6/8 234 Kobuk River, AK 219 2/8 231 Farewell, AK

Rolando H. Saenz 2016 M. Erspamer Luke R. Rowley 2015 W. Knopp Robert J. McCaffrey 2016 D. Rippeto

SHIRAS’ MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-4/8 181 6/8 159 6/8 146 6/8 145 2/8

185 2/8 163 149 1/8 150 2/8

Madison Co., MT Picked Up 2016 Pend Oreille Co., WA Kevin T. Klumper 2016 Carbon Co., WY Brenda J. Spiegelberg 2016 Bannock Co., ID Thomas H. Pickens 2016

F. King J. Weise K. Monteith T. Peterson

MOUNTAIN CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 459-3/8

In 2016 while on a hunt near Main River, Newfoundland, B&C Associate Milton Schultz, Jr. harvested this woodland caribou, scoring 277 points. He was shooting a .375 H&H.

78 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

407 4/8 416 3/8 Ice Lakes, YT 384 404 1/8 Consolation Creek, BC

Thomas W. Kitzerow 2016 C. Pierce Daniel Fournier 2016 R. Berreth

WOODLAND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 419-5/8 277 287 1/8 Main River, NL 276 1/8 284 6/8 Sam’s Pond, NL

Milton Schultz, Jr. Frederick E. Popovitch, Jr.

2016 J. Capurro 2016 W. Jones

BARREN GROUND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 477 411 7/8 420 Nigu River, AK Cory A. Lindbo 2016 S. Kleinsmith 390 7/8 398 7/8 Meshik River, AK Robert E. Ball 1991 J. Satterfield 377 6/8 390 2/8 Mulchatna River, AK Tim D. Hiner 1990 C. Brent CENTRAL CANADA BARREN GROUND CARIBOU 391 2/8 404 3/8 Courageous Lake, NT

Fred Felbad

1990 G. Villnow

QUEBEC-LABRADOR CARIBOU 379 5/8 387 1/8 Ungava Bay, QC

Donald R. Flietner

1980 J. Lunde

HORNED GAME FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

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

91 4/8 86 3/8 86 4/8 86 6/8 85 5/8 84 7/8 84 4/8 85 2/8 84 3/8 84 2/8 83 7/8 82 7/8 82 6/8 83 3/8 81 3/8 81 1/8

Sweetwater Co., WY Patrick J. O’Brien 2016 R. Stayner Socorro Co., NM Sheldon Grothaus 2016 R. Stayner Sweetwater Co., WY Mark D. Farnam 2016 R. Stayner Huerfano Co., CO Logan J. Rushing 2016 L. Guldman Las Animas Co., CO Michael G. Pryor 2015 E. Stanosheck Sweetwater Co., WY Stefan K. White 2016 J. Wall Las Animas Co., CO Dale A. Pryor 2016 E. Stanosheck Torrance Co., NM William H. Wrye, Jr. 2016 R. Madsen Natrona Co., WY Joseph Denig 2016 R. Bonander Mohave Co., AZ Robert. R. Edgmon 2016 W. Keebler Washoe Co., NV Bryan F. Schuster 2016 L. Clark Unknown Rick Taylor 1980 G. Villnow Las Animas Co., CO Michael G. Pryor 2016 E. Stanosheck Custer Co., MT Ty W. Free 2016 K. Lehr Butte Co., SD Bria L. Dillavou 2016 G. English Carbon Co., WY Randy N. Shipman 2016 D. Sudduth

BISON - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 136-4/8 129

129 4/8 Custer Co., SD

Daniel L. Ongna

2015 T. Heil

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 57-4/8 50 4/8 49 6/8 48 2/8 47 6/8

50 6/8 50 2/8 48 3/8 48 5/8

Adams Co., ID Kittitas Co., WA Elk River, BC Kodiak Island, AK

Jason R. Gray Russell D. Jeter Mitchel C. Wheeler Kelli S. Thornton

2016 2016 2015 2016

M. Schlegel M. Opitz D. Patterson D. Hart

Christopher T. Maxwell Donald E. Perrien Rick V. Gambetta Fred Felbad

2017 D. Skinner

MUSK OX - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 129 116 2/8 117 3/8 Parry Bay, NU 110 6/8 115 4/8 Kugluktuk, NU 109 4/8 112 Kugluktuk, NU 108 2/8 109 3/8 Banks Island, NT

2017 H. Tonkin 2017 D. Perrien 1998 G. Villnow

TOP TO BOTTOM:

Mitchel C. Wheeler took this Rocky Mountain goat, scoring 48-2/8 points, in 2015 while hunting near Elk River, British Columbia. He was shooting a 7mm Remington Mag. This pronghorn was taken by B&C Associate Ty W. Free on a hunt in Custer County, Montana, in 2016. The buck scores 81 points.

LEFT:

B&C Associate Christopher T. Maxwell took this musk ox, scoring 116-2/8 points, in 2017 while hunting near Parry Bay, Nunavut. He was shooting a .270 Winchester. FAIR CH AS E | S P RI N G 2 0 1 8 79

TOP TO BOTTOM:

BIGHORN SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 209-4/8

This desert sheep, scoring 173-2/8 points, was taken by B&C Associate Marvin N. Zieser in Maricopa County, Arizona, while bowhunting in 2016.

192 1/8 192 4/8 Madison Co., MT 189 189 4/8 Baca Co., CO 176 6/8 177 1/8 Mineral Co., CO

B&C Associate Colin Onaka harvested this Dall’s sheep, scoring 1681/8 points, during the 2016 season while hunting near the Talkeetna Mountains in Alaska. He was shooting a .270 Winchester.

DESERT SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-1/8 184 1/8 174 7/8 173 2/8 172 4/8 171 6/8 171 4/8 170 4/8 170 2/8 169 5/8 168 1/8

186 6/8 175 4/8 173 4/8 173 6/8 172 3/8 172 1/8 171 1/8 171 1/8 169 7/8 168 6/8

Maricopa Co., AZ Yuma Co., AZ Maricopa Co., AZ Coahuila, MX Sonora, MX San Miguel Co., CO Brewster Co., TX Pima Co., AZ Chihuahua, MX San Miguel Co., CO

Paul M. Zemljak F. Dave Zanetell, Jr. James A. Lamke

Douglas N. White Daran R. Wastchak Marvin N. Zieser Lonnie R. Cook Michael R. Dullen Dan C. Cooper Adam Casagrande Todd G. Geiler Bruce L. Bummer Michael E. Luttrell

2016 F. King 2016 J. Legnard 2016 R. Black

2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 1996 2017 2016 2017 2013

P. Dufek C. Goldman M. Cupell R. Nelson A. Jubenville R. Black S. Boero P. Dalrymple R. Bonander M. Trujillo

DALL’S SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 189-6/8 168 1/8 168 5/8 Talkeetna Mts., AK Colin Onaka

2016 C. Brent

STONE’S SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 196-6/8 162 2/8 163

Ogilvie Mts., YT

A. Gordon Lyons

2015 D. Aumen

TOP TO BOTTOM:

Paul M. Zemljak took this bighorn sheep, scoring 192-1/8 points, in 2016 while hunting in Madison County, Montana. He was shooting a 7mm Remington Mag. This Stone’s sheep, scoring 162-2/8 points, was taken by B&C Associate A. Gordon Lyons near Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon Territory, in 2015. He was shooting a .300 Winchester Short Mag. 80 FA I R CH A S E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8

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