Keith Balfourd holds the Petrzilka Typical Whitetail award winner. Photo credit: Gordon Whittington
October 04, 2013
By Sarah Kellner
"From my cold, dead hands," is a phrase made popular by Charlton Heston and the NRA, but the same could be used to describe hunters' feelings about their trophies. You prepare months in advance, spend countless hours waiting, and it all comes down to that final moment.
This July, proud hunters from across the country gathered in Reno, Nev. for Boone and Crockett Club 's 28th Big Game Awards . This year's awards, sponsored in part by Cabela's , established several new benchmarks that are a direct reflection of today's hunters' commitment to conservation, fair chase and the future of these traditions.
"Boone and Crockett began hosting public exhibitions of big-game trophies in 1947. But I don't think we've ever seen the hunting community more passionate about helping us deliver the message that hunting success follows conservation success — and vice versa," said Club President Bill Demmer, in a press release .
The caribou display at the 28th Big Game Awards did not disappoint. Photo courtesy Gordon Whittington
While the topic of trophies has certainly stirred a lot of controversy over the years — we've all heard PETA's anti-hunting propaganda — when it comes down to it, hunting is the reason we have so many amazing record-breaking animals year after year.
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Keith Balfourd holds the Petrzilka Typical Whitetail award winner. Photo credit: Gordon Whittington
The availability of mature, male trophies today that sportsmen and sportswomen are making the Boone and Crockett record book is a testimony to successful game management. Age, quality habitat, and genetics are the three biological factors that it takes to produce a record book animal, said Keith Balfourd, Boone and Crockett's Director of Marketing.
"Age and habitat are directly related to proper management. If a particular population is being overhunted, either by man or predators, there will be few if any mature males." Balfourd goes on to note that, "If a population is left undermanaged relative to the carrying capacity of their range, habitat degradation can occur affecting the health of the wildlife living there and poor antler growth is an indicator of poor habitat quality."
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We love Boone and Crockett here at Game & Fish, and really, what's not to love? Member accomplishments of Boone and Crockett Club include the founding of the U.S. Forest Service , National Park Service and establishment of Glacier and Denali national parks.
If you haven't checked out Boone and Crockett Country on the Sportsman Channel yet, here's a sneak peek at what you're missing.
And now, without further ado, here are monster trophies you've been waiting to see from Boone and Crockett's 28th Big Game Awards!
Non-Typical Whitetail Hunter: AJ J. Downs
Location: San Jacinto Co., Texas
Date: 2012
Score: 256-4/8
Non-Typical Coues' Whitetail Hunter: Augustin F. Ruiz
Location: Grant Co., New Mexico
Date: 2010
Score: 142-5/8
Bison Hunter: Corey L. Skiftun
Location: Zama Lake, Alberta
Date: 2011
Score: 128-4/8
Barren Ground Caribou Hunter: Devin J. Hubble
Location: Scotty Lake, Alaska
Date: 2010
Score: 434-4/8
Typical Coues' Whitetail Hunter: Devin U. Beck
Location: Pima Co., Arizona
Date: 2012
Score: 123-5/8
Quebec-Labrador Caribou Hunter: Edward A. Grzesik, Sr.
Location: Schefferville, Quebec
Date: 1988
Score: 433-4/8
Grizzly Bear Hunter: Guy J. Turner
Location: Big River, Alaska
Date: 2011
Score: 26-5/16
Stone's Sheep Hunter: Jim Hens
Location: Gable Mt., British Columbia
Date: 2011
Score: 179-4/8
Shiras Moose Hunter: John K. Koster
Location: Summit Co., Utah
Date: 2011
Score: 184
Typical Whitetail Hunter: Kevin S. Petrzilka
Location: Saunders Co., Nebraska
Date: 2010
Score: 198-2/8
Musk Ox Hunter: Larry A. Meyer
Location: Kugluktuk, Nunavut
Date: 2010
Score: 128-2/8
Mountain Caribou Hunter: Lyle R. Ferguson
Location: Dease Lake, British Columbia
Date: 2012
Score: 419-1/8
Bighorn Sheep Hunter: Rip Rippentrop
Location: Chouteau Co., Montana
Date: 2010
Score: 203-6/8
Non-Typical Mule Deer Hunter: Max Rasmussen
Location: Uintah Co., Utah
Date: 1950
Score: 260-3/8
Woodland Caribou Hunter: Peter Kraenzlin
Location: Sam's Pond, Newfoundland
Date: 2011
Score: 369
Alaska-Yukon Moose Hunter: Robert J. Condon
Location: Brooks Range, Alaska
Date: 2012
Score: 250-6/8
Black Bear Hunter: Robert T. Christian
Location: Monroe Co., Pennsylvania
Date: 2011
Score: 23-9/16
Dall's Sheep Hunter: Steen C. Henriksen
Location: Chugach Mts., Alaska
Date: 2011
Score: 176-1/8
Bison Hunter: Stephen F. Bennett, Sr.
Location: Teton Co., Wyoming
Date: 2009
Score: 128-4/8
Pronghorn Hunter: Steven K. Bright
Location: Coconino Co., Arizona
Date: 2012
Score: 92-4/8
Alaska Brown Bear Hunter: Thomas A. Stago
Location: Uyak Bay, Alaska
Date: 2012
Score: 30-4/16
Roosevelt Elk Hunter: Timothy R. Carpenter
Location: Humbolt Co., California
Date: 2011
Score: 398-1/8
Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou Hunter: Todd G. Schoepke
Location: Obstruction Rapids, Northwest Territories
Date: 2006
Score: 389-4/8
New World Record Rocky Mountain Goat Hunter: Troy M. Sheldon
Location: Stikine River, British Columbia
Date: 2011
Score: 57-4/8
Cougar Hunter: Rocco Verelli
Location: Clinton Beach, British Columbia
Date: 2010
Score: 15-11/16
Tule Elk Hunter: David E. Leport
Location: Colusa Co., California
Date: 2004
Score: 353-5/8
Non-Typical Stika Blacktail Hunter: Felix Villarma
Location: Kadin Island, Alaska
Date: 1965
Score: 125-5/8
Typical Stika Blacktail Hunter: Joe A. Cisney
Location: Alaska
Date: 1947
Score: 124
Typical Mule Deer Hunter: Lorin J. Wilkin
Location: Lincoln Co., Nevada
Date: 2011
Score: 202-4/8
Woodland Caribou Hunter: Shawn R. Andres
Location: Sam's Pond, Newfoundland
Date: 2012
Score: 369
Non-Typical Columbia Blacktail Hunter: J. Nyle Stierna
Location: Powell River, British Columbia
Date: 1966
Score: 181-4/8
Typical American Elk Hunter: Dan J. Agnew
Location: Arizona
Date: 2010
Score: 407
If you haven't seen what our friends over at Petersen's Hunting have put together on Boone and Crockett's 20 biggest typical whitetail , non-typical bucks , and elk check them out now!