Record Books, Would you even register your trophy?

6mm Remington · May 8, 2017

I'm sure there are some folks who would enter an animal for the ego trip but another way to look at it, at least in my eyes is to honor the animal. I am a B&C member but have never taken an animal large enough to make the record book. The B&C club really does a lot for sportsmen and wildlife and part of the record keeping is to see trends in healthy animals in areas they are hunted. There is a lot of data that is gleamed from entering an animal that can be very beneficial to wildlife biologists in determining if particular animals are being over-hunted in a certain area for example. There are folks who will go to extreme lengths to harvest such an animal, but for most of us it will most likely be a lot of hard work and luck to take such a magnificent animal, with more than a fare share of it being luck!

I would highly recommend you all check out the B&C club and what it stands for. Think about joining up because it is a great group of folks who truly care about our wildlife and us as sportmen and women being able to enjoy the outdoors.

WY ME · May 8, 2017

Like 6mm I'm also a B&C member due to the fact that I'm an official measurer. Needless to say I would and have registered my own bulls and bucks into the book. When I became a measurer I did it because I was fascinated with antlers. A side benefit of which I had never planned was that while my new found knowledge of scoring made me more critical the big game I pursued it also made me a better hunter. No more brown and it's down mentality. Since then I try to pursue the absolute largest animal I can find in any given unit and when I can't find what I want I regularly burn tags. In fact I burn a lot more tags than I punch and doesn't bother me in the least. The reason...I like to hunt. To me, pursuing a large animal that I may never find is way more fun than killing a small buck or bull every year. I like the challenge of hunting for the grown ups. I've had the good fortune to hang a number of book heads on the wall that me my family have taken. I like to sit by myself, drink a glass of wine and look at 'em. Getting a B&C animal is my own personal goal. Maybe it's an ego thing...I don't care.

B&C Blacktails · May 9, 2017

I have not entered any of my Blacktails in the books and probably never will unless it is top ten quality. And like a lot of others have said it will bring unwanted attention to your area and flood it with people.

fackelberry · May 9, 2017

HuskyMusky said:
on a side note, I do write my name, date, location on the back of my mounts, perhaps one day it would matter to someone.

I do the same thing Husky! Or i leave my liscense on the antlers or back of mount. I have seen the old mounts of huge mule deer in bars or motels and always wondered what the story was on it. Most of the time nobody knows and the hunt and memories fade into the past about the good ol' days. I put the date, my name and general location i shot the animal on the back so that when i'm long gone some kid or person can look and see where some quality animals used to live or were shot and what year. I'm just hoping that when that time comes, if it's 50yrs, 100yrs or longer from now, with all the development going on they don't say, that big buck came from the hills behind the mall, or he was shot just off the 9th hole on the golf course! I will be glad i'm not around to see that.

fackelberry · May 9, 2017

B&C Blacktails said:
I have not entered any of my Blacktails in the books and probably never will unless it is top ten quality. And like a lot of others have said it will bring unwanted attention to your area and flood it with people.

I don't worry about people flooding the areas out here in WY. The record book only advertises the county of harvest. Alot of our counties here are 50 miles wide and 50 miles long, so it would be very hard to pinpoint the exact location where the animal was taken. I see alot of counties back east are really small and it would be alot easier to flood the county there with hunters but not out here. And another reason i enter my animals in the books if they score well enough is because where i live in Wyoming, my county isn't known for producing very many book heads of anything. It's overlooked alot because of that. So i try to put it on the map when i do shoot a book qualifier. It just shows there are some quality animals coming from often over looked areas. Alot of that goes back to the conservation efforts i have stated before!

johnsd16 · May 9, 2017

BOHNTR said:
Just to clarify, if it's not officially measured and entered, then you do NOT have a P&Y animal.

I would and have entered animals into the B&C and/or P&Y records program.......I do not support the SCI records program.

Hahahaha! Exactly why I would never enter one. What a silly comment. Thanks for clarifying that my trophy is not worthy of the title.

How about this. I have one that would make the P&Y minimum IF it were officially scored.

I think the clubs do some good stuff for hunting but they do foster an elitist attitude for some and put too much emphasis on score to make a trophy. I get the purpose of score and records but the fees and the attitudes of some of the people are silly. The store I worked at used to have official scorers come twice a year to do local deer and bears. Some of the most arrogant people I have ever met working at a gun/bow shop were those scorers. Where they get off thinking they're so great because they put string on someone's animal and fill out a form is beyond me.

BOHNTR · May 9, 2017

johnsd16 said:
Hahahaha! Exactly why I would never enter one. What a silly comment. Thanks for clarifying that my trophy is not worthy of the title.

How about this. I have one that would make the P&Y minimum IF it were officially scored.

I think the clubs do some good stuff for hunting but they do foster an elitist attitude for some and put too much emphasis on score to make a trophy. I get the purpose of score and records but the fees and the attitudes of some of the people are silly. The store I worked at used to have official scorers come twice a year to do local deer and bears. Some of the most arrogant people I have ever met working at a gun/bow shop were those scorers. Where they get off thinking they're so great because they put string on someone's animal and fill out a form is beyond me.

What's ironic (silly) is you refer to a Club (B&C or P&Y records program) in a negative light, yet utilize their scoring system to describe your own animals.

Timberstalker · May 9, 2017

We all have egos, we all get envious. Some may say I don't enter my trophies in the book because I don't want to brag or tell anyone where I killed it? I feel that attitude can be taken as, I'm so good I don't need the recognition. Then why mention you have a trophy? I take pride in my trophies animals and trophies on the shelf from racing. Nothing wrong with people showing off their trophies in my opinion. I can't imagine someone taking a giant and just tossing it, I want to see it. Who who goes into a small town grocery store, bar, sporting goods and ignores the antlers on the walls? I look in open garages for horns, stop at little stores just to see what might be in there, buy magazines, record books and antlers are the main reason I go to the local sportsman show. Antlers are cool, record book ones are just a little more rare and Nothing wrong with them being recognized.

fackelberry · May 9, 2017

I have also wondered why some people that shoot exceptional animals or record book animals won't enter them or have them officially scored? I can understand some that want to keep a hunting spot a secret, or some are just to tight with their money to pay the fees associated with entering it. I also truly believe alot of hunters are like they say, they just don't care to enter for one reason or another and don't want the publicity. Thats fine and understandable. I also think there are alot of hunters that don't enter them or have them scored because of the way or ways they may have taken the animal and somebody will call them out or prove they didn't shoot it like they say they did! Or these same hunters are known around town as law breakers or poachers and nobody will belive them anyways even if they took it legally! Every good hunting community has those types of hunters in them and people know them by name, They do shady stuff to get the trophy animals, either unethically or illegally. I think ALOT don't get scored for this reason. I would like to know the percentage of illegally taken animals that are entered into the record books. No way of ever telling but i bet it is way more than we think!

HeartElk1 · May 9, 2017

This is a good topic and it is nice to get all the different opinions. My take on it is that I would enter an animal in the books -- I have for 1 B&C elk and 1 P&Y mule deer. I totally understand those not wanting to draw more attention to their hunting spots, but the areas I hunt are huge (covering multiple counties) and it would be pretty hard to pinpoint.

The main reason I'd include a trophy animal, corny as it may sound, is to honor it. Just the same way that I'd write up the story and submit it to Eastmans' for consideration. What a great way to honor the animal as well as the hunt by sharing it with others who probably feel pretty much the same way you do about special animals we love to chase.

Montana · May 10, 2017

There are lots of comments on here saying they don't support SCI and I think that's a mistake. It's a great organization and does tons for for our local communities. It's unfortunate the first thing someone thinks of with SCI is high fence. But simply put, their scoring system simply does not discrimate.
I appreciate someone being honest and saying their trophy from a 30,000 acre ranch does not mean the same as a public unit general tag.

There are folks that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a tag, then spend another 50k for scouting, get a phone call and go in and shoot the trophy of a lifetime. Fairchase right? Boone and Crockett eligible right?

A question for everyone that says they're against high fence... if someone offered you a high fence hunt, guaranteed a 400 class bull, a week of staying in a beautiful hunting lodge on a 10,000 acre ranch, even a 1,000 ranch, for free would you accept? Just think about that for a minute. Not a social media answer just to look good... I don't mean that to be disrespectful just to get you thinking. I know I would accept it. So then maybe it just has to do with cost???

I would guess close to half of B&C entries come from either private property or special units and we'll that's not real life either. I'm sure I'll take some heat on that comment but I speak it first hand. I've drawn some amazing tags, and am dearly grateful for doing so. But I'll tell you, they are designed to go out and kill a trophy. And I'll take that too... it's an amazing experience and have provided some of my greatest memories.

I guess all I'm trying to say is there are varying degrees of trophy status and to each is their own. I'm still chasing that 200 inch muley on public ground, general ground. That's my ultimate trophy scenario. No clubs or magazines focusing solely on that because as hunters know, it would be real boring and stories far and few between.

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Montana · May 10, 2017

Public ground, general unit. Sorry for the typo.

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johnsd16 · May 10, 2017

BOHNTR said:
What's ironic (silly) is you refer to a Club (B&C or P&Y records program) in a negative light, yet utilize their scoring system to describe your own animals.

I used it in the thread to describe it. At home, the kids call it the wide 10. Scores ("150 class") and other terms ("booner" or "book animal") have become part of the hunting vernacular. I'm sorry that it is that way, but it is just the way it is.

You better get busy policing every forum, magazine, book, and casual conversation that utilizes the term "booner" or "P&Y class" or "150", 180" class" and make sure everyone knows that those designations are not appropriate to use until the animal is killed according to their rule, tagged, officially scored, entered and fees paid. Apparently in circumstances other than those, your terms are being used in appropriately.

rjroberts15 · May 10, 2017

Taking high fence animals is not hunting plain and simple.

fackelberry · May 10, 2017

Montana said:
There are lots of comments on here saying they don't support SCI and I think that's a mistake. It's a great organization and does tons for for our local communities. It's unfortunate the first thing someone thinks of with SCI is high fence. But simply put, their scoring system simply does not discrimate.
I appreciate someone being honest and saying their trophy from a 30,000 acre ranch does not mean the same as a public unit general tag.

There are folks that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a tag, then spend another 50k for scouting, get a phone call and go in and shoot the trophy of a lifetime. Fairchase right? Boone and Crockett eligible right?

A question for everyone that says they're against high fence... if someone offered you a high fence hunt, guaranteed a 400 class bull, a week of staying in a beautiful hunting lodge on a 10,000 acre ranch, even a 1,000 ranch, for free would you accept? Just think about that for a minute. Not a social media answer just to look good... I don't mean that to be disrespectful just to get you thinking. I know I would accept it. So then maybe it just has to do with cost???

I would guess close to half of B&C entries come from either private property or special units and we'll that's not real life either. I'm sure I'll take some heat on that comment but I speak it first hand. I've drawn some amazing tags, and am dearly grateful for doing so. But I'll tell you, they are designed to go out and kill a trophy. And I'll take that too... it's an amazing experience and have provided some of my greatest memories.

I guess all I'm trying to say is there are varying degrees of trophy status and to each is their own. I'm still chasing that 200 inch muley on public ground, general ground. That's my ultimate trophy scenario. No clubs or magazines focusing solely on that because as hunters know, it would be real boring and stories far and few between.

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I don't know if i could honestly hunt a high fenced ranch! The thing that gets me about them is not how big the ranch is but it's the point the wildlife CAN'T leave if they want to. I guided deer and antelope hunters on my highschool buddies 50,000 acre ranch here in Wyoming after highschool. They have the normal 3.5-4ft cattle fences for their livestock. I have personally seen deer and antelope jump their fences into public ground where anyone can hunt them, even though they have huge amounts of private land to stay on, they were roaming freely. The animals on a high fenced hunt can NEVER roam free. I've had people say ya but it's a 10,000 acre high fenced ranch, they would be really tough to find still. One year i found a nice mule deer buck scouting on said ranch, one month later i told another guide the vicinity of where he should be. He couldn't find him, but when i got off my regular job and took a hunter around i couldn't locate him either, well eventually i DID find the buck 3 miles from where i located him scouting and he was 400 yards from jumping the fence into a neighbors property we couldn't hunt. Needless to say we shot the 160" buck before he moved farther away and on another property. A high fenced hunt that buck wouldn't have the CHANCE to escape. If you say there is a 400" bull in a 10,000 acre high fenced ranch. I will bet ALL my free range trophies saying i CAN find that bull, it might take a bit but knowing he can't leave and is still there somewhere will motivate anyone to hunt harder or wait longer, he WILL eventually show up! Can't say that about a free range animal where they come and go as they want!

BOHNTR · May 10, 2017

johnsd16 said:
I used it in the thread to describe it. At home, the kids call it the wide 10. Scores ("150 class") and other terms ("booner" or "book animal") have become part of the hunting vernacular. I'm sorry that it is that way, but it is just the way it is.

You better get busy policing every forum, magazine, book, and casual conversation that utilizes the term "booner" or "P&Y class" or "150", 180" class" and make sure everyone knows that those designations are not appropriate to use until the animal is killed according to their rule, tagged, officially scored, entered and fees paid. Apparently in circumstances other than those, your terms are being used in appropriately.

Nice deflection attempt.

I do understand what you're saying, though........just trying to make you realize the irony in what you type versus what you practice.

Montana · May 10, 2017

rjroberts15 said:
Taking high fence animals is not hunting plain and simple.

Is paying $200,000 for a Governor's tag and then paying Doyle Moss $50,000 to hire Five guides to find your buck and then receiving a phone call to come in and shoot it hunting? How about in my home state of Montana where the best tag in the entire state you can shoot a 200-inch deer off your back porch. Is that hunting?
I personally do not think so. I guess all that I was trying to say is that sci gets a bad rap because they do not discriminate against the style of hunting or shooting. Everyone thinks they are just a high fence organization but simply put they just have a scoring system based upon Harvest regardless of how the animal was taken.
I don't mean to be argumentative with anyone I'm just hoping to shed some light on some personal beliefs is all. I have more than a fair share of harvested animals that were Beyond well deserved on public ground, I am just trying to bridge a little gap of misunderstanding.
And can also appreciate and respect everyone's belief.

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Montana · May 10, 2017

fackelberry said:
I don't know if i could honestly hunt a high fenced ranch! The thing that gets me about them is not how big the ranch is but it's the point the wildlife CAN'T leave if they want to. I guided deer and antelope hunters on my highschool buddies 50,000 acre ranch here in Wyoming after highschool. They have the normal 3.5-4ft cattle fences for their livestock. I have personally seen deer and antelope jump their fences into public ground where anyone can hunt them, even though they have huge amounts of private land to stay on, they were roaming freely. The animals on a high fenced hunt can NEVER roam free. I've had people say ya but it's a 10,000 acre high fenced ranch, they would be really tough to find still. One year i found a nice mule deer buck scouting on said ranch, one month later i told another guide the vicinity of where he should be. He couldn't find him, but when i got off my regular job and took a hunter around i couldn't locate him either, well eventually i DID find the buck 3 miles from where i located him scouting and he was 400 yards from jumping the fence into a neighbors property we couldn't hunt. Needless to say we shot the 160" buck before he moved farther away and on another property. A high fenced hunt that buck wouldn't have the CHANCE to escape. If you say there is a 400" bull in a 10,000 acre high fenced ranch. I will bet ALL my free range trophies saying i CAN find that bull, it might take a bit but knowing he can't leave and is still there somewhere will motivate anyone to hunt harder or wait longer, he WILL eventually show up! Can't say that about a free range animal where they come and go as they want!

This kind of supports my point. How many guys have never even harvested a 160 inch deer. There's probably a lot. Probably even a fair share that have never even seen a 160 inch deer. But going to private property and paying $5,000 for a guided hunt gives you that opportunity. So is that acceptable? What about paying 10,000 and being able to harvest a 180 inch deer. 15000 for a 200 inch deer?
The debate just goes on and on...
There are just varying degrees of one's individual trophies and how others perceive it, if that even matters.

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Record Books, Would you even register your trophy?

Would you register a B&C / SCI type trophy animal?

Yes

No

Maybe / If it were really big

Only certain animals

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