GENERAL POLICIES OF THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB'S RECORDS COMMITTEE
Following is a complete list of the Boone and Crockett Club policies that pertain to records-keeping and entry into the Club's Awards Program. This information is also available in the book, Measuring and Scoring North American Big Game Trophies. Last updated in 2000.
Altered Trophies
Antler Buyers
Baiting
Cable Usage
Charging for Measuring
Clean Skulls – Bears, Cats and Muskox
Damaged and/or Repaired Trophies
Depredation Permits
Drying Period
Entry Disqualification
Fake Antlers and Horns
Horn Preparation
Intergrades of Mule/Whitetail Deer
Location of Kill
Method of Harvest
Party Hunting
Proxy Hunting
Score Shopping
Scoring Live Animals
Shed Antlers/Split Skulls
Stags not Eligible for Entry
Subsistence Licenses
Three-Antlered Deer
Trophies Taken on Reservations
Trophies Taken Prior to 1887
Trophy Rank During an Awards Program
Velvet Antlers
Zoo/Captive Animals
ALTERED TROPHIES
Trophies that have been tampered with to gain an advantage obviously are not
eligible for entry into the records books. Examples of trophy tampering include
the deliberate removal of abnormal points from typical racks to increase a trophy’s
score and/or the addition of antler or horn material. If any points are deliberately
removed from antlers of any trophy by breaking or sawing them off, that trophy
is not eligible for entry in the Awards Programs and/or records books. Deliberate
modification of horns by adding to horn length or artificially increasing circumference
measurements is also grounds for disqualification of a trophy.
ANTLER BUYERS
The Records Committee has discussed the role played by Official Measurers in
dealing with antler buying and selling. When acting as an Official Measurer,
the individual is a representative of the Boone and Crockett Club and not of
local clubs or individuals. Increased activity in the buying and selling of
antlers has led to the potential for problems to arise as a result of these
transactions as it relates to the role of an Official Measurer. As a general
guideline, Official Measurers score trophies for the hunter or the owner not
for someone else.
BAITING
Trophies taken with the aid of bait are eligible for entry in the Club’s
Awards Programs and listing in the records books so long as the practice is
legal in the state or province where the trophy was taken.
CABLE USAGE
A flexible steel cable is approved for measuring lengths of antlers and points
only. It is not approved for taking circumference measurements or for measuring
horn lengths. The only exception is that a cable may be used to determine horn
length on muskox.
CHARGING FOR MEASURING
Official measurers volunteer their time and talents to officially score trophies
for the Club’s Awards Programs. This service is provided to the public
free-of-charge, regardless of whether or not a trophy meets the minimum scores
established by the Club. Measurers who reportedly charge are simply asked to
refrain from such activity or to resign from their positions.
There are many reasons why this policy was implemented. However, the most significant reason is the fact that the Club does not want measurers put in a position that compromises their integrity in any way. Official Measurers could feel obligated to “find” an inch or so for trophies scoring near the minimums if paid by trophy owners for their services.
CLEAN SKULLS - BEARS, CATS, AND
MUSKOX
All bear, cat and muskox skulls must be cleaned of all adherent flesh, fat and
membrane before they can be officially measured. There is a popular misconception
among trophy owners, and even some measurers, that only the “contact points”
of bear and cat skulls must be cleaned to perform an official measurement. This
is incorrect, as all skulls must be completely cleaned before they can be officially
measured. A properly cleaned skull is ready for public display.
Prior to measurement, muskox skulls should be cleaned by boiling and then removing all flesh and cartilage. It is important that all soft connective tissue be removed between the horns at the top of the skull. This is necessary so that, after the skull and horns have dried for 60-days after cleaning, the inside lower edge of the horn can be properly located to begin the horn length measurement.
DAMAGED AND/OR REPAIRED TROPHIES
Prior to January 1, 1980, the Club did not accept any repaired trophies for
the records books. After that date, however, the Records Committee agreed to
accept repaired trophies for the records books on a case by case basis. Trophies
that have been repaired can be accepted by the Records Committee if the owner
or the Official Measurer identifies the repair, and if the repair is made with
original horn or antler material. The Committee still reserves the right to
reject any repaired trophy, at the Committee’s discretion.
When scoring any trophies that have been repaired, no portion of the repaired
material can be included in any measurement nor can any allowance be made for
lost material. For example, measurements of repaired points or main beams can
only be taken to the point of the break.
When measuring horns, no allowances can be made for missing horn material. For
example, there are frequently large chunks of horn material missing in the area
where the D-2 circumferences are taken on desert sheep. This damage probably
occurs when sheep are sparring with each other. If a D-2 circumference falls
on the damaged area, the circumference is still taken through the damaged area
by wrapping the tape snugly around the horn.
Cat and bear skulls are also prone to being damaged. Some damage occurs naturally when bears are sparring with each other. More frequently, however, skulls are damaged when trophies are shot in the head. In any event, measurement of damaged skulls must include only the intact, unrepaired portions of the skull.
Older deer racks often have a varnish coating. It seems that varnishing trophies must have been a common practice in the “good old days,” since it seems it is generally only older racks that surface with varnish on them. Because all velvet must be removed from antlers before they can be measured, people may assume all varnish must be removed from antlers before they can be officially measured. This is not so. Basically, the antlers can be scored, so long as the varnish doesn’t have any effect on the final score. However, if there are pockets or spots of thick varnish that affect any measurements, the varnish must be removed before the trophy can be officially measured.
DEPREDATION PERMITS
Trophies taken with depredation permits under fair chase hunting conditions
are eligible for entry in the Club’s Awards Programs and records books.
The acceptability of trophies taken with depredation permits, however, is determined
on a case by case basis. Hunters submitting a trophy taken with a depredation
permit must include a brief narrative that includes the details of the hunt
with the other entry materials.
DRYING PERIOD
Official measurements cannot be taken until the antlers, horns, skulls or tusks
have air dried at normal room temperature for least 60 days after the animal
was killed. If the trophy has been frozen prior to cleaning, as is often the
case with skulls, the 60-day drying period begins once the cleaning process
is complete. The drying process for trophies that have been boiled or freeze-dried
starts the day they are removed from the boiling pot or freeze-drier, respectively.
In the case of picked up trophies, the 60-day drying period also applies. If it is clear from the condition of the antlers, horns, skulls or tusks that the trophy has dried for more than 60 days, one does not have to wait another 60 days from when it was found to measure it. However, it is necessary to enter the approximate date the animal died on the line provided for the date of kill on the score chart. Trophy owners may be asked to provide a brief history for “picked up” trophies or trophies of unknown origin to substantiate the approximate date of death.
ENTRY DISQUALIFICATION
As keeper of the Records of North American Big Game, the Club has the inherent
responsibility to maintain the integrity of the records. On occasion the validity
of some entries is questioned. The Records Committee treats such questions as
serious matters. If, upon completion of the Club’s investigation, it is
found that the trophy was inappropriately entered, the matter is taken to the
Records Committee. The typical action by the committee in such cases is to remove
that trophy and all others that that particular trophy owner has entered into
the records books and to preclude any future entries from that hunter or trophy
owner, as the case may be.
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FAKE ANTLERS AND HORNS
At its December 1989 meeting, the Boone and Crockett Club’s Records of
North American Big Game Committee established specific guidelines to aid in
detecting the attempt of an unscrupulous individual to enter a fake set of antlers
or horns in the Club’s Awards Programs. Should there be any doubt in the
Official Measurer’s mind about the authenticity of a set of antlers or
horns, the following verification process should be carefully followed.
Verification for the antler set, or horn pair, is by means of drilling a 1/16-inch
diameter hole on the backside (away from the trophy front where it would be
easily noticeable) of the right antler or horn, near the base. The hole should
be drilled just deep enough to go through the outer surface and into the under-surface,
providing a sample to be examined for proof of natural material. The measurer
will place the material drilled-out of the hole in a plastic bag, then submitting
it along with the completed and signed score chart directly to the Records Office.
(Obviously, it will be necessary for the measurer to obtain permission of the
trophy owner before drilling the hole.)
If the Records Office determines that the material removed from the antler
or horn is artificial, or if the trophy owner denies permission for the Official
Measurer to drill the antler or horn, the trophy in question will be disqualified
from entry into the Awards Programs. Please note that the decision of final
acceptability in such a case will be made by the Records Office, to ensure equality
and also to make sure that measurements are available in the office files. This
will ensure that the office is aware of the existence of the fake set, and the
individuals attempting such deception.
If there should be any doubt about previously measured and/or accepted trophies
in this matter, or questions on the part of the Official Measurers regarding
procedures and intent, please contact the Records Office at once. This procedure
took effect on January 1, 1990, for all horned and antlered trophies presented
by their owners for an official measurement.
HORN PREPARATION
Shrinkage of horns (pronghorns, goats, etc.) has been a concern of many trophy
owners over the years. It is acceptable to remove horns from the skull, clean
them, and then have them reset with a bonding substance as long as the horns
are not altered in the process. Thus, a bonding substance can be used but its
presence cannot enhance the horn’s basal circumference. Alteration of the
basal circumference is grounds for disqualification of the trophy.
INTERGRADES OF MULE/WHITETAIL
DEER
Although it is unlikely that any such interbred animal (mule deer/whitetail
deer crosses) would have antlers large enough for the records books, their antlers
must be measured for the category with the higher minimum score. In this case,
whitetails crossed with mule deer must be scored as mule deer.
LOCATION OF KILL
Every effort is made by the Club to ensure that the location of kill data for
trophies listed in the records books and Fair Chase magazine are accurate and
correct. Space is provided on both the score chart and the Hunter, Guide and
Hunt Information form to include this data for each entry.
Please keep in mind that we are looking for the following information when completing the blanks provided for the location of kill information. For trophies taken in the lower 48 states, we need the county and state (e.g. Lawrence Co., PA) where the trophy was taken (or found). If the county is unknown, we need to know the state where it was taken. A standard road atlas is used to ensure the correct spelling of counties in the lower 48 states.
For trophies taken in Canada and Alaska, we need the name of the nearest geographic feature (e.g. Post River, AK; Glacier Lake, BC; Cataract Creek, AB) that can be found on a map or in a geographic atlas of place names for that state or province. The Club has a small library of geographic atlases and topographic maps used to ensure that the name of a geographic location is a nationally accepted name (not simply a local name) and that it is properly spelled.
At times we have problems collecting geographic information from Canadian and Alaskan hunters. For example, a whitetail buck taken in an agricultural area in the prairie provinces may be a hundred miles from the nearest geographic feature. However, while we shy away from using the names of towns, since most animals are not actually killed in a town—only near it, we will use towns if no other location of kill information is available.
If there is more than one geographic feature that could be listed for a trophy, we prefer to list the feature closest to the site of kill. For example, Divide Lake is a better location of kill for a mountain caribou than the Mackenzie Mountains that covers thousands of square miles. Similarly, it is not very useful to list a location of kill for a whitetail deer as Lake Winnipeg since it stretches for hundreds of miles through the heart of Manitoba. For trophies taken in Mexico we simply need to know the state it was taken in.
If the location of kill or find is not known, the location should be listed as “unknown.” Of course, an unknown location of kill is unacceptable for trophies separated from subspecies by boundaries. For example, an elk trophy from Washington State cannot be accepted in the Roosevelt’s elk category with an unknown location of kill since we must be able to verify that it came from an area where Roosevelt’s elk are located.
It is rare that we ask an individual to pinpoint the exact location of kill for his or her trophy on a map. However, we may need this information for categories of big game separated by boundaries. If we receive this information from a trophy owner, the information remains confidential and is never divulged to anyone for any reason.
When completing the location of kill information on the score chart and HGH form please be as accurate as possible. This will continue to add scientific validity to the records listings and ensure that the location is correctly spelled.
METHOD OF HARVEST
The Boone and Crockett Club, because it recognizes the trophy and not the hunter
or owner, accepts hunter-taken trophies harvested with: firearms, including
muzzle loaders, pistols, shotguns, etc.; archery tackle, including compound
bows and traditional archery equipment; crossbows; etc. All hunter-taken trophies
are eligible for entry into the Club’s Awards Programs and records books,
so long as the equipment is legal in the state or province where the animal
is harvested. (Pope and Young Club only accepts trophies taken with a bow.)
The Boone and Crockett Club, because it recognizes the trophy and not the hunter or owner, also accepts trophies that are picked up (e.g. winter kills, road kills, etc.) and trophies of unknown origin (e.g. garage sales, taxidermists, attics, etc.). Trophies accepted with unknown locations of harvest are eligible only if they are for a category without a boundary.
PARTY HUNTING
“Party hunting” is a practice whereby one hunter tags an animal he
or she has killed with the tag of another person in his or her hunting party.
This practice is illegal in most states and provinces. Party hunting, which
has been a fair chase concern of the Club for many years, is a legal practice
in at least three states, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, and one Canadian province,
Ontario. The Club has adopted a policy concerning the acceptability of trophies
taken while “party hunting” where such a practice is legal.
The Club will only accept the first deer killed by the hunter during that season and then only if the hunter uses his or her tag on that deer. If a hunter uses someone else’s tag on the deer he or she intends to submit for entry or if the hunter has taken other deer in that state or province during the same season and used another hunter’s tag on those deer, he or she may not enter these trophies into the Club’s Awards Program.
This policy does not apply to trophies taken in states/provinces that issue hunters multiple tags for the same species. Nor does it apply in states/provinces that issue a single license to multiple hunters. For example, Minnesota moose licenses are issued to a party of up to four hunters. The license is filled when any one of the hunters gets a moose. In such cases, all hunters can be listed in the book as hunters and/or owners.
PROXY HUNTING
Trophies taken with a “proxy hunting license,” issued by a state,
province or tribal council, that permits an individual to take an animal for
another person are not eligible for entry in the Club’s Awards Programs
and/or listing in the records books.
SCORE SHOPPING
The Records Committee clearly does not condone “shopping for higher scores.”
To prevent this, every measurer should ask each trophy owner requesting his
or her services if the trophy was previously officially measured. If it has
been officially measured, the measurer should refuse to repeat the process.
If the trophy owner wants his or her trophy rescored because of a disagreement
with the original measurement, the measurer should advise him or her to contact
the original measurer to resolve his or her concerns. If the scoring problem
still can’t be resolved, the trophy owner should be directed to contact
the records office, in writing, for instructions on how to proceed.
The Records Committee has ruled that trophies of anyone caught “shopping for a higher score” will be accepted at the lowest score arrived at by the different measurers who scored it. As a way to better identify the situation, Official Measurers receive a supply of trophy report cards to fill out and return to the Club office for each trophy measured. This will enable immediate identification of any subsequent measurements of a trophy.
There are many reasons why the Club discourages trophy owners from shopping for higher scores. Foremost among them, the Club feels all of its Official Measurers are equally trained and qualified to measure trophies for all categories of North American big game recognized by the Club.
Also, all Official Measurers are volunteers who donate their time to score trophies for the Awards Programs. They receive no compensation for scoring trophies, and there is no point in wasting their time rescoring a trophy already officially scored by another qualified individual.
The most common excuses from individuals who shop for higher scores are, “I’m certain the Official Measurer made a mistake.” Or, “My trophy should have scored higher.”
We’re all human, and mistakes can occur. An Official Measurer can make an occasional “interpretative error” or “mistake” with a difficult trophy. However, when a trophy owner suspects a “mistake” has been made, he or she should first talk it over with the Official Measurer.
If, after the trophy owner discusses his or her concerns with the Official
Measurer, he or she still has questions about the scoring, the owner should
correspond with the records office. The Club will then review the score chart
and entry materials to see if there is a reason to have the trophy rechecked
or rescored. If the concerns cannot be resolved in the Records Office, they
will be forwarded to the Records Committee for review and a final interpretation.
Under no circumstances should the trophy owner ever ask a different measurer
to rescore his trophy without prior approval from the records office as only
the Records Office can approve a remeasurement.
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SCORING LIVE ANIMALS
Official measurers should never score the antlers or horns of live animals restrained
by any method, including, but not limited to, squeeze chutes or drugs.
SHED ANTLERS/SPLIT SKULLS
Shed antlers, as well as any set of antlers with a split skull plate, are not
eligible for entry in the Club’s Awards Programs and/or records books,
regardless of how well they have been restored to their original condition.
This is because the inside spread, which is an integral part of the final score
of antlered trophies, cannot be accurately determined if the skull plate is
absent or split. If an official measurer suspects that a set of antlers he or
she is measuring is either shed antlers or a split skull, he or she should contact
the Club’s headquarters for instructions on x-raying that trophy. This
policy applies to trophy specimens of deer, caribou, moose and elk, as well
as pronghorn.
STAGS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY
Stag is a word that is commonly used to refer to a healthy, mature, adult male
caribou. Stag is a word that is also used to identify a male animal that is
castrated after maturity. Such stags, which occasionally occur in the wild in
the antlered categories, are not eligible for entry in the Boone and Crockett
Club’s Awards Programs and/or records books because their antlers continuously
grow, never loose their velvet and are never shed.
SUBSISTENCE LICENSES
In general, trophies taken with a subsistence license/permit are acceptable
for entry in the Awards Programs and listing in the Club’s records books
so long as they meet all the Club’s entry requirements, including all aspects
of fair chase.
THREE-ANTLERED DEER
Deer with three (or more) antlers are not eligible for entry in the Club’s
records archives or for listing in the records books. The Club’s scoring
system was designed to recognize massiveness and symmetry. Numerous measurements
are taken to account for massiveness of a trophy. Symmetry is taken care of
by comparing the measurements of one antler with the same measurements on the
opposite antler and deducting the differences. The system was not designed to
record measurements of a third antler.
This policy applies to a third antler that is completely separated from either of the other antlers with flesh and hide and has its own pedicel and is shed separately from the other two antlers each fall. In some cases the third antler may actually arise from one of the two normal pedicels, but it is shed separately from the other two normal antlers. This policy does not apply to normal points that branch off one of the antlers near the burr. Several of these trophies have been entered in the non-typical categories.
Three-antlered trophies are certainly unique and noteworthy. However, the Records Committee ruled many years ago that such trophies are considered “freaks” and are not eligible for entry in the records program. The fact that a three-antlered deer is not eligible for entry in the records archives does not diminish such a trophy in any way. The scoring system was simply not designed to handle such trophies.
TROPHIES TAKEN ON RESERVATIONS
Trophies taken on tribal/communal lands in line with sound game management practices,
taken in full compliance with tribal/communal laws or regulations regarding
such hunting, and with possession of the usual state/provincial hunting license
where applicable, and taken in full compliance with the Boone and Crockett Club’s
rules of Fair Chase, will be fully accepted as entries for both awards and publication
in the records books.
TROPHIES TAKEN PRIOR TO 1887
Many trophies are not officially measured until several years after they were
taken. Essentially, there is no time limit for submitting trophies that exceed
the all-time minimum scores for entry in the records books. Trophies taken prior
to 1887, the year the Club was founded, are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The date they are received, however, determines which Awards Entry Period they
are entered in and the minimum scores for entry.
TROPHY RANK DURING AWARDS PROGRAM
Many people wish to know how well their trophy ranks among those entered during
a current three year Awards Program. The Club does not, however, announce the
potential rankings of any trophies accepted during an Awards Program until the
listings are published in either the all-time or Awards records books.
VELVET ANTLERS
The Boone and Crockett Club does not accept antlers in “velvet” for
entry into the Awards Programs and/or records books unless the velvet is removed
before official measurements are made. Remnants of velvet are permissible as
long as they do not affect any measurements.
ZOO/CAPTIVE ANIMALS
Antlers, horns, skulls and tusks of zoo-raised and/or captive animals are not
eligible for entry into the Awards Programs and/or listing in the Club’s
records books.