About Us
Welcome to the oldest wildlife conservation organization in the North America.
Established in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell, the Boone and Crockett Club was founded by hunters who dedicated their lives to the conservation of wildlife. As the turn of the 20th century approached our nation, these men had to make a choice: stand by and watch our cherished wildlife disappear or work for the protection and propagation of our wildlife resource. Thankfully, they rose to the challenge and chose the latter.
Yielding substantial political influence, members of the Boone and Crockett Club initiated the first laws dedicated solely to wildlife conservation—and established the methods with which to pay for it. This includes legislation such as the Lacey Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Wildlife Restoration Act (known as the Pittman-Robertson Act), and the Federal Duck Stamp Act.
Their work spearheaded efforts to protect Yellowstone, create Glacier, Denali, and Grand Canyon National Parks as well as our National Wildlife Refuge System. Their foresight spawned and supported key wildlife conservation organizations, including the New York Zoological Society (1895), National Audubon Society (1905), Wildlife Management Institute (1911), National Wildlife Federation (1937), Ducks Unlimited (1937), and more recently working with other partners in the hunting-conservation community to form the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (2000).
Today, the Boone and Crockett Club continues to build upon the legacy of wildlife conservation established by Roosevelt and Grinnell. While not an exhaustive list, the topics below are the key issues of the Boone and Crockett Club.
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.
We will continue the fight for conservation so future generations can enjoy the bounty of our wildlife resource.
Conservation
As the oldest wildlife conservation organization in the United States, the Boone and Crockett Club still considers conservation our highest priority.
Records Keeping
While the Boone and Crockett Club may best be known for celebrating the biggest horns and antlers, there are scientific reasons behind the record book.
Advocacy
The Boone and Crockett Club has been and still is a leader in conservation policy efforts to promote conservation and sustainable management of fish, wildlife, and their habitat.
Education
From fellowships at universities across the country to immersive programs for young adults, the Boone and Crockett Club invests in future wildlife professionals.
Position Statements
Hunters and wildlife conservation continue to face challenges ranging from climate change to the 2nd Amendment. See where Boone and Crockett stands on these issues.
Research
Ever the naturalists, Boone and Crockett Club founders understood the need to study and understand wildlife in the name of conservation. Here’s how we continue those efforts.
Hunting and Ethics
Today’s hunters follow the ethics and laws first established by the Boone and Crockett Club. Fair Chase began as a way to save wildlife, today it continues to save hunting heritage.
Timeline
Men like Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, and others built a foundation for conservation of our nation’s natural resources. And it all started in 1887 when they founded B&C.
Join the Club
The Boone and Crockett Club was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell and other avid hunters to prevent the further depletion of North America’s wildlife and wilderness. The Club’s earliest actions set in stone many of the laws and conservation efforts currently in place today. Giving birth to our nation’s National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, the return of robust and healthy big game herds across the continent, and every meaningful conservation effort since.
