B&C’s 6th Edition of Records of North American Whitetail Deer Features 21st Century Conservation Successes

County distribution of B&C Whitetail Deer Trophy Entries from the latest edition of Records of North American Whitetail Deer.

Missoula, MT — The Boone and Crockett Club’s recently released sixth edition of “Records of North American Whitetail Deer” is a true celebration of successful conservation measures that have supported healthy deer populations across the continent. The 674-page book compiles state and provincial data of trophy whitetail deer featuring more than 17,000 trophy listings for whitetail deer dating back to the late 1800s and up through December 31, 2019. The book also showcases stories and color photos of the 37 record whitetails taken in the 21st Century, including the 17 new state and provincial records accepted since the last edition. “Records of North American Whitetail Deer” is available for sale on the Boone and Crockett Club’s website.

“This list was compiled from Boone and Crockett big game records—trophy data going back to 1830 and long used by conservationists to gauge outstanding habitat, strong recruitment of game animals into older age classes, sustainable harvest objectives, and other elements of sound wildlife management and fair-chase hunting,” commented the Club’s Director of Publications Julie Tripp. “Consistent trophy production over time is proof that conservation measures are working exceptionally well. ‘Records of North American Whitetail Deer, 6th Edition’ is the definitive guide of trophy whitetails and a must have for any serious whitetail hunter.”

The Boone and Crockett Club has long supported selective hunting for mature animals that have already genetically contributed to overall herd health. Such a selective harvest also supports conservation and game management efforts when a balanced age structure within a given big game population is an objective of state wildlife managers. Record books represent the history of successful conservation and game management policies that have been supported by hunter-conservationists for more than a century. As such, record books celebrate these programs by recognizing the big game animals produced as a result of science-based game management and successful, fair chase sportsmen and sportswomen who have contributed to this management.

Highlights of the 6th edition of “Records of North American Whitetail Deer” include stories and full-page photos of “21st Century Whitetails” that document the 37 records taken since the year 2000. Noteworthy new entries since the last edition of the book was printed in 2012 feature five new typical bucks including William L. Loyd’s 2018 buck from Lee County, Arkansas, that scored 200-1/8 points and ranks #17 All-time and #1 in the state, pending review by the Judges Panel for the 31st Big Game Awards in 2022, as well as three other bucks that were showcased during the 30th Big Game Awards in 2019. The book also features four new non-typical records, in particular Luke Brewster’s 337-1/8-inch buck shot in 2018 in Edgar County, Illinois, that is the #3 non-typical All-time and the new Illinois state record buck, pending Judges Panel review.

Also noted in the book are the overall state and provincial rankings. Wisconsin continues to rank #1 overall with 1,822 total entries, and Buffalo County ranking as the highest individual county in the country with 150 total entries. Rounding out the top-five whitetail states are Illinois (1,445 total entries), Iowa (1,330 total entries), Minnesota (1,194 total entries) and, new to the top five in this edition, is Ohio with 1,049 total entries. Notably, Ohio, Kansas, Indiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma all moved up in rank even though no individual county in those states ranks in the top 20 counties overall—showing that the overall deer management has helped build quality whitetail populations across the state. Every state, in order of overall ranking, has tables of every Boone and Crockett ranked whitetail in the state.

“If you would have told our founder Theodore Roosevelt that more than 130 years after the creation of an organization tasked with saving wildlife populations that this book would be possible, I doubt he would have believed you,” noted Justin Spring, director of big game records for the Boone and Crockett Club. “The whitetail conservation successes documented in the pages of this book resoundingly declare the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is without equal worldwide.”

The sixth edition of “Records of North American Whitetail Deer” is available for $60 on the Boone and Crockett Club’s website. B&C Associates receive a 20-percent discount.