TOP 10 WINS FOR CONSERVATION

1887 – Boone and Crockett Club

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1894 - Yellowstone National Park

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1897 - National Forests

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1900 - Market Hunting

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1903 - National Wildlife Refuges

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1910 - Glacier  National Park

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1937 - Conservation Funding

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1950 - Big Game Scoring System

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1964 - Wilderness Areas

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2000 - American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP)

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Expanded Boone and Crockett Timeline

1887

Boone and Crockett Club is born 

Founded by Theodore Roosevelt, along with George Bird Grinnell, artist Albert Bierstadt, General Philip Sheridan, General William Tecumseh Sherman, and other notable figures of the period.  

1888

First Formal Meeting

A committee was appointed “... to promote useful and proper legislation toward the enlargement and better government of the Yellowstone National Park.”     

1889

National Forest System

Enlargement and protection of Yellowstone National Park was the Boone and Crockett Club’s first project. Boone and Crockett Club members William Hallet Phillips, Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q.C. Lamar, Jon W. Noble, and Arnold Hague of the U.S. Geological Survey secured congressional enactment of the Timberland Reserve Bill, which added 1 million acres to Yellowstone and established the national forest system.     

1893

Published American Big Game Hunting

1894

Yellowstone Park Protection Act 

Legislation pushed through Congress by U.S. Congressman and Club member John F. Lacey of Iowa increased the size of Yellowstone by 3,344 square miles and set the precedent and policy for the protection of future national parks. Key club members were U.S. Senator George Vest, U.S. Congressman John F. Lacey, George Bird Grinnell, and General Philip Sheridan.     

1895

Published Hunting in Many Lands

New York Zoological Society 

Now known as the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is active in 60 countries, the New York Zoological Society established the Bronx Zoo and related wildlife conservation research worldwide. Club members Madison Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and C. Grant La Farge were instrumental in initiating this organization. 

1896

Glacier National Park

The Club worked to establish the Flathead Forest Preserve, which became Glacier National Park in 1910.     

1897

Organic Administration Act 

Introduced to Congress by Club member John F. Lacey, this act established the forest reserve system in the United States to supply timber to the country. The forest reserve system was a precursor to the establishment of the national forests in 1905.     

Civil Service Appropriation Act

Club members created a national conscience on the destruction of natural resources and mobilized public support for continuing congressional legislation. They established a national policy of sustained, multiple use of forests and professional management of those forests. This was initiated by Congressman John F. Lacey, former Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz, Arnold Hague, Gifford Pinchot, Charles D. Walcott, and George Bird Grinnell.

1898

Enforcement of Game Laws

The Club helped establish legislation to aid states in the enforcement of game laws.     

1900

Lacey Act of 1900

Club member and Congressman John F. Lacey pushed through Congress this legal cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation. This law made it a federal offense to transport illegally taken game across state lines. The legislation marked the beginning of the end of market hunting, and it served as the foundation for all game laws. Club member T. Gilbert Pearson also played a large role.

1901

Theodore Roosevelt 

Following the assassination of President William McKinley on September 14, Club founder Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States. 

1902

Reclamation Act 

The Club was instrumental in establishing the Reclamation Act, which funded irrigation projects that included construction of 30 dams and irrigation of three million acres of Western farm lands and habitat. President Theodore Roosevelt used his political power to push this through Congress.     

Alaska Game Laws 

Theodore Roosevelt signed the first piece of game law legislation protecting the wildlife of the newly formed Territory of Alaska. It then became the model for game laws in the Lower 48 states. This was initiated by Club members Madison Grant, U.S. Congressman John F. Lacey, Henry A. Allen, Ed. Wm. Nelson, Charles H. Townsend, George Bird Grinnell, Dr. Joseph Grinnell, William T. Hornaday, W. Austin Wadsworth, and U.S. Congressman W.E. Humprey.     

Big Game Measurement Standards 

The Club created the first big game scoring and data collection system to objectively measure and evaluate species to document the existence and condition of these big game species as a baseline for recovery efforts.

1903

National Wildlife Refuge System 

Florida’s Pelican Island became our first national wildlife refuge. California Senator and Club member George C. Perkins used research provided by Boone and Crockett to help push the National Wildlife Refuge System Act through Congress. Key Club members involved were Alden Sampson, Dr. Ed W. Nelson, and U.S. Senator George C. Perkins.     

1904

Club Founder Theodore Roosevelt re-elected.

National Association of Audubon Societies 

Club members T. Gilbert Pearson and George Bird Grinnell established the initial Audubon Society, which had chapters throughout the East. It was later named the National Audubon Society.      

1905

The American Bison Society

During a meeting at the New York Zoological Society, the American Bison Society was formed. Club member William T. Hornaday served as the president, and President Theodore Roosevelt served as honorary president. 

Forest Reserves Transfer Act 

Proposed by Club member Gifford Pinchot (first chief of the U. S. Forest Service), this legislation established the U.S. Forest Service by transfer of the forest reserves from the Department of Interior to the Department of Agriculture. Club members Gifford Pinchot, Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey C. Hart Merriam, T.S. Palmer, U.S. Congressman John F. Lacey, and President Theodore Roosevelt were all instrumental in this legislation’s success. 

1906

National Collection of Heads and Horns

This taxidermy display of wildlife specimens from around the world was established by Club members Madison Grant and William T. Hornaday at the New York Zoological Society, Bronx Zoo. Its intention was to awaken the public to the plight of vanishing wildlife and harness their support for future legislation aimed at the conservation of these natural resources. Key Club members involved were Madison Grant, President Theodore Roosevelt, and C. Grant La Farge.      

1908

National Bison Range

Private funds raised by the Club through the American Bison Society were used to purchase land that established the National Bison Range in western Montana—all in an effort to protect what was left of the pure strains of wild prairie bison.     

First National Conservation Conference of Governors

President Theodore Roosevelt, Boone and Crockett Club founder, organized this national conservation conference at the White House, which was attended by 44 governors.     

1909

Roosevelt’s Presidential Legacy 

Roosevelt’s presidency came to an end but not before he converted 230 million acres of the U.S. into five national parks, 150 national forests, 55 game and bird preserves and other federal reservations, 18 monuments and 21 reclamation projects.      

1910

Glacier National Park Established

First surveyed and proposed by Club member George Bird Grinnell, along with the help of other Club members and Montana Senator Thomas B. Carter, Glacier National Park was officially designated when President William Howard Taft signed the legislation into law. Integral to the process were Club members Professor Raphael Pumpelly, George Bird Grinnell, Henry S. Graves, U.S. Senator Thomas B. Carter and Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Gifford Pinchot.

1913

Weeks-McLean Law

The Weeks-McLean Law was the first U.S. law that regulated the shooting of migratory birds and the first attempt to put migratory birds under federal jurisdiction. Pushed through Congress with the help of Congressman and Club member John W. Weeks, the Weeks-McLean Law rested on weak constitutional grounds, having passed as a rider to an appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture. 

1916

National Park Service 

The National Park Service was established by President Woodrow Wilson. Club member Stephen T. Mather was appointed as its first director. Club member Horace M. Albright was also  instrumental in its creation.

1917

Mount McKinley (Denali) National Park 

Club member Charles Sheldon originally campaigned and surveyed the area around Alaska’s Mount McKinley to protect Dall’s sheep. Legislation that designated the park’s boundaries was then written by Club members, who also helped secure passage of the Mount McKinley National Park Act, now Denali National Park. Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey Dr. Ed. W. Nelson, Stephen T. Mather, and Belmore Browne also played leading roles in its creation.  

Save the Redwoods League 

Dedicated to saving the world’s largest tree, this group included key Club members Madison Grant, John C. Merriam, Dr. Henry Fairfield Osborn, Stephen T. Mather, and John C. Phillips.    

Black Mesa Mule Deer Study

Club member Aldo Leopold started his career studying the causes and effects of a massive die-off of all mule deer in the Black Mesa area of Arizona. This was the first scientific management study of a major wildlife program in America, and the entire study and work of Aldo Leopold was paid for by the Boone and Crockett Club.

1918

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The Club helped ratify the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with Great Britain (Canada) to establish federal control over hunting of migratory birds. This Act replaced the Weeks-McLean law and decreed that all migratory birds and their parts (including eggs, nests, and feathers) were fully protected. Instrumental in initiating this included Club members Congressman George Shiras III, John Bird Burnham, Ed. W. Nelson, T.S. Palmer, William T. Hornaday, Madison Grant, Dr. Henry Fairfield Osborn, T. Gilbert Pearson, George Bird Grinnell, Charles S. Davidson, Congressman John W. Weeks, and Elihu Root.

1919 

Death of a Visionary

Boone and Crockett Club founder and 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, dies January 6. 

1921

President’s Conference on Outdoor Recreation

The Boone and Crockett Club worked with President Calvin Coolidge to establish the President’s Conference on Outdoor Recreation, which led to the establishment of a national recreation policy that coordinated resource management at the federal, state, and local levels. Instrumental in initiating this included members Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Charles Sheldon, John M. Phillips, T. Gilbert Pearson, John C. Merriam, John Burnham, William B. Mershon, U.S. Senator Frederic C. Walcott, C.H. Townsend, Vernon Bailey, Frank M. Chapman, T.S. Palmer, Barrington Moore, Chauncey J. Hamlin, George E. Scott, and Congressman George Shiras III.     

1925

Published Hunting and Conservation 

1927

American Wild Fowlers 

Club members founded the American Wild Fowlers, which later became Ducks Unlimited.

1929

Migratory Bird Conservation Act

Helped establish the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, which established the national waterfowl refuge system. Instrumental in initiating this included Club members Lewis R. Morris, Charles Sheldon, George Bird Grinnell, John C. Phillips, John Burnham, and T. Gilbert Pearson.     

1930

American Game Policy

Club member Aldo Leopold presented the first American game policy at the American Game Conference. The resulting changes improved resource agency organization, university wildlife education programs, and wilderness protection, further solidifying the career of the wildlife professional.     

1931

Sheldon National Antelope Range 

Named after Club member Charles Sheldon, Boone and Crockett Club members helped establish the Sheldon National Antelope Range in northern Nevada and southern Oregon. Key Club members involved were T. Gilbert Pearson, Charles Sheldon, Childs Frick, and Ira N. Gabrielson.

1932

Uniform Scoring System

The first uniform measuring system for all native North American big game trophies was initiated by Club members Prentiss N. Gray, Carl Rungius, James L. Clark, Samuel B. Webb, and Dr. Harold E. Anthony.

Records of North American Big Game

After scouring museums of the world and sport hunters’ trophy collections for specimens, the Club published its first edition of the record book under the auspices of the National Collection of Heads and Horns at the New York Zoological Society. Trophies were ranked by simple measurements such as length of longer antler or horn.

1933

Published Hunting Trails on Three Continents. 

Game Management

Club member Aldo Leopold authored Game Management, which established the principles and discipline of wildlife management and the origins of the land ethic.     

1934

North American Wildlife Conference

The Club worked in partnership with the American Wildlife Institute, which became the Wildlife Management Institute in 1946, to establish the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Key Club members involved were J.N. “Ding” Darling, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service F.A. Silcox, and Ira N. Gabrielson.      

Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp

Club member J.N. “Ding” Darling is appointed Director of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey, the forerunner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In his 18 months as director, Darling initiated the Federal Duck Stamp program and designed the first Duck Stamp with the support of Club member and U.S. Senator Frederic C. Walcott. Proceeds from the sale of these stamps are used to purchase wetlands for the protection of wildlife habitat.

1935

National Wildlife Federation 

The National Wildlife Federation was founded by Club members J.N. “Ding'' Darling, C.R. Guttermuth, Ira N. Gabrielson, and Karl T. Frederick. Darling was its first president.

The USGS Cooperative Wildlife Research Units were formed by Club member J.N. "Ding" Darling.

1937

Madison Grant Forest and Elk Refuge

Boone and Crockett Club member DeForest Grant helped establish this forest and elk refuge in Humboldt, California and named it after Club member Madison Grant.

Pittman-Robertson Act Legislation

Pittman-Robertson Act passed, earmarking sportsmen’s dollars for an excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition for conservation and game management. Club members laid the conceptual groundwork, provided the legislative channels, and helped generate broad public and political support. The groundwork for this act began with the Club’s work on the 1929 Migratory Bird Conservation Act.     

Ducks Unlimited 

American Wild Fowlers, which was initiated by the Club, became Ducks Unlimited, founded by Joseph Knapp, E. H. Low and Club member Robert Winthrop. 

1938

Uniform Scoring System—Refined

The Club further refined the uniform scoring system for all native North American big game trophies.

1939

Published North American Big Game. 

1946

Wildlife Management Institute

Initiated the new Wildlife Management Institute, formerly the American Wildlife Institute, which was created by a number of Boone and Crockett Club members.

1947

Funding for Wildlife Research

The Club began annually funding wildlife research projects.     

Annual Big Game Trophy Competition

The Club held its first National Big Game Competition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City with the intent of encouraging selective hunting, promoting the concept of “fair chase” and ensuring that their record books were as accurate and up to date as possible.

1949

Sand County Almanac

Posthumously published by Aldo Leopold’s estate, A Sand County Almanac is Leopold’s best-known work. Still used in classrooms today, Leopold’s book is considered one of the most influential works about conservation ever written. The book argues the need for a land ethic—an ethic in which humans embrace a more respectful, harmonious relationship with the natural world. Leopold was a member of the Club for 25 years.

1950

Big Game Scoring System

The Club adopted a more comprehensive and universally accepted method for measuring big game trophies and gathering data to evaluate population health and habitat quality, which could lead to improved state and federal wildlife policy and management. The new measuring system was created and tested by Grancel Fitz, and Club members Samuel B. Webb, James L. Clark, Milford Baker, Frederick K. Barbour, and Dr. Harold E. Anthony from the American Museum of Natural History.     

1952

Records of North American Big Game

B&C published the third edition of its popular records book, Records of North American Big Game. This is the first edition that lists and ranks trophies according to the scoring system B&C adopted in 1950—and still uses today. This scoring system recognizes trophies for both mass and symmetry. It's currently the largest set of North American big game data in existence.

1957

National Key Deer Refuge

Club members establish Florida’s National Key Deer Refuge. Key Club members involved were J.N. “Ding” Darling, Richard Borden, and C.R. “Pink” Gutermuth.

1960

Statements on Fair Chase

All trophy records entered into the Club record book must include a signed statement attesting to fair chase. In 1974, the Club added a notarized component to the statement.

1961

An American Crusade for Wildlife

Published An American Crusade for Wildlife by Club member James B. Trefethen.     

1963

Unfair Chase

The Club promoted the concept that using a plane to spot, land and then shoot big game was deemed “unfair chase” and helped to establish laws against such practices.     

1964

National Wilderness Act 

The Club helped pass the National Wilderness Preservation Act. Aldo Leopold was an early spokesman for the Club on wilderness protection. 

1965

Moving Day 

The Club moved its offices from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. 

1968

Grant to the Natural Resources Council

The Club provided a grant to the Natural Resources Council of America for a monumental study of the reports of the Public Land Law Review Commission.

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 

The Club helped pass the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

1970

North American Big Game Awards

The Club began sponsoring competitions every three years to celebrate the success of conservation and game management efforts as well as the fair chase sportsmen participating in these efforts. Today, it’s known as the North American Big Game Awards Program.     

1974

Wild Sheep in North America

The Club helped organize the Wild Sheep in North America Symposium. As a result, Wild Sheep in Modern North America was published, leading to a better understanding of sheep biology, and it set the stage for a major reintroduction and recovery effort. Another outcome from this summit was the formation of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, now the Wild Sheep Foundation. Early presidents of the organization included Club members Dr. James H. Duke Jr., and Daniel Pedrotti. 

1975

Moving Day, Part II

The Club moved its offices from the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh to Alexandria, Virginia.

1977

Black Bear Symposium

The Club organized the National Black Bear Symposium, which focused on black bear biology, habitat, propagation, and management. As a result, the Club published The Black Bear in Modern North America.

1978

National Collection of Heads and Horns

The National Collection of Heads and Horns was moved from the Bronx Zoo to the National Rifle Association’s museum in Washington, D.C. The North American species were retained by the Club, and the foreign species were donated to Safari Club International for relocation into its International Wildlife Museum in Tucson, Arizona. The collection was secured by the efforts of Club members Lowell E. Baier, Samuel B. Webb and William Nesbitt.

1980

American Museum of Natural History

The Club raised funds to refurbish the American Museum of Natural History Hall of North American Mammals dioramas. The project was completed in 1987 with the support of Club member Col. Francis T. Colby.

1982

National Collection of Heads and Horns 

Moved the National Collection of Heads and Horns to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, from Washington, D.C.     

1984

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch

In the early 1980s, the Boone and Crockett Club sought a significant project to commemorate its approaching centennial anniversary. Such a project would need to serve as testimony to the Club’s full century of involvement in the conservation of wildlife resources, as a tribute to its distinguished membership past, and as a living legacy for the future. The Club raised private funds to purchase the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana, under the direction of then-Club President, William I. Spencer, Secretary John W. Hanes, Jr., and Treasurer Sherman Gray.

1985

Measuring and Scoring North American Big Game Trophies

Published the definitive guide for measuring all categories of native North American big game.     

1986

Associates Program 

B&C introduced the new Associates Program so like-minded individuals could associate themselves with the Boone and Crockett Club and its conservation efforts and goals.

1989

Conservation Agenda for the Bush Administration 

At the request of President George H.W. Bush, B&C drafted a conservation agenda for the Bush administration, which was spearheaded by Club member Lowell E. Baier. The committee consisted of Daniel Poole, Russell Train, Lynn Greenwalt, John Gottschalk, George Hartzog, Jack Berryman, and Elvis Stahr.

1991

Wetlands Reserve Program

The Club helped establish the Wetlands Reserve Program to restore wetlands and migratory bird habitat.

1992

Moving Day, Part III - Permanent Headquarters 

The Club purchased the Old Milwaukee Depot in Missoula, Montana, and established its fourth permanent national headquarters. It remains there to this day.  

1993

First Endowed Professorship Chair

The Club funded its first endowed professorship chair at the University of Montana to guide graduate-student research and offer public service in the fields of wildlife conservation and ecosystem management. Instrumental in fundraising were Club members Paul Webster, Dr. Daniel Pletcher, John Poston, William Searle, and many others. 

1994

Fair Chase Magazine 

The first issue of the Club’s Fair Chase magazine is published during the winter quarter. Fair Chase is the official publication of B&C and is the primary benefit of the Club’s Associates Program. That same year, the B&C Lifetime Associates designation was offered.  

1995

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

The Club conceptualized and wrote legislation for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, a program to share  the cost of fish and wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement with private landowners.

1999

Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area

Club members worked to establish Mississippi’s Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area, the largest stand of ancient cypress in the world. 

2000

American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) 

Boone and Crockett Club president Daniel Pedrotti invited leaders of all conservation organizations to its headquarters in Missoula, Montana, for a unifying summit, facilitated by Dr. Jack Ward Thomas, Kathy Thomas, and Stephen Mealey.

2001 

Wildlife for the 21st Century

The AWCP published and presented Wildlife for the 21st Century to President George W. Bush, which outlined a number of the group’s visions, including the Healthy Forest Restoration Act.

New Education Center

The Elmer E. Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Education Center, the cornerstone of the Club’s conservation education efforts, opened and was dedicated at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch in Dupuyer, Montana.

Conservation Across Boundaries

The Club launched the Conservation Across Boundaries program to train secondary education teachers about conservation curricula as a teaching aid.

2002

Grassland Reserve Program

The Club worked with other conservation groups and Congress to authorize the Grassland Reserve Program.

Conservation Reserve Program

B&C conceptualized the continuous enrollment for bottomland hardwoods in the Conservation Reserve Program to restore bottomland hardwoods and wetlands.

Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance

The Boone and Crockett Club, Mule Deer Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation formed the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance to address CWD issues.

2003

Healthy Forest Restoration Act 

The Healthy Forest Restoration Act was initiated by Club members Mark Rey, Melissa Simpson, David Anderson, Daniel Dessecker, Jeffery Crane, James Cummins, Stephen Mealey, and Paul Phillips. B&C president Robert Model facilitated a meeting with AWCP leaders and President George W. Bush at the White House where the president commended their efforts in the passage of this bill.  

Healthy Forests Reserve Program

Club members conceptualized and wrote legislation for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program, a program to recover listed species found in America’s forests.

2004

Hunt Fair Chase

The Club launched the Hunt Fair Chase program to raise awareness among hunters about the importance of making ethical choices and to strengthen public perception of hunting. 

National Conservation Leadership Institute Established

Under the leadership of later Club President Lowell E. Baier, the National Conservation Leadership Institute was formed with Robert Model, Steve Williams and John Baughman. The first cohort of fellows graduated in 2006.     

2005

Wildlife for the 21st Century Volume II

AWCP presented Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume II, which included recommendations to President George W. Bush for his conservation agenda.

Holt Collier National Refuge

The Club worked with Congress to authorize and fund the Holt Collier National Refuge, the only national wildlife refuge named in honor of an African-American. Collier was Roosevelt’s guide on the 1902 black bear hunt, which raised the national consciousness of the principles of fair chase.     

Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge 

The Club worked with Congress to authorize and fund the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Roosevelt’s conservation accomplishments. The refuge is located on the historic hunting grounds of Roosevelt’s 1902 black bear hunt, which spawned the “Teddy Bear.”    

Boone and Crockett Television Series

The Club laid the conceptual groundwork for a national television series to begin airing in July 2006. The conservation-hunting documentary series, Boone and Crockett Country, was patterned after a National Geographic special. The series received the network’s Golden Moose Award in 2006 for the Most Informative Show and Best Conservation Series Award in 2009. The series also received a national Telly Award for programming excellence for its episode on the gray wolf.

Endangered Species Act Reformation 

Club members were instrumental in securing key reformation language that was added to the Endangered Species Act by the House of Representatives.

Texas A&M Professorship

The Club funded an endowed professorship chair at Texas A&M University, led by Club members Daniel Pedrotti and Robert Brown.  

2006

The Sporting Conservation Council

The Sporting Conservation Council (SCC), a federal advisory committee, was created at the encouragement of the Club by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. Robert Model was its first chairman and Jeffrey Crane the vice-chairman. Eleven of the 12 SCC members were Boone and Crockett Club members.     

2007

Michigan State University

The Club funded an endowed professorship chair at Michigan State University, led by Club members William Demmer, Morrison Stevens, Sr., and James Shinners.     

Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch

Club member Lowell E. Baier spearheaded a fundraising campaign and orchestrated the federal government’s acquisition of Theodore Roosevelt’s 23,550-acre Elkhorn Ranch from a private landowner. Considered the “Cradle of Conservation,” the ranch, which is adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is protected in perpetuity.     

Starkey Research Project 

Members of the Club secured funding to continue the Starkey Elk Modeling Research Project after it was defunded by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

Oregon State University

The Club funded an endowed professorship chair at Oregon State University.

2008

Endangered Species Recovery Program

The Club conceptualized and assisted in writing legislation for the Endangered Species Recovery Program—a program to recover listed species utilizing federal income tax benefits. B&C worked with several key conservation organizations and the Congress to include it as part of the Farm Bill.

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

The Club conceptualized and wrote legislation for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, a program to assist private landowners in restoring their forests following a natural disaster, and worked with the Congress to include it as part of the Farm Bill.

Hunting the American West

The Club publishes Richard C. Rattenbury's Hunting the American West: The Pursuit of Big Game for Life, Profit, and Sport, 1800-1900. The book is recognized with three publishing awards: Spur Award for Best Non-Fiction, Historical Book; IPPY for Best Regional Non-Fiction, Gold Award; Finalist, Non-Fiction -- Oklahoma Book Awards.

2008–2009

Climate Change Policy 

To address the diverse and conflicting legislative proposals pending in Congress, the Club, led by Stephen Mealey, Lowell E. Baier, Eric Taylor, Gary Taylor, James Cummins and many others, authored a scholarly white paper on the adverse impacts of climate change to guide public policy development.     

2008-2010

Charitable Conservation Deductions

The Club was instrumental in securing legislation to extend the deductibility of charitable conservation donations of land and easements, and the carry-over thereof for income tax accounting, which incentivizes increased private land conservation practices.      

2009

Theodore Roosevelt Hunter Conservationist

Authored by R.L. Wilson and published by the Club, this book celebrates the conservation of Boone and Crockett Club founder Theodore Roosevelt. Honors for Theodore Roosevelt Hunter-Conservationist include: Benjamin Franklin Gold Award—Biography category (also a finalist in the history category); Gold Medal, PubWest Book Design Awards—History/biography category; Silver IPPY Award—Mountain West nonfiction category. Additionally, Theodore Roosevelt Hunter-Conservationist was a finalist for a ForeWord Book of the Year award in the history category. 

Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume III

AWCP presented Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume III, which compiled recommendations to President Barack Obama for his conservation agenda.     

Theodore Roosevelt Visitor Center

The Club worked to obtain funding for the Theodore Roosevelt Visitor Center to be located at the site of Roosevelt’s 1902 bear hunt in Mississippi.

Summer Internship Program in Washington, D.C.

Summer internship program was initiated by Club member Mark Rey that invited select students from Michigan State and Mississippi State to Washington, D.C. The program placed the students in key conservation-related positions throughout Washington for the summer and provided field trips to wildlife refuges, reclamation projects, national parks, research stations, and weekly lectures.

2010

The Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council

The Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council was created in place of the Sporting Conservation Council to advise the Departments of Interior and Agriculture about recreational hunting and shooting sports activities and associated wildlife and habitat conservation. Eight members of the Club served on the initial council.

2011

Gray Wolf Delisting

The Club was instrumental in delisting gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain and Western Great Lakes populations from the Endangered Species Act. This changed the status of these wolf populations from endangered and protected to a regulated game species. This initiative was led by many Club members among others.

Sportsmen’s Heritage Act 

Club members were instrumental in securing the introduction to Congress of an omnibus legislative package of several reauthorizations of conservation laws that were expiring. This legislation continued key conservation programs and advanced hunting and shooting sports.

The Government Litigation Savings Act 

This legislation introduced in Congress was designed to reform the Equal Access to Justice Act by closing the loophole that allows nonprofit organizations to sue the federal government on technical procedural grounds such as missing reporting deadlines, etc. As a result, these groups get their legal fees reimbursed by the federal government, which cost over $100 million per year. Instrumental in this legislation were Club members Lowell E. Baier, Jeffrey Crane, David Anderson, and Gregory Schildwachter.

2012

Sportsmen’s Heritage Act 

Club members were instrumental in securing introduction of an omnibus legislative package of several reauthorizations of conservation laws that were expiring. This legislation continued key conservation programs and advanced hunting and shooting sports. Notable leaders of this initiative were Club members Jeffrey Crane, David Anderson, Melissa Simpson, Mitchell Butler, Gregory Schildwachter, Nelson Freeman, Gary Kania, and many others.

Making Public Lands Public 

Club members were instrumental in securing the introduction of legislation in Congress to provide funding for access to public lands for hunters and anglers from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. When this legislation became gridlocked, the Club secured direct funding for the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management for sportsmen’s public access. Key Club members driving this initiative were David Anderson, Robert Model, Jeffrey Crane, Gary Kania, and Susan Recce.

2013

Great Rams III

Published by the Club, Great Rams III received the 2013 Gold Award, Pub West Book Design Awards – Special Editions category.

African Game Trails 

Published by the Club, African Game Trails received the 2013 Gold Award, Pub West Book Design Awards – Standard e-book category.

North American Whitetail Deer, 5th Edition

Published by the Club, North American Whitetail Deer, 5th Edition received the 2013 Gold Award, Pub West Book Design Awards – Reference category.

Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume IV

AWCP presented Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume IV, which compiled recommendations to President Barack Obama for his conservation agenda.     

2014    

Farm Bill Provisions 

Club members James L. Cummins, Daniel Desseker, Jeffrey Crane, Dave Nomsen, and others worked to extend the conservation and forestry provisions of the Farm Bill.

2016    

Poach and Pay Program Begins

The Boone and Crockett Club began a five-part public education campaign designed to deter poaching and protect our valuable natural resources and hunting heritage.

National Collection of Heads and Horns Moves to New Home

Johnny L. Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Aquarium and Museum becomes the new permanent home to the Club's National Collection of Heads and Horns.

2017

Theodore Roosevelt Visitor’s Center Groundbreaking

Club members Simon Roosevelt and James L. Cummins participated in the groundbreaking of the visitor’s center at the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge.

Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume V

AWCP publishes Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume V, which recommendations for the next Administration's conservation agenda.     

2018

North American Wildlife Policy and Law

Edited by Club members, Bruce D. Leopold, Winifred B. Kessler, and James L. Cummins, the Club releases its first-ever text book, North American Wildlife Policy and Law, considered the first definitive book on wildlife law and policy development. The book receives two Gold winners and one Silver winner for the 31st Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards program. The book was also been selected as a finalist for the 2018 INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

Great Rams IV

The Club published a follow-up edition of Rober M. Anderson's Great Rams series of books.

2019    

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

The Club worked to obtain $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to restore forests damaged from Hurricanes Michael and Florence, as well as wildfires, tornadoes, floods occurring in 2018 and 2019. 

2020    

Great American Outdoors Act

Thanks to lobbying by the Club and many others, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed by President Trump. As part of the legislation, $6.5 billion will be allocated over five years toward repairing infrastructure on federal properties such as national parks and refuges. 

H-2B Visas for Conservation and Forest Related Work 

The Club and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation led an effort in requesting that the suspension of H-2B guest workers for conservation and forest-related jobs be exempted. Work performed by H-2B workers is critical to long-term forest sustainability. In early August, approximately 30 sporting conservation organizations of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners asked the Trump Administration to provide an exemption, which they did.

Big Game Migratory Corridors 

The Department of the Interior announced $24.7 million in support of habitat conservation in big game migration corridors and winter range in the West. The Club had worked diligently with states and the federal government to secure that funding.

Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VI 

The Club’s role as a leader in the conservation community was marked this year by publication of the latest volume of Wildlife for the 21st Century (W21). W21 is the four-year agenda of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP)—a coalition of the nation's leading wildlife conservation and shooting sports organizations.