Public Exhibit of Big Game Trophies Draws Eager Sponsors

Conservation groups and the hunting industry are rallying for unprecedented support of an upcoming public exhibit of big game trophies.

Hosted by Boone and Crockett Club, the triennial event is a free showing of world-class antlers, horns and mounted specimens from across North America. The exhibit is set for June 24-26, 2010, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev.

"Since 1947, these exhibits have helped citizens understand more about the hunter-funded conservation system that continues to produce ever-increasing numbers of trophy-class game," said Tony Schoonen, chief of staff for Boone and Crockett Club. "This year, we're honored to have a record number of supporters from across the sporting industry to help us recognize these special animals, their hunters and the fair chase hunts that produced them."

Sponsors for the Boone and Crockett Club's 27th Big Game Awards include:

• Boyt Harness Company
• Buck Knives
• Cabela's
• Dallas Safari Club
• Eastman's Hunting
• Federal/ATK
• Hornady Manufacturing
• Intermedia Outdoors
• Leupold & Stevens
• Mule Deer Foundation
• Nikon Hunting Optics
• Pope & Young Club
• Remington Arms and Ammunition
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Trijicon
• Wild Sheep Foundation

Funding from sponsors helps to produce many facets of the event, including the free-to-the-public displays of top 5 trophies taken during the past three years, along with Boone and Crockett-class trophies taken by hunters age 16 and under, in 36 categories of native North American big game, plus a variety of seminars and exhibits.

Registered attendees also can enjoy raffles, an auction featuring hunts in top trophy regions across the continent and evening awards banquets and presentations.

Details are available at www.biggameawards.com.

The Boone and Crockett system of scoring big game trophies originated in 1906 as means of recording details on species thought to be disappearing because of rampant habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Science-based conservation efforts led and funded by license-buying hunters brought those species from vanishing to flourishing.

Boone and Crockett records remain a classic gauge of habitat and management programs. In addition to its prestigious history and tradition, the Boone and Crockett scoring system is strongly associated with the highest tenets of fair chase and hunting ethics.