Reno Event to Celebrate Hunting, Conservation Ties

Hunting success follows conservation success--and vice versa.

That's the message to be delivered, demonstrated and celebrated through a public exhibition of big game trophies, seminars and other attractions July 17-20 at the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev.

It's all part of the Boone and Crockett Club's 28th Big Game Awards, a triennial event held at various sites around the country since 1947.

The public-welcome event ($5 daily admission or $10 daily family pass) also includes seminars by hunting and conservation authorities as well as a benefit auction.

About 135 Top 5-class trophies, one new World's Record and records-book specimens taken by hunters age 16 and under--most entered into Boone and Crockett records over the past three years--are featured in the exhibit. The display includes two qualifying trophies taken in Nevada by Nevadans.

Each trophy is being honored as a symbol of America's continuing successes in wildlife conservation and management, according to Boone and Crockett Club officials.

"'Conservation movement' is a trendy buzzword, but hunters have been quietly leading and funding a proven conservation system for more than a century--ever since our club's founder, Theodore Roosevelt, first realized that no one is more dependent on healthy wildlife populations, or is more willing to invest in the habitats required to sustain them, than hunters," said Boone and Crockett Club President Bill Demmer. "The animals we're honoring in the Reno exhibit symbolize the historic and ongoing success of this system."

The trophy exhibit will be open to the public July 17--2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., July 18-19--8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and July 20--9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Seminars: July 19--10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., "The Evolution of the Hunting Rifle" with Wayne van Zwoll; 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., "The International Connection of Conservation" with Craig Boddington; and 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., "Public Land Elk Hunting" with Dieter Kaboth.

Benefit auction: July 20, 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. 

In addition to the daytime events, registered attendees can enjoy evening raffles, an auction featuring hunts in top trophy regions across the continent and evening awards banquets and presentations. More info on the Boone and Crockett Club 28th Big Game Awards is available at www.biggameawards.com.

Event sponsors include Cabela's, Aimpoint, Federal Premium Ammunition, Buck Knives, Leica Sport Optics, Boyt Harness Co., Hornady, Leupold, Realtree, Schnee's, MINOX, Wild Sheep Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, Redfield, Hunting GPS Maps, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pope and Young Club, Mule Deer Foundation and Weatherby.