Why Should I Enter My Trophy?

By Jason Rounsaville - Executive Director, The Pope and Young Club

I have the good fortune of traveling all over the country, meeting hunters of all descriptions. When they find out I work for Pope and Young, I hear all kinds of excitement, confusion, and the occasional hesitation. There are many things that need to be clarified about records organizations. From the trophy-hunting mystique to the exclusive nature of some organizations. Most hunters don’t understand the reasons behind the records programs in North America. One of the most common questions is: Why should I enter my trophy into the records program? The way I answer, that question boils down to the very premise of why these programs were started in the first place.

The Pope and Young measuring system is based on and used with the permission of the Boone and Crocket system. There are a few differences, but overall a very similar system, and our organizations work together very closely to ensure the integrity of both programs. The most recent measuring manual was a joint project between both organizations. The Boone and Crocket system was initially a way to document big game species in the fear that many of these species would become extinct. Fortunately, they underestimated the North American hunter and wildlife conservation potential. The Pope and Young records were developed to prove to federal and state fish and game agencies that the bow and arrow was an effective way to harvest mature animals across the spectrum of species. The program was successful because we now have archery seasons across North America.

There are several reasons why a person chooses not to enter an animal. Too much hassle, don’t know a measurer, don’t want their secret spot disclosed, or don’t want to hear the truth of an official score on their trophy. Many hunters seem satisfied with the measurements they get from their uncle’s buddy. It takes a multi-day official measuring course, stringent training, a 268-page manual, and the passing of a test to become an official measurer.

Here are some reasons why you should choose to enter your trophies. It gave you a true official and accepted measurement of your trophy. Your entry and associated fees help contribute to conservation efforts. All the records programs I’m aware of have a component that gives back to the resource. The records programs are used for scientific studies, from the effectiveness of management strategies to gauging habitat quality. They provide valuable information to wildlife managers across the continent. These records provide thousands of individual specimen measurements and millions of data points using a standardized measuring process across the entire spectrum of North American species. Our duty as a hunter is to contribute toward managing the animals we pursue. Plus, your trophy-caliber animal deserves it.