March 24th, 2026 - On Saturday, March 21st, the Pope and Young Club (P&Y) convened a Special Panel of Judges at a location in Lakeside, AZ, for a potential P&Y World Record Velvet Typical Sitka Blacktail Deer. Bob Ameen’s velvet blacktail scored an amazing 115 0/8 and is now the largest bow-harvested VELVET Typical Blacktail in North America. This amazing blacktail deer was shot in Southeast Alaska.
Judges (official measurers) present at the Special Panel were (L to R) Roy Grace, Bryan Yorksmith, David May, and Dallin Durfee, all of Arizona. With a final score of 115 0/8, Ameen’s velvet typical blacktail deer was confirmed as the new P&Y World Record. This deer surpasses the previous largest velvet typical blacktail deer in the records program by 5 1/8”. The Pope and Young Club allows all velvet antlered species to be eligible for World Record status within their own velvet categories.
“”I have been hunting for a deer of this size for about 35 years. Hard work and determination definitely has paid off”, says Ameen.
“Animals of this size don’t come along like this very often, it shows conservation plays a major roll in hunting ”, says Ricky Krueger, P&Y Records Chairman.
You can see this incredible animal on display at the Pope and Young’s Biennial Awards Convention in Little Rock, AR, April 8-10, 2027. One of the largest displays of North American, bow-harvested, big-game animals (velvet and hard antlered) will be assembled for viewing. To stay up to date with more information coming out soon about the 35th Biennial Convention, HERE.
This World Record Velvet Typical Sitka Blacktail has been entered into the 35th recording period representing entries accepted into the P&Y Records Program from January 1st, 2025, to December 31st, 2026. At the close of every biennial recording period, numerical awards and honorable mentions are awarded to the most outstanding bow-harvested animals in each species category that have been entered during this two-year recording period. New World Records are verified and proclaimed, and awards are presented to these outstanding animals during the Pope and Young Club's Biennial Convention and Awards Banquet
About Pope and Young:
The Pope and Young Club is North America's leading voice and supporter of bowhunting and related conservation issues and projects. If you are a fair chase, ethical bowhunter, and you care about preserving, protecting, and promoting the culture and future of bowhunting, then you should belong to the Pope and Young Club. Join today at www.pope-young.org.