Requirements
The Pope and Young Club’s founders established a unique membership structure that rewards longevity as both a bowhunter and as a Club supporter.
All persons join the Club as a Youth Member or as a General Member. Membership is unlimited in number.
There are no requirement to join as a General Member. One misconception is that entering an animal in the record book constitutes membership in the Club. That is not true---membership in the Pope and Young Club and the Club’s Records Program are two entirely separate identities. Membership is currently $45.00 annually (though, we do offer an introductory membership offer, attached to the Fair Chase Affidavit, for someone who is entering an animal into the Records Program who is not currently a member. It is a reduced rate of $30.00 for that first year.)
At any time, a Member may initiate the process to advance to Regular Member. A Regular Membership Application can be requested from the Club’s administrative office (or download an application from the web site) and can be completed when the Member has met the “hunting requirements” for Regular Membership. On a periodic basis, Members who have met all of the advancement requirements are then reviewed (through a balloting process) by the voting members for acceptability as Regular Members. The voting members consist of Regular and Senior Members.
Regular Members can later advance to Senior Member.
Membership Advancement Requirements/Procedures
(Effective 1/01/2020)
YOUTH MEMBER
Requirements: Any person under the age of 18 may join the Pope and Young Club as a Youth Member. Youth Membership will not count towards advancement to Regular Membership.
Procedure: Simply complete a membership application, either hardcopy or on-line.
GENERAL MEMBER
Requirements: There are no requirements for a person to join the Club as a General Member.
Procedure: Simply complete a membership application, either hardcopy or on-line.
LIFETIME GENERAL MEMBER
Requirements: Requirements for Lifetime General Member are the same as for Membership. Lifetime General Membership is available either to existing Members wishing to renew at this designation or to someone just joining the Club.
Procedure: Simply complete a membership application, either hardcopy or on-line.
YAHI - LIFETIME GENERAL MEMBER
Requirements: The NEW Premier Lifetime General Member level to support the efforts of the Pope & Young Club. This is ONLY available to a new or existing Lifetime General Member. Build on the legacy of our namesakes effort to PRESERVE PROMOTE AND PROTECT bow hunting by elevating your lifetime membership to the YAHI level.
Procedure: To purchase or learn more, read this online!
REGULAR MEMBER
Requirements:
- An applicant must have been a general Member, in good standing, for a period of at least five (5) years before being eligible to advance to Regular Membership.
- An applicant for Regular Membership is required to:
- Attend at least one biennial convention or exhibit sufficient Club involvement (i.e., measurer, committee member, volunteer, etc.), or
- Exhibit sufficient participation in at least two (2) of the following categories:
- Club involvement (if not used to meet requirement “a”)
- State/local bowhunting organization
- Mentoring
- Conservation activities
- Have taken with a bow and arrow under the Rules of Fair Chase at least three animals representing three of the various North American big game species in the Pope and Young Club record program or three animals entered in the Pope and Young records program. These 3 animals can all be of the same species.
- A candidate’s application must be “sponsored” by an existing General, Regular or Senior Member.
- The vote on new Regular Members, by the voting membership, will be a “Yes or No” vote (i.e., no “abstain” option). The applicant will need to receive “Yes” votes totaling at least 90% of the returned ballots to be accepted as a Regular Member. If an applicant receives less than the required 90% “Yes” vote, he/she may reapply in three years.
- Applicant must, in addition, demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that he or she possesses those characteristics of good sportsmanship and character consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Club.
- The number of Regular Members will be unlimited in quantity.
Procedures: A Member may initiate the advancement process at any time, by requesting, completing and returning (to headquarters) a Regular Member Application. The application can be completed whenever the applicant has met the participation, “hunting” and sponsorship requirements for Regular Membership. Once the application is received by the Club, the member goes on a “waiting” list until such time as the “seniority” requirement (5 years as a Member) has been met.
Once those steps have been taken, the candidate is then prepared for the “peer evaluation” vote by the existing Regular/Senior Members.
SENIOR MEMBER
Requirements:
- There will be no automatic advancement (i.e., after a certain number of years) of a Regular Member to Senior Membership.
- The advancement from Regular Membership to Senior Membership can occur after eight (8) years as a Regular Member, provided the longstanding “hunting” requirements (animals) are met AND additional participation criteria are met AND the candidate is approved by vote.
- An applicant for Senior Membership will be required to:
- Attend at least two biennial conventions, AND
- Exhibit sufficient Club involvement (i.e., measurer, committee member, volunteer, etc.), AND
- Exhibit sufficient participation in at least two (2) of the following categories:
- State/local bowhunting organization
- Mentoring
- Conservation activities
- Have taken, with a bow and arrow, at least four (4) different species of North American big game
- Have at least three (3) different species listed in the P&Y Records Program
- The vote of new Senior Members, by the Board of Directors, will be a “Yes or No” vote (i.e., no “abstain” option).
- The number of Senior Members will be unlimited in quantity.
Procedures: A Regular Member must apply for Senior Membership by requesting and completing a Senior Membership Application. A Senior Membership Committee (made up of existing Senior Members) will review the application to ensure minimum participation requirements are fulfilled. Once the time requirement has been met, the candidate’s name is sent on to the Board of Directors for a vote.