If you have heard of the Boone and Crockett Club, chances are you associate it solely with its copyrighted score charts used to measure 35 separate categories of North American big game. Boone and Crockett was founded for a far greater purpose, which is aptly summarized in its mission statement:
“It is the policy of the Boone and Crockett Club to promote the guardianship and provident management of big game and associated wildlife in North America and to maintain the highest standards of fair chase and sportsmanship in all aspects of big game hunting, in order that this resource of all the people may survive and prosper in its natural habitats. Consistent with this objective, the Club supports the use and enjoyment of our wildlife heritage to the fullest extent by this and future generations of mankind.”
In short, the club, our nation’s oldest wildlife conservation organization, is not only a hunting supporter, but also a major advocate of conservation. Ever true to its founding purposes, Boone and Crockett maintains a pro-active stance in research, education, demonstration and advocation of hunting ethics. It was founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887. He was the club’s first president; I am the current president.
The accomplishments of the club are legendary, even by today’s standards. Let’s review a couple of the achievements.
As America expanded its borders, Boone and Crockett took notice of the declining buffalo populations. Yellowstone National Park, created in 1872, originally reported an estimated 200 buffalo left in 1895. This number was later reduced to only 21 in 1905. This reduction prompted one of the first actions by the club’s members. At the time, the Yellowstone National Park existed in name only. The members decided that the enlargement and protection of the park was crucial to saving the buffalo. This resulted in the Timberland Reserve Bill, becoming a model for all national parks.
Prompted by the vanishing species of the West, Boone and Crockett members were crucial factors in the creation of the New York Zoological Society by setting aside a 261-acre park, now known as the Bronx Zoo. The purpose of this park was to provide a refuge for remnant herds of the vanishing North American big game species in their native habitat for research, lectures, publications and exhibitions.
These are only a couple of examples and don’t nearly come close to covering the scope of the work that the club does for conservation. Their members’ desire to identify and resolve critical problems through research, education and legislation is evident in their determination and vigor where they have been instrumental factors in several programs and bills being formed and passed to conserve our wildlife and natural resources. The Boone and Crockett Club continues to work with Congress to make sure our nation continues its conservation efforts for our valuable natural resources.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
