MISSOULA, Mont. (March 13, 2025) – The Boone and Crockett Club is proud to announce its 32nd Big Game Awards, a triennial event celebrating the pinnacle of fair chase hunting and the conservation of North America’s big game species, will take place July 24-26, 2025. This prestigious event, hosted by Bass Pro Shops will be held at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. The 32nd Big Game Awards will recognize the most impressive heads, horns, and antlers accepted into the Boone and Crockett Club’s record book over the past three years. Registration for the Awards Celebration is now open.
“Hosting the 32nd Big Game Awards in collaboration with Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife is an honor,” said Tony A. Schoonen, chief executive officer of the Boone and Crockett Club. “This event is not only a celebration of the hunters who embody the principles of fair chase but also a tribute to the conservation efforts that ensure healthy wildlife populations for future generations. These awards spotlight the critical role that ethical hunting plays in protecting our nation’s natural heritage.”
The Boone and Crockett Club has been measuring the antlers, horns, and skulls of North American big game since 1895 with the original vision of creating a record of what was thought to be the vanishing wildlife in the country. The organization’s Records of North American Big Game was first published in 1932 and, now in its 15th edition, serves as a vital record of biological, harvest, and location data on hunter-taken and found big game species based on the principle that the existence of mature, male specimens is an indicator of overall population and habitat health.
The top-scoring animals in all 38 categories entered into the B&C records program between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, have been invited to a Judges Panel in April where teams of B&C’s Official Measurers will verify their score. In addition, all youth hunters who harvested an animal that was accepted in the record book are invited to send in their mounts as well. These exceptional specimens will then be displayed in Wonders of Wildlife’s Bucks and Bulls Hall from May 1 through July 26, giving museum attendees an unparalleled opportunity to view this collection of wildlife and conservation success that will only ever be seen all together in the Big Game Awards display.
Event Highlights and Sponsors:
World-Class Wildlife Display: The public display of these exceptional mounts will open on May 1 and remain available for viewing as part of the Bucks and Bulls Hall within Wonders of Wildlife. Several organizations have sponsored these mount displays, including Leupold & Stevens, Wild Sheep Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Fiocchi, Safari Club International, and Dallas Safari Club.
Recognition Events & Gala Banquet: Over the course of three days, attendees will enjoy luncheons, a Welcome Reception sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, the Jack Steele Parker Generation Next Youth Awards sponsored by Buck Knives, all culminating in the prestigious gala awards banquet on Saturday, July 26, sponsored by the Wild Sheep Foundation.
Awards and Honors: Awards will be given out during the two evening banquets, include the Hunt Fair Chase Award, sponsored by Fiocchi, and the Glenn St. Charles Memorial Award, sponsored by Pope & Young Club.
The Boone and Crockett Club welcomes additional sponsorships to support this historic event. Interested parties seeking to align their brand with the Club’s mission are encouraged to reach out to Michelle Scheuermann or Jodi Stemler for more information, or download the sponsor media kit here.
“We are honored to partner with the Boone and Crockett Club and to host this great Big Game Awards celebration,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder. “This event not only spotlights the great achievements in fair chase hunting, but also showcases the importance of conservation and being responsible stewards of our natural resources for future generations.”
The 32nd Big Game Awards display will be on exhibit at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium beginning in May 2025 and will remain available throughout the summer for public viewing. Attendees are encouraged to explore all the family-friendly offerings near Springfield, Missouri, including outdoor activities at Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock.
For updates and ticket information, visit the Boone and Crockett Club’s website at www.boone-crockett.org/big-game-awards.
About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Click here to learn more about the Boone and Crockett Club.
About Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium consists of an all-new 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Adventure showcasing 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and immersive Wildlife Galleries that bring visitors eye-to-eye with the greatest collection of record-setting game animals ever assembled. Created by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, the 350,000-square-foot experience celebrates those who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water. Located next to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, the campus is a centerpiece of America’s Conservation Capital in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. Wonders of Wildlife has been voted “Best New Attraction in America” and “America’s Best Aquarium” an unprecedented six times by the readers of USA TODAY, and in 2022 received its AZA accreditation. For more information, visit www.wondersofwildlife.org.
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