Boone and Crockett Club Reacts to Critics of New World Record Elk | Travel & Outdoors | New West Network
February 11, 2009 · Print This Article
The Spider Bull was not “pen-raised,” was shot on public land, and at least 55 other hunters had a chance to bag the trophy.
By Bill Schnei
Denny Austan of Ammon, Idaho, and the
Denny Austan of Ammon, Idaho, and the “spider bull.” Photo courtesy of the Boone and Crocket Club.
On January 6, I posted an article about the Boone and Crockett Club officially confirming a new world record elk shot by Denny Austan of Ammon, Idaho in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah. The comment section immediately lit up with heated criticism of the hunter, his outfitter, and of the Club for authorizing what some people thought was an unethical, if not illegal, hunt not in the spirit of the Fair Chase Doctrine.
Last week, I asked the Club to comment on all of this criticism and rumors. I know other outdoor writers who made similar requests, and today, the Club, in an unprecedented action, released its internal document on their investigation of the hunt for the so-called Spider Bull, named for its massive and unusual antler configuration.
“It’s been crazy. People across the country, including many non-hunters, are flooding the B&C headquarters with requests for more information about the new record elk, the habitat that produced it, the hunter’s role in conservation and our system of records keeping,” Tony Schoonen, chief of staff for the Club, said in today’s press release. “It’s an educational moment unlike anything we’ve seen in years,
“This background info was accumulated by Eldon Buckner, chairman of our Records of North American Big Game committee,” Schoonen said. “Eldon led the exhaustive due diligence process that our Club requires for all new World’s Records. We’ve never released this kind of internal document before but I think observers will enjoy a peek behind the scenes.”
Readers will discover, he added, that Buckner confirmed at least 55 other hunters were hunting the area where the record bull was taken, that local law enforcement personnel investigated but found no evidence that the bull was pen-raised or escaped from a pen, nor any evidence of illegal conduct, and that many hunter-based conservation groups contributed to the quality of the area’s habitat Click Link Below for Full Story
Absolutely amazing, Beutiful animal. I would love to know how you came accross this animal. I’m 14 and live in Oregon.