In commemoration of its 125th anniversary, Boone and Crockett Club has released an historic list of the Top 125 trophy counties across the U.S.
The list is based on Boone and Crockett big-game records—trophy data going back to 1830 and long used by conservationists to gauge outstanding habitat, strong recruitment of game animals into older age classes, sustainable harvest objectives and other elements of sound wildlife management and fair-chase hunting.
“Consistent trophy production over time is proof that conservation measures are working exceptionally well, and the 125 counties on this list stand out as historic models of success,” said Boone and Crockett Club President Ben Wallace. “But the good news extends well beyond the list. Trophy production appears to be trending upward with many species and across much of North America. In fact, last year our records program had 979 new entries, compared to 372 just 30 years ago.”
He added, “That kind of growth is gratification for hunters, whose leadership, funding and hard work have been the driving force behind conservation since Theodore Roosevelt founded Boone and Crockett Club back in 1887.”
A few counties are recognized on the list for multiple categories of trophies.
Boone and Crockett Club’s Top 125 trophy counties:
1. Wyoming, Carbon County—282 pronghorn in B&C records
2. California, Mendocino County—190 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
3. California, Trinity County—185 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
4. Wyoming, Sweetwater County—183 pronghorn in B&C records
5. Wyoming, Fremont County—153 pronghorn in B&C records
6. Nevada, Clark County—142 desert sheep in B&C records
7. Wyoming, Natrona County—142 pronghorn in B&C records
8. Montana, Granite County—134 bighorn sheep in B&C records
9. South Dakota, Custer County—134 bison in B&C records
10. Montana, Sanders County—132 bighorn sheep in B&C records
11. Arizona, Coconino County—128 pronghorn in B&C records
12. New Mexico, Socorro County—117 pronghorn in B&C records
13. Nevada, Washoe County—114 pronghorn in B&C records
14. New Mexico, Rio Arriba County—113 typical mule deer in B&C records
15. Wyoming, Teton County—108 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
16. Texas, Hudspeth County—106 pronghorn in B&C records
17. California, Humboldt County—100 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
18. New Mexico, Mora County—99 pronghorn in B&C records
19. Oregon, Jackson County—93 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
20. Arizona, Pima County—92 typical Coues’ whitetail deer in B&C records
21. Arizona, Yavapai County—92 pronghorn in B&C records
22. Nevada, Humboldt County—89 pronghorn in B&C records
23. Wisconsin, Buffalo County—86 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
24. New Mexico, Catron County—79 pronghorn in B&C records
25. New Mexico, Colfax County—79 pronghorn in B&C records
26. Montana, Blaine County—73 bighorn sheep in B&C records
27. Montana, Teton County—70 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
28. Oregon, Clackamas County—70 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
29. Arizona, Yuma County—67 desert sheep in B&C records
30. Colorado, Eagle County—67 typical mule deer in B&C records
31. New Mexico, Lincoln County—67 pronghorn in B&C records
32. Wyoming, Teton County—67 bison in B&C records
33. California, Siskiyou County—66 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
34. Wyoming, Sublette County—61 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
35. Montana, Fergus County—54 bighorn sheep in B&C records
36. Idaho, Idaho County—53 cougar in B&C records
37. Minnesota, St. Louis County—53 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
38. Oregon, Harney County—51 pronghorn in B&C records
39. Arizona, Coconino County—50 typical American elk in B&C records
40. Arizona, Mohave County—50 desert sheep in B&C records
41. Texas, Webb County—49 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
42. Washington, Lewis County—48 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
43. Wyoming, Lincoln County—48 typical mule deer in B&C records
44. Arizona, Gila County—47 black bear in B&C records
45. California, Humboldt County—47 Roosevelt’s elk in B&C records
46. Colorado, Mesa County—47 typical mule deer in B&C records
47. Oregon, Lake County—47 pronghorn in B&C records
48. Texas, Dimmit County—47 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
49. California, Tehama County—46 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
50. Montana, Deer Lodge County—46 bighorn sheep in B&C records
51. Montana, Missoula County—46 bighorn sheep in B&C records
52. Nevada, Nye County—46 desert sheep in B&C records
53. Texas, Maverick County—46 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
54. Colorado, Moffat County—45 pronghorn in B&C records
55. Colorado, Garfield County—44 typical mule deer in B&C records
56. Oregon, Clatsop County—43 Roosevelt’s elk in B&C records
57. Arizona, Coconino County—41 typical mule deer in B&C records
58. Arizona, Pima County—41 desert sheep in B&C records
59. Oregon, Lane County—41 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
60. Oregon, Linn County—41 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
61. Montana, Ravalli County—41 bighorn sheep in B&C records
62. Montana, Lewis & Clark County—40 bighorn sheep in B&C records
63. Texas, La Salle County—40 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
64. Utah, Weber County—40 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
65. Wyoming, Lincoln County—40 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
66. Arizona, Apache County—39 typical American elk in B&C records
67. Montana, Lincoln County—39 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
68. Colorado, Gunnison County—38 typical mule deer in B&C records
69. Montana, Rosebud County—38 pronghorn in B&C records
70. Nevada, Elko County—38 Rocky Mountain goat in B&C records
71. Wisconsin, Price County—38 black bear in B&C records
72. Idaho, Bonneville County—37 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
73. Minnesota, St. Louis County—37 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
74. Utah, Garfield County—36 bison in B&C records
75. Wisconsin, Trempealeau County—36 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
76. Colorado, Montrose County—35 typical mule deer in B&C records
77. Arizona, Coconino County—34 non-typical mule deer in B&C records
78. Colorado, Delta County—34 typical mule deer in B&C records
79. Colorado, Jackson County—34 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
80. Iowa, Allamakee County—34 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
81. Washington, Pierce County—34 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
82. Wisconsin, Bayfield County—34 black bear in B&C records
83. Wisconsin, Sawyer County—34 black bear in B&C records
84. Wyoming, Campbell County—34 pronghorn in B&C records
85. Colorado, Montezuma County—33 typical mule deer in B&C records
86. Wisconsin, Buffalo County—33 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
87. Washington, Pend Oreille County—32 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
88. North Carolina, Hyde County—32 black bear in B&C records
89. Wyoming, Albany County—32 pronghorn in B&C records
90. Arizona, Gila County—31 typical Coues’ whitetail deer in B&C records
91. Illinois, Jo Daviess County—31 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
92. Montana, Beaverhead County—31 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
93. Montana, Flathead County—31 Shiras’ moose in B&C records
94. New Mexico, Rio Arriba County—31 non-typical mule deer in B&C records
95. Oregon, Columbia County—31 Roosevelt’s elk in B&C records
96. Oregon, Marion County—31 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records
97. Wyoming, Park County—31 typical American elk in B&C records
98. Iowa, Clayton County—30 typical whitetail deer in B&C records
99. Oregon, Wallowa County—30 bighorn sheep in B&C records
100. Wisconsin, Baron County—30 black bear in B&C records
101. Wyoming, Carbon County—30 typical mule deer in B&C records
102. Arizona, Maricopa County— 29 desert sheep in B&C records
103. Colorado, Rio Blanco County—29 cougar in B&C records
104. New Mexico, Rio Arriba County—29 cougar in B&C records
105. New Mexico, Taos County—29 bighorn sheep B&C records
106. Utah, Kane County—29 typical mule deer in B&C records
107. Washington, Clallam County—29 Roosevelt’s elk in B&C records
108. Illinois, Pike County—28 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
109. Nevada, White Pine County—28 typical American elk in B&C records
110. Illinois, Fulton County—26 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
111. New Mexico, Catron County—26 typical American elk in B&C records
112. Minnesota, Itasca County—25 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
113. Arizona, Apache County—24 non-typical American elk in B&C records
114. Arizona, Pima County—24 non-typical Coues’ whitetail deer in B&C records
115. Illinois, Adams County—24 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
116. New Mexico, San Juan County—24 typical American elk in B&C records
117. California, San Bernardino County—23 desert sheep in B&C records
118. California, Solano County—23 tule elk in B&C records
119. California, Trinity County—20 bighorn sheep in B&C records
120. Iowa, Van Buren County—19 non-typical whitetail deer in B&C records
121. Montana, Park County—17 bison in B&C records
122. Texas, Culberson County—16 desert sheep in B&C records
123. Washington, Chelan County—15 Rocky Mountain goat in B&C records
124. Washington, Okanogan County—15 Rocky Mountain goat in B&C records
125. Idaho, Caribou County—1 grizzly bear in B&C records (1900)
Native North American big game species tracked by Boone and Crockett Club but not included in the Top 125 counties include Alaska brown and polar bear; barren ground, central Canada barren ground, Quebec-Labrador, mountain and woodland caribou; Dall’s and Stone’s sheep; Alaska-Yukon and Canada moose; Sitka blacktail deer and muskox. These species are recorded by geographic location rather than by county.
The Top 125 list is based on “Trophy Search,” a searchable online database available to subscribers. Users can sort B&C archival data in infinite ways to identify trophy trends and locations. An annual subscription is $50. Boone and Crockett Club Associates can receive a discount. Order online at www.boone-crockett.org or by calling 888-840-4868.
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 associated 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, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.