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Opportunities coming up in North Idaho to have
big game trophies officially measured |
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December 23, 2015 |
The major big game hunting seasons in northern
Idaho are over with the exception of some late
archery deer hunts. Harvest figures will not be
available until February after the mandatory
hunter reports are compiled. Hunters are asked
to complete reports as soon as possible so that
the season summaries can be completed quickly
and efficiently.
Stories are circulating about a few big trophies
that were taken during the fall hunting seasons,
and the hunters who took them are excited to
have their trophies officially measured.
To be officially measured under the Boone and
Crockett, Pope and Young (archery only), or
Longhunter Society (muzzleloader) scoring
systems, all antlers, horns and skulls must
first dry at room temperature for a minimum of
60 days. They can be stored in a freezer short
term but must be allowed to air dry at room
temperature for at least 60 days before being
officially scored.
A number of local conservation organizations
schedule gun and horn shows more than 60 days
after most hunting seasons close so that
official measuring can be done by certified
measurers.
Boundary County's Kootenai Valley Sportsman
Association has a gun and horn show scheduled
for February 5-7 at the Boundary County
Fairgrounds in Bonners Ferry. The club
encourages hunters to take their best antlers
off the wall and enter them in the show.
Vendors will display and sell, buy, or trade
items. There will be a raffle to win a rifle.
The Boundary County show begins Friday, February
5 and runs from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m., and
continues on Saturday, February 6 from 9:00 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m., then finishes Sunday, February 7
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Bonner County Sportsmen's Association (BCSA)
will hold their gun and horn show at the Bonner
County Fairgrounds near Sandpoint March 4-6.
The BCSA show is open Friday March 4 from 12:00
noon until 6:00 p.m., Saturday March 5 from 9:00
a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and Sunday March 6 from
9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.. Antlers, horns and
skulls are accepted at this show only through
Friday evening so that all have been measured
when the trophy area opens on Saturday morning.
Special awards and ribbons are given in deer,
elk, and moose antler categories; also for
cougar, bear and wolf skulls. There are special
awards for women and youth hunters. Entries must
remain on display until the end of the show.
Youth hunters 16 years old and under can enter a
contest by bringing in a picture of their first
game animal taken by gun, rifle, bow or
trapping. Three winners will be determined by a
drawing of names from all of the entries.
The Post Falls Cabela's store has scheduled a
big game measuring event for February 13-14
during store hours. Trophies brought in on these
two days will be measured while you check out
the mounts displayed in the store. Once
measured, trophies can be taken home.
The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council will hold
their 56th annual Big Horn Adventure Show at the
Interstate Fairgrounds in Spokane on March
17-20. Hours are 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. on
March 17 and 18, 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on
March 19, and 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on
March 20.
Entries may be brought in Wednesday, March 16
through Friday, March 18 from 9:00 a.m. until
8:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until
12:00 noon. All entries must be left until 5:00
p.m. Sunday, March 20.
Only cleaned and odorless antlers, horns and
skulls from wild big game animals may be entered
into any of these shows. If you have a trophy
that needs to be boiled or otherwise cleaned up
to remove foul odors, now is the time to get it
done so they are ready when the shows come
around and they can be displayed.
Measurers certified by the Boone and Crockett
Club, Pope and Young Club, and the Longhunter
Society will measure hunter-taken animals and
picked-up specimens at each of these shows using
the scoring system appropriate to the method of
take of the trophy. Those that meet the minimums
for the method of take are eligible for entry
into the respective record books.
Measurers will not measure specimens from game
farms or high fenced enclosures. Trophies that
are not clean and odor free will be turned away
at the door because they cannot be displayed at
an indoor venue for several days if they stink!
In accordance with the policies of the record
book organizations, specimens previously
measured by an official measurer will not be
measured again unless it was clearly not
measured correctly or there was a math error.
There is not much going on to satisfy the
outdoor cravings of local sportsmen in the
middle of winter. With these events come
opportunities to meet with others of similar
interests to re-live the last hunting season and
see some of the great trophies that hunters were
fortunate to take. |
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