Although we present and honor those larger specimens of Montana big game animals, it is important that we remember that the pursuit, harvest, and possession of a trophy has special meaning to many hunters.
Each year over 200,000 hunters go out onto Montana´s mountains, foothills, and plains in pursuit of big game on both private and public lands. Any game animal taken in fair chase, no matter the size, is indeed a trophy to be proud of and is every bit as worthy of respect and admiration as those of record class proportions. In addition to presenting the larger big game animals taken, this serves as a reminder of the joys of memorable past hunts and stimulates dreams of future hunts in the great outdoors of Montana. Enjoy.
After a required 60-day drying period from the date the animal was taken, contact an official measurer and arrange to have the trophy scored.
All trophies entered in the Boone & Crockett Club and/or the Pope & Young Club taken from Montana will automatically be entered in the Montana Big Game Records Book.
For those animals qualifying for the Montana Big Game Records Book, and not entered in Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young, mail a copy of the completed score sheet and affidavit to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Attn: Records Book, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620. Please be sure all copies are received to us with the information of who measured the Records, and a copy of the Montana affidavit.
There is no entry fee for entering records into the Montana Big Game Records Book.
These tables list the current minimum qualifying scores for the Montana Big Game Records Book, Pope & Young Club, and Boone & Crockett Club.
Species |
Montana Score |
Score |
Record |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AMERICAN ELK NON-TYPICAL |
370 |
385 |
465 2/8 |
|
AMERICAN ELK TYPICAL |
360 |
375 |
442 5/8 |
|
BIGHORN SHEEP |
175 |
180 |
208 3/8 |
|
BISON |
110 |
115 |
136 4/8 |
|
BLACK BEAR |
19 |
21 |
23 10/16 |
|
GRIZZLY BEAR |
23 |
24 |
27 02/16 |
|
MOUNTAIN LION |
14 08/16 |
15 |
16 04/16 |
|
MULE DEER NON-TYPICAL |
215 |
230 |
355 2/8 |
|
MULE DEER TYPICAL |
180 |
190 |
226 4/8 |
|
PRONGHORN ANTELOPE |
80 |
82 |
95 0/8 |
|
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT |
47 |
50 |
56 6/8 |
|
WHITETAIL DEER NON-TYPICAL |
185 |
195 |
333 7/8 |
|
WHITETAIL DEER TYPICAL |
160 |
170 |
213 5/8 |
|
WYOMING (SHIRAS) MOOSE |
140 |
155 |
205 4/8 |
Species |
Montana Score |
Score |
Record |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AMERICAN ELK NON-TYPICAL |
320 |
335 |
442 0/8 |
|
AMERICAN ELK TYPICAL |
260 |
260 |
409 2/8 |
|
BIGHORN SHEEP |
135 |
140 |
199 5/8 |
|
BISON |
96 |
100 |
129 6/8 |
|
BLACK BEAR |
17 |
18 |
23 03/16 |
|
GRIZZLY BEAR |
- |
19 |
26 03/16 |
|
MOUNTAIN LION |
13 |
13 08/16 |
16 01/16 |
|
MULE DEER NON-TYPICAL |
165 |
170 |
274 7/8 |
|
MULE DEER TYPICAL |
140 |
145 |
203 1/8 |
|
PRONGHORN ANTELOPE |
65 |
67 |
91 4/8 |
|
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT |
38 |
40 |
52 4/8 |
|
WHITETAIL DEER NON-TYPICAL |
150 |
155 |
294 0/8 |
|
WHITETAIL DEER TYPICAL |
120 |
125 |
204 4/8 |
|
WYOMING (SHIRAS) MOOSE |
120 |
125 |
185 6/8 |
Weights are frequently used to describe large animals. They are usually qualified with a statement that the weight was: live, whole, hog dressed, skinned, or with the head off. Also, weights may be determined by a guess, experienced estimate, or a scale.
Several variables are known to influence skeletal development and consequently affect the skull size, tusks, muscle tissue, fat deposits, gross size of the animal, annual replacement of antlers, and increments of horns. Extremely large antlers or horns do not necessarily correspond with an exceptionally large body size. If the antler development is not outstanding, the body condition or size is a preferred description.
This section provides a listing of some of the largest weights on record for the various Montana big game species. As such, the standards require verification and the use of a certified scale. Whole weight is either from a live animal or a dead and uncut animal; dressed weight is an animal with head, skin and feet attached and the complete viscera removed.
Future records should include sex, date killed, location taken, hunter name, and observer names for the scale weight.
Species |
Whole |
Dressed |
|---|---|---|
|
Bear, Black |
660 |
|
|
Bear, Grizzly |
1,102 |
|
|
Lion, Mountain |
176 |
|
|
American Elk |
1,010 |
810 |
|
Deer, Mule |
453 |
340 |
|
Deer, Whitetailed |
375 |
275 |
|
Shiras "Wyoming" Moose |
1,117 |
840 |
|
Pronghorn |
160 |
121 |
|
Bison |
1,555 |
|
|
Rocky Mountain Goat |
310 |
212 |
|
Sheep, Bighorn |
302 |
222 |