Hot Trophy Zones

Which areas of North America have produced the most Boone and Crockett trophies so far in the new millennium? With appearances in 9 categories of big game species and subspecies, Alaska is tops and easily guessed. Longtime trophy mainstays like Colorado for mule deer and Montana for bighorn sheep also remain at their lofty spots. But even the most discerning hunter might be surprised at other states on the list. Illinois, for example, is out to a big jump on record-class whitetail deer. Utah is the new pistol-hot destination for monster elk. Nevada has emerged as No. 1 for desert sheep and, amazingly, also makes the list for trophy mountain goats. "Boone and Crockett records have always been a classic indicator of habitat quality and on-the-ground performance of conservation and management programs. The states and provinces on this list are the best of the best right now," said Eldon Buckner, chairman of the Boone and Crockett Clubs Records of North American Big Game Committee. "We congratulate these respective wildlife agencies and hold up their work as a model for conservation and game management in the 21st Century." Here are the top 3 trophy producing areas, by type. The number in parentheses is actual entries into Boone and Crockett records (typical and non-typical combined, where applicable) since 2000. Bear Alaska Brown—Alaska (195) Grizzly—Alaska (88), British Columbia (50), Yukon Territory (5)

Black Bear Wisconsin (238), Pennsylvania (118), Alaska (97)

Bison South Dakota (42), Wyoming (36), Utah (17)

Cougar Idaho (36), Alberta (31), Colorado (31), Montana (31)

Woodland Caribou Newfoundland (89)

Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou Northwest Territories (74), Manitoba (19), Newfoundland (1)

Mountain Caribou British Columbia (48), Northwest Territories (44), Yukon Territory (29)

Quebec-Labrador ****Quebec (113), Newfoundland (10)

Woodland Caribou Newfoundland (89)

Sheep Bighorn Montana (220), Alberta (32), Oregon (29) Dall Alaska (59), Northwest Territories (26), Yukon Territory (20) Desert Nevada (61), Arizona (53), Mexico (41) Stone British Columbia (30), Yukon Territory (4), n/a

Deer Columbia Blacktail California (155), Oregon (76), Washington (20)

Coues Whitetail Mexico (117), Arizona (60), New Mexico (6)

Mule Deer Colorado (234), Saskatchewan (88), Wyoming (67)

Whitetail Deer Illinois (523), Wisconsin (442), Iowa (339)

Sitka Blacktail Alaska (54)

Elk American Elk Utah (120), Arizona (86), Montana (47)

Tule Elk California (28) Roosevelt Elk Oregon (54), California (50), British Columbia (19)

Muskox Nunavut (56), Alaska (34), Northwest Territories (31)

Pronghorns Wyoming (339), New Mexico (207), Nevada (102)

Moose Alaska-Yukon Alaska (158), Yukon Territory (30), Northwest Territories (7) Canada British Columbia (117), Maine (39), Alberta (25) Shiras Wyoming (84), Idaho (70), Montana (62)

Rocky Mountain Goat British Columbia (107), Alaska (52), Nevada (24) Complete Internet access to the Boone and Crockett Club's trophy records database is available via subscription to Trophy Search. Records from 1830 to the present may be searched by species, locations, years and more. An annual subscription is $50 (Boone and Crockett Club members receive a discount). Order at www.boone-crockett.org or by calling 888-840-4868.