If you’re a deer hunter chances are good that you’ve heard of Pope and Young the well-known deer hunting record keeping organization. But what exactly is a “Pope and Young buck” and how do you go about scoring one? Here’s a quick primer.
Named for founder A. Ward Pope and his son-in-law Frank Young Pope and Young is the oldest and largest bowhunting organization in the world. The Pope and Young Club maintains records for free-range wild north American big game taken with a bow and arrow.
In order to be considered for the Pope and Young records a deer must be scored by a certified Pope and Young scorer. The scoring process is similar to that of Boone and Crockett the well-known rifle hunting record organization but there are a few key differences.
The first step is to obtain an officialMeasurement Form from the Pope and Young Club. This form must be completed and signed by the hunter and the official measurer.
The next step is to find a Pope and Young Club official measurer. A list of measurers can be found on the Pope and Young Club website. Once you’ve found a measurer contact them to set up a time to have the deer officially scored.
The official scoring process can take up to two hours so be sure to allow plenty of time. The measurer will take a series of measurements of the deer’s antlers using a special set of calipers. These measurements are then entered into the official Pope and Young score sheet.
Once the measurements have been taken and entered the official score of the deer is calculated using the Pope and Young scoring formula. This formula takes into account the width length and number of points of the antlers.
If you’re lucky enough to have taken a deer that scores high enough to make the Pope and Young records congratulations! You’ve accomplished something that very few hunters ever will. Be sure to contact the Pope and Young Club as soon as possible so that your deer can be officially entered into the records.
Pope and Young Club
P.O. Box 548
Chatfield MN 55923
1-507-867-4144
www.pope-young.org
1.
How many points does a buck need to score to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: A buck needs at least 14 points on its antlers to be a Pope and Young deer.
2.
How many points does a doe need to score to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: A doe needs at least 8 points on its antlers to be a Pope and Young deer.
3.
How are Pope and Young deer scored?
Answer: Pope and Young deer are scored by taking the sum of the length of the main beams and the four longest points on each side.
4.
How can I find out if a deer I killed is a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: You can find out if a deer you killed is a Pope and Young deer by submitting its antlers to the Pope and Young Club for scoring.
5.
What is the minimum length for a deer’s main beams to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: The minimum length for a deer’s main beams to be a Pope and Young deer is 16 inches.
6.
What is the minimum length for a deer’s longest points to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: The minimum length for a deer’s longest points to be a Pope and Young deer is 6 inches.
7.
How many points must a deer have on one side to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: A deer must have at least 3 points on one side to be a Pope and Young deer.
8.
What is the maximum number of points a deer can have and still be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: The maximum number of points a deer can have and still be a Pope and Young deer is 26.
9.
How long does a deer’s antlers have to be to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: A deer’s antlers have to be at least 30 inches long to be a Pope and Young deer.
10.
How old does a deer have to be to be a Pope and Young deer?
Answer: A deer has to be at least 3 years old to be a Pope and Young deer.
11.
How many tines does a typical Pope and Young deer have?
Answer: A typical Pope and Young deer has 12 tines.
12.
What is the world record for the biggest Pope and Young deer?
Answer: The world record for the biggest Pope and Young deer was killed in Iowa in 2003.
It had a live weight of 273 pounds and grossed 275 5/8.
13.
What is the difference between a Pope and Young deer and a Boone and Crockett deer?
Answer: The difference between a Pope and Young deer and a Boone and Crockett deer is that a Pope and Young deer must have at least 14 points while a Boone and Crockett deer only needs at least 8.
14.
What is the difference between a Pope and Young deer and a typical whitetail deer?
Answer: The difference between a Pope and Young deer and a typical whitetail deer is that a Pope and Young deer must have at least 16 inches of main beam while a typical whitetail deer only has to have at least 14.
15.
How can I enter my deer into the Pope and Young record book?
Answer: You can enter your deer into the Pope and Young record book by submitting its antlers to the Pope and Young Club for scoring.
