1887

Boone and Crockett Club Is Born

Founded by Theodore Roosevelt, along with George Bird Grinnell, artist Albert Bierstadt, General Philip Sheridan, General William Tecumseh Sherman, and other notable figures of the period.

1888

First Formal Meeting

A committee was appointed "... to promote useful and proper legislation toward the enlargement and better government of the Yellowstone National Park."

1889

National Forest System

Club members William Hallet Phillips, Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q.C. Lamar, Jon W. Noble, and Arnold Hague of the U.S. Geological Survey secured congressional enactment of the Timberland Reserve Bill, which added 1 million acres to Yellowstone and established the national forest system.

1893

Published American Big Game Hunting

1894

Yellowstone Park Protection Act

Legislation pushed through Congress by U.S. Congressman and Club member John F. Lacey of Iowa increased the size of Yellowstone by 3,344 square miles and set the precedent and policy for the protection of future national parks.

1895

New York Zoological Society

Now known as the Wildlife Conservation Society, active in 60 countries. Club members Madison Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and C. Grant La Farge were instrumental in initiating this organization and establishing the Bronx Zoo.

1896

Glacier National Park

The Club worked to establish the Flathead Forest Preserve, which became Glacier National Park in 1910.

1897

Organic Administration Act

Introduced to Congress by Club member John F. Lacey, this act established the forest reserve system in the United States to supply timber to the country.

1897

Civil Service Appropriation Act

Club members established a national policy of sustained, multiple use of forests and professional management. Initiated by John F. Lacey, Carl Schurz, Arnold Hague, Gifford Pinchot, Charles D. Walcott, and George Bird Grinnell.

1898

Enforcement of Game Laws

The Club helped establish legislation to aid states in the enforcement of game laws.

1900

Lacey Act of 1900

Club member and Congressman John F. Lacey pushed through Congress this legal cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation, making it a federal offense to transport illegally taken game across state lines. The legislation marked the beginning of the end of market hunting.

1901

Theodore Roosevelt Becomes President

Following the assassination of President William McKinley on September 14, Club founder Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States.

1902

Reclamation Act

The Club was instrumental in establishing the Reclamation Act, which funded irrigation projects including construction of 30 dams and irrigation of three million acres of Western farm lands and habitat.

1902

Alaska Game Laws

Theodore Roosevelt signed the first piece of game law legislation protecting the wildlife of the Territory of Alaska, which became the model for game laws in the Lower 48 states.

1902

Big Game Measurement Standards

The Club created the first big game scoring and data collection system to objectively measure and evaluate species as a baseline for recovery efforts.

1903

National Wildlife Refuge System

Florida's Pelican Island became our first national wildlife refuge. Senator George C. Perkins used research provided by Boone and Crockett to help push the National Wildlife Refuge System Act through Congress.

1904

National Association of Audubon Societies

Club members T. Gilbert Pearson and George Bird Grinnell established the initial Audubon Society, later named the National Audubon Society.

1905

The American Bison Society

Club member William T. Hornaday served as president; President Theodore Roosevelt served as honorary president.

1905

Forest Reserves Transfer Act

Proposed by Gifford Pinchot, this legislation established the U.S. Forest Service by transferring the forest reserves from the Department of Interior to the Department of Agriculture.

1906

National Collection of Heads and Horns

Established by Madison Grant and William T. Hornaday at the Bronx Zoo to awaken the public to the plight of vanishing wildlife.

1908

National Bison Range

Private funds raised through the American Bison Society were used to purchase land that established the National Bison Range in western Montana to protect pure strains of wild prairie bison.

1908

First National Conservation Conference of Governors

President Theodore Roosevelt organized this national conservation conference at the White House, attended by 44 governors.

1909

Roosevelt's Presidential Legacy

Roosevelt's presidency ended after converting 230 million acres into five national parks, 150 national forests, 55 game and bird preserves, 18 monuments, and 21 reclamation projects.

1910

Glacier National Park Established

First surveyed and proposed by George Bird Grinnell. Glacier National Park was officially designated when President William Howard Taft signed the legislation into law.

1913

Weeks-McLean Law

The first U.S. law regulating the shooting of migratory birds and the first attempt to put migratory birds under federal jurisdiction.

1916

National Park Service

Established by President Woodrow Wilson. Club member Stephen T. Mather was appointed as its first director.

1917

Mount McKinley (Denali) National Park

Club member Charles Sheldon campaigned and surveyed the area to protect Dall's sheep. Club members wrote the legislation and secured passage of the Mount McKinley National Park Act.

1917

Save the Redwoods League

Dedicated to saving the world's largest tree, with key Club members Madison Grant, John C. Merriam, and Dr. Henry Fairfield Osborn.

1917

Black Mesa Mule Deer Study

Aldo Leopold started his career studying a massive die-off of mule deer in Arizona—the first scientific management study of a major wildlife program in America, funded entirely by the Club.

1918

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The Club helped ratify the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with Great Britain (Canada) to establish federal control over hunting of migratory birds, fully protecting all migratory birds and their parts.

1919

Death of Theodore Roosevelt

Club founder and 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, dies January 6.

1921

President's Conference on Outdoor Recreation

The Club worked with President Calvin Coolidge to establish a national recreation policy coordinating resource management at federal, state, and local levels.

1925

Published Hunting and Conservation

1927

American Wild Fowlers

Club members founded the American Wild Fowlers, which later became Ducks Unlimited.

1929

Migratory Bird Conservation Act

Helped establish the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, which established the national waterfowl refuge system.

1930

American Game Policy

Club member Aldo Leopold presented the first American game policy at the American Game Conference, improving resource agency organization, university wildlife education, and wilderness protection.

1931

Sheldon National Antelope Range

Named after Club member Charles Sheldon, established in northern Nevada and southern Oregon.

1932

Uniform Scoring System & First Records Book

The first uniform measuring system for North American big game trophies. The Club also published its first edition of Records of North American Big Game.

1933

Game Management

Club member Aldo Leopold authored Game Management, establishing the principles and discipline of wildlife management and the origins of the land ethic.

1934

North American Wildlife Conference & Duck Stamps

Club member J.N. "Ding" Darling was appointed Director of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey and initiated the Federal Duck Stamp program.

1935

National Wildlife Federation

Founded by Club members J.N. "Ding" Darling, C.R. Guttermuth, Ira N. Gabrielson, and Karl T. Frederick. Darling was its first president.

1937

Pittman-Robertson Act

Earmarking sportsmen's dollars for conservation and game management. Club members laid the conceptual groundwork and provided legislative channels.

1937

Ducks Unlimited & Madison Grant Forest

American Wild Fowlers became Ducks Unlimited. The Madison Grant Forest and Elk Refuge was also established in Humboldt, California.

1938

Uniform Scoring System—Refined

The Club further refined the uniform scoring system for all native North American big game trophies.

1946

Wildlife Management Institute

Initiated the new Wildlife Management Institute, formerly the American Wildlife Institute.

1947

Funding for Wildlife Research

The Club began annually funding wildlife research projects.

1947

Annual Big Game Trophy Competition

The Club held its first National Big Game Competition at the American Museum of Natural History, encouraging selective hunting and promoting "fair chase."

1949

A Sand County Almanac

Posthumously published by Aldo Leopold's estate, still considered one of the most influential conservation books ever written. Leopold was a Club member for 25 years.

1950

Big Game Scoring System

The Club adopted a more comprehensive and universally accepted method for measuring big game trophies and gathering data to evaluate population health and habitat quality.

1952

Records of North American Big Game, 3rd Edition

The first edition listing and ranking trophies according to the 1950 scoring system—still in use today. Currently the largest set of North American big game data in existence.

1957

National Key Deer Refuge

Club members establish Florida's National Key Deer Refuge.

1960

Statements on Fair Chase

All trophy records must include a signed statement attesting to fair chase. In 1974, the Club added a notarized component.

1961

An American Crusade for Wildlife

Published by Club member James B. Trefethen.

1963

Unfair Chase

The Club helped establish laws against using a plane to spot, land and then shoot big game—deemed "unfair chase."

1964

National Wilderness Preservation Act

The Club helped pass this landmark act. Aldo Leopold was an early spokesman for wilderness protection.

1965

Offices Move to Pittsburgh

The Club moved from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.

1968

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

The Club helped pass the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

1970

North American Big Game Awards

The Club began sponsoring competitions every three years to celebrate conservation, game management, and fair chase sportsmen.

1974

Wild Sheep in North America

The symposium led to Wild Sheep in Modern North America and the formation of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, now the Wild Sheep Foundation.

1975

Offices Move to Virginia

The Club moved from Pittsburgh to Alexandria, Virginia.

1977

Black Bear Symposium

Focused on black bear biology, habitat, propagation, and management, resulting in The Black Bear in Modern North America.

1978

National Collection of Heads and Horns Relocated

Moved from the Bronx Zoo to the NRA museum in Washington, D.C.

1980

American Museum of Natural History

The Club raised funds to refurbish the Hall of North American Mammals dioramas, completed in 1987.

1982

Heads and Horns Moves to Cody

Moved the National Collection to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming.

1984

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch

The Club purchased the ranch adjacent to Montana's Rocky Mountain Front as a centennial commemoration.

1985

Measuring and Scoring North American Big Game Trophies

Published the definitive guide for measuring all categories of native North American big game.

1986

Associates Program

B&C introduced the Associates Program so like-minded individuals could join the Club's conservation efforts.

1989

Conservation Agenda for the Bush Administration

At President George H.W. Bush's request, B&C drafted a conservation agenda.

1991

Wetlands Reserve Program

The Club helped establish this program to restore wetlands and migratory bird habitat.

1992

Permanent Headquarters in Missoula

The Club purchased the Old Milwaukee Depot in Missoula, Montana—its permanent national headquarters.

1993

First Endowed Professorship

Funded at the University of Montana for wildlife conservation and ecosystem management research.

1994

Fair Chase Magazine

The first issue of the Club's official publication is printed.

1995

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

The Club conceptualized and wrote legislation for cost-sharing habitat restoration with private landowners.

1999

Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area

Club members established Mississippi's Sky Lake WMA, the largest stand of ancient cypress in the world.

2000

American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP)

Club president Daniel Pedrotti invited leaders of all conservation organizations to Missoula for a unifying summit.

2001

Wildlife for the 21st Century

AWCP published and presented Wildlife for the 21st Century to President George W. Bush.

2001

New Education Center

The Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Education Center opened at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch in Dupuyer, Montana.

2001

Conservation Across Boundaries

Program launched to train secondary education teachers about conservation curricula.

2002

Grassland & Conservation Reserve Programs

The Club worked with Congress on the Grassland Reserve Program and formed the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance.

2003

Healthy Forest Restoration Act

B&C facilitated a meeting with AWCP leaders and President Bush at the White House.

2004

Hunt Fair Chase & Conservation Leadership Institute

Launched the Hunt Fair Chase program. The NCLI was formed under Lowell E. Baier's leadership.

2005

New Wildlife Refuges & Professorships

Helped establish the Holt Collier and Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuges. Funded endowed professorships at Texas A&M. Launched the B&C television series.

2006

The Sporting Conservation Council

Created at the Club's encouragement by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior.

2007

Elkhorn Ranch Preserved

Lowell E. Baier orchestrated the federal acquisition of Roosevelt's 23,550-acre Elkhorn Ranch—the "Cradle of Conservation"—protected in perpetuity.

2008

Farm Bill Conservation Programs

The Club wrote legislation for the Endangered Species Recovery Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program.

2008–09

Climate Change Policy

Authored a scholarly white paper on the adverse impacts of climate change to guide public policy.

2008–10

Charitable Conservation Deductions

Secured legislation extending the deductibility of charitable conservation donations of land and easements.

2010

Wildlife & Hunting Heritage Conservation Council

Created to advise the Departments of Interior and Agriculture. Eight Club members served on the initial council.

2011

Gray Wolf Delisting

The Club was instrumental in delisting gray wolf populations in the Northern Rockies and Western Great Lakes from the Endangered Species Act.

2011

Sportsmen's Heritage Act

Club members secured an omnibus legislative package continuing key conservation programs.

2012

Making Public Lands Public

Secured funding for public land access for hunters and anglers.

2013

Award-Winning Publications

Great Rams III, African Game Trails, and North American Whitetail Deer 5th Edition all received Pub West Book Design Awards.

2014

Farm Bill Provisions Extended

Club members worked to extend conservation and forestry provisions of the Farm Bill.

2016

Poach and Pay Program

Five-part public education campaign to deter poaching. The National Collection moved to Wonders of Wildlife Museum.

2017

Roosevelt Visitor Center Groundbreaking

Club members participated in the groundbreaking at the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge.

2018

North American Wildlife Policy and Law

The Club's first textbook—the definitive book on wildlife law and policy development. Multiple publishing awards.

2019

Emergency Forest Restoration

Obtained $480 million for the EFRP to restore forests damaged by hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters.

2020

Great American Outdoors Act

Signed by President Trump, allocating $6.5 billion over five years for federal property infrastructure.

2020

Big Game Migratory Corridors

$24.7 million announced for habitat conservation in big game migration corridors in the West.

2020

Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VI

The four-year agenda of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners.