A Time Before Camo

Old hunting photos are a special window into a bygone era. In the following photos, pay close attention to the rifles, the scopes (or not), the haircuts and the lack of camouflage. Just look at all that plaid! In reality, plaid is camo—and it looks good, too, which is why we’ve dedicated this slideshow to the world of plaid. If you like these photos, check out the Boone and Crockett Club’s Vintage Photo Album, which features nearly 200 pages of some or our favorite hunting photos of yesteryear.

Many of these vintage trophies are found in B&C's Big Game Records LIVE! Click here to learn more about searching our on-line trophy database.

Want to see the score charts too?

It's easy. First you'll need to register on B&C’s web site for subscriber exclusives. It's FREE and takes less than a minute to complete. If you already have an account, simply log in to gain access.

1 OF 15 — MONTANA 1971

In 1971, while hunting the thickets of Lake County, Montana, Darrell Brist took this typical whitetail with his .338 Winchester Mag. at 120 yards. With a final score of 173-1/8 points, this buck ranks as the second-largest typical whitetail from Lake County, and ranks 42nd for Montana overall, according to Big Game Records LIVE. 

2 OF 15 — IDAHO 1933

Boone and Crockett Official Measurer Elmer Keith knew how to look good on a hunt, and he knew how to kill antelope, especially near his hometown area of Pahsimeroi Valley, Idaho. He killed this buck in 1933, and it sported a 14-5/8-inch spread.

3 of 15 — ALASKA 1960

Still in velvet, this Alaska-Yukon moose was taken by G.W. Berry on August 21, 1960, in Alaska’s Wrangell Mountains. It scores 228-4/8 points. 

4 of 15 — ALASKA 1947 

As a registered guide and outfitter from Chisana, Alaska, Larry Folger knew the area where this grizzly prowled. He killed the bear in September 1947. Grancel and Betty Fitz measured the bear, giving it a score of 24-14/16 points. 

5 of 15 — MONTANA 1956

With baseball bats for main beams, this Valley County whitetail was killed by Grace C. Elliott in 1956. Its typical antlers score 153, which means it doesn’t quite meet the minimum entry score of 160 to make the records, but it doesn’t appear that Grace really cares.

6 of 15 — Yukon Territory 1954

Texan Dan Auld took this Dall’s sheep “that had no broom whatsoever and an almost perfect head,” with a score of 165-3/8 points. He was hunting in September 1954 near Hart River, in the northern part of Yukon Territory, Canada. 

7 of 15 — Washington 1963

Robert and Sandy Newell’s plaid matches nicely, but the same cannot be said about their Stevens County, Washington bucks from the 1963 season. While it looks like Sandy killed that toad on the right, the 14x13 whitetail actually belongs to Robert. It scores 201-4/8 points, ranking it at 23rd in Washington for non-typical whitetails, according to Big Game Records LIVE.

8 of 15 —British Columbia 1948

The year was 1948. Truman was in the White House and Joseph H. Skirk was on a Stone’s Sheep hunt near Prophet River, British Columbia. There, he killed this Stone’s that scores 184-6/8 points, making it the sixth largest Stone’s Sheep on record. 

9 of 15 — British Columbia 1951

Bradford O’Connor, son of Jack, followed in his father’s footsteps when he harvested this trophy mountain caribou in September 1951. O’Connor (right) and his guide Harry Johnson were hunting about 20 miles from Atlin, British Columbia. The ‘bou scores 408-4/8 points.

10 of 15 — Alberta 1956

Even guides wore plaid back in the day. Guide Dave Joachin stands next to a client’s Canada moose that scores 214-6/8 points. His hunter, Karl Weber traveled from Zurich, Switzerland to Alberta, Canada for this hunt in 1956. 

11 of 15 — Minnesota 1977

At a mere 20 yards, Alfred Pieper’s plaid didn’t prevent him from bagging this non-typical whitetail with his 12-gauge. The buck, which scores 212-6/8 points, was taken in Houston County, Minnesota. Want to know the best Minnesota county for Booner whitetails? It’s St. Louis, with just over 100, according to the Big Game Records LIVE county search tool. 

12 of 15 — Northwest Territories 1960

The year 1960 was a good one for Bert Klineburger. He killed this bison scoring 128-6/8 in Northwest Territories, Canada, and then went on to kill a massive barren ground caribou, which scores 382-6/8. He was wearing plaid on the caribou hunt, too.

13 of 15 — Alaska 1958

Near Point Hope, Alaska, Tom Bolack killed this huge polar bear in 1958. Its score of 28-12/16 points put it in the top spot until 1963. Today, it’s tied for third in the world, according to Big Game Records LIVE. 

14 of 15 — Oregon 1956

In the fall of 1956, Gene Tinker took his lever action for a walk and connected with this typical Columbia blacktail near Pleasant Hill in Lane County, Oregon. It scores 139-4/8 points, which puts it nearly 700 spots from the top. Based on the size of his grin, that doesn’t seem to bother Gene.

15 of 15 — Montana 1966

With his typical American elk, Pat Roth poses in his best plaid hunting shirt back in 1966. He killed this elk near Doris Creek in Flathead County, Montana, and it scored 375-7/8 points.