Booming Bucks: B&C Trophy Numbers Rise 400 Percent Over 30 Years

The Boone & Crockett Club recently conducted a study that compared trophy whitetail numbers across North America from 1980-1985 to 2005-2010 and the results were staggering.

617 trophy whitetails were entered intro the Boone & Crockett records from 1980-1985. Compare that to the 3,090 entries from 2005-2010 -- an amazing 400 percent increase.

"It's worth remembering where America's favorite big-game species stood not so long ago--at the brink of extinction," said Ben Wallace, Club president. "In 1900, less than 500,000 whitetails remained. But habitat programs, research, science-based management, regulations and enforcement, all led and funded by hunters, brought this game animal back to extraordinary levels. Today there are more than 32 million whitetails!"

Wisconsin, a state that featured 40 B&C entries from 1980-1985, had an 857 percent increase in its B&C trophy buck kills.  Ohio's 215 B&C trophy kills from 2005-2010 is up 1243%. The Buckeye State had 16 bucks entered into the record books from 1980-85.

The list below includes state-by-state rankings for whitetail entries during the period 2005-2010, plus comparative data from 1980-1985.

B&C Trophy Whitetail Production, 2005-2010

(Typical and non-typical trophies combined)

1. Wisconsin, 383 entries (1980-1985 rank 3rd, 40 entries)

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2. Illinois, 299 entries (1980-1985 rank 6th, 30 entries)

3. Iowa, 224 entries (1980-1985 rank 2nd, 59 entries)

4. Ohio, 215 entries (1980-1985 rank 14th, 16 entries)

5. Missouri, 214 entries (1980-1985 rank 9th (tie), 25 entries)

6. Kentucky, 199 entries (1980-1985 rank 9th (tie), 25 entries)

7. Indiana, 195 entries (1980-1985 rank 16th, 14 entries)

8. Kansas, 181 entries (1980-1985 rank 4th, 35 entries)

9. Minnesota, 172 entries (1980-1985 rank 1st, 76 entries)

10. Saskatchewan, 147 entries (1980-1985 rank 7th (tie), 27 entries)

11. Texas, 132 entries (1980-1985 rank 12th, 19 entries)

12. Alberta, 115 entries (1980-1985 rank 7th (tie), 27 entries)

13. Nebraska, 78 entries (1980-1985 rank 18th (tie), 12 entries)

14. Oklahoma, 48 entries (1980-1985 rank 22nd (tie), 7 entries)

15. Ontario, 41 entries (1980-1985 rank 42nd (tie), 1 entry)

16. Arkansas, 40 entries (1980-1985 rank 34th (tie), 3 entries)

17 (tie). Michigan, 39 entries (1980-1985 rank 17th, 13 entries)

17 (tie). Mississippi, 39 entries (1980-1985 rank 18th, 12 entries)

19. North Dakota, 31 entries (1980-1985 rank 31st (tie), 4 entries)

20. Pennsylvania, 26 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)

21. New York, 25 entries (1980-1985 rank 28th (tie), 5 entries)

22. South Dakota, 24 entries (1980-1985 rank 20th (tie), 8 entries)

23 (tie). Georgia, 23 entries (1980-1985 rank 5th, 31 entries)

23 (tie). Maryland, 23 entries (1980-1985 rank 28th (tie), 5 entries)

25 (tie). British Columbia, 19 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)

25 (tie). Maine, 19 entries (1980-1985 rank 11th, 20 entries)

27. Virginia, 17 entries (1980-1985 rank 22nd (tie), 7 entries)

28. Tennessee, 15 entries (1980-1985 rank 20th, 8 entries)

29. Colorado, 13 entries (1980-1985 rank 42nd (tie), 1 entry)

30. Idaho, 11 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)

31 (tie). Massachusetts, 8 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)

31 (tie). Quebec, 8 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)

33. Delaware, 7 entries (1980-1985 rank 42nd (tie), 1 entry)

34 (tie). Louisiana, 6 entries (1980-1985 rank 28th (tie), 5 entries)

34 (tie). Manitoba, 6 entries (1980-1985 rank 15th, 15 entries)

34 (tie). Washington, 6 entries (1980-1985 rank 31st (tie), 4 entries)

37 (tie). Montana, 5 entries (1980-1985 rank 13th, 17 entries)

37 (tie). Alabama, 5 entries (1980-1985 rank 34th (tie), 3 entries)

37 (tie). North Carolina, 5 entries (1980-1985 34th (tie), 3 entries)

40 (tie). Connecticut, 4 entries (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)

40 (tie). New Hampshire, 4 entries (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)

42 (tie). New Jersey, 3 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)

42 (tie). New Brunswick, 3 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)

42 (tie). West Virginia, 3 entries (1980-1985 rank 34th (tie), 3 entries)

45 (tie). Mexico, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)

45 (tie). Wyoming, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)

45 (tie). South Carolina, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)

45 (tie). Nova Scotia, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 31st (tie), 4 entries)

49 (tie). Oregon, 1 entry (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)

49 (tie). Rhode Island, 1 entry (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)