MISSOULA, Mont. - One of the longest running public celebrations of wildlife and conservation will be held in Springfield, Mo., in 2016. Three partners recently announced the event: organizer Boone and Crockett Club, host Wonders of Wildlife and logistics coordinator Bass Pro Shops.

The event is Boone and Crockett's 29th Big Game Awards, a triennial trophy exhibit and gala held at various sites around the country since 1947.

Reno, Nev., hosted the previous two events.

The exhibit is a public-welcome display of World's Record and other recently taken records-book big-game specimens from across North America. Over a hundred were highlighted in Reno at the 28th Awards in 2013. Each trophy is a symbol of success in wildlife conservation and management. Wonders of Wildlife, an iconic conservation museum now undergoing renovation, will be open to host the display from April through July of 2016.

Rob Keck, chairman of the board for Wonders of Wildlife, said, "A cornerstone of conservation is public ownership of wildlife. We're thrilled to host an exhibit designed to help the public understand what legal, ethical hunting contributes to keep their wildlife populations and habitats healthy."

Using its store-to-store transfer network, Bass Pro Shops will coordinate and ship trophies from their owner's locations across North America to and from Springfield, home of the company's flagship store and headquarters operations.

Johnny Morris, president of Bass Pro Shops, said, "Bass Pro Shops has a long tradition of sharing conservation success stories with our customers through in-store displays. It's an honor to help bring the Boone and Crockett display to Springfield for all to see."

Tony Schoonen, chief of staff for Boone and Crockett, said, "It's always been important to the Club that as many sportsmen as possible have the opportunity to see the results of a conservation system that's been proving its mettle for more than a century. Thanks to our new partners in Springfield, sportsmen in the Midwest will have their chance in 2016."

Morris, Keck and Schoonen, each a member of Boone and Crockett Club, made the announcement at the recent Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies conference in St. Louis.

In addition to the trophy display, the Boone and Crockett Club 29th Big Game Awards will include banquets, presentations and auctions. Dates, details and registration info will be posted in coming months at www.boone-crockett.org.

Event sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Boone and Crockett at (406) 542-1888, ext. 208, or keith@boone-crockett.org.


About the Boone and Crockett Club
North America's first hunting and conservation organization, the Boone and Crockett Club was founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887. Its mission is to provide the leadership, stewardship and education needed to promote the conservation and management of wildlife, especially big game and its habitat, to preserve and encourage hunting and to maintain the highest ethical standards of fair chase and sportsmanship. Join us at www.boone-crockett.org.