Pope & Young Club: Preserve, Promote, & Protect

Bowhunting isn’t a hobby. For thousands of people across North America, it’s a way of life, a rhythm of seasons, a test of skill, and a responsibility to wildlife. The Pope & Young Club has been the loud, steady heartbeat behind ethical bowhunting for more than six decades. This article dives into what makes the Club tick: who they are, how they started, what they offer members, the conservation work they fund, and why hunters, conservationists, and curious readers should care.

---

Company Overview

The Pope & Young Club is North America’s leading bowhunting organization focused on preserving the heritage and practice of fair-chase bowhunting while maintaining an authoritative records program for big game taken with archery equipment. The Club’s three-word mission — Preserve, Promote, Protect — sums up an organization that blends record-keeping, advocacy, education, and hands-on conservation work. On its website, the Club notes that its Records Program has documented well over 100,000 harvests from bowhunters across North America, spanning all 29 North American big-game species.

Pope & Young functions as a nonprofit membership association. It runs a records program (the authoritative standard for measuring and scoring archery-taken game), publishes materials (such as the multi-edition Bowhunting Big Game Records of North America), hosts a biennial convention and awards banquet, and supports youth outreach and conservation grant-making. The Club’s record books and trophy database are used by wildlife managers, historians, and enthusiasts as an archive of bowhunting’s contributions to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

---

Company Story & Leadership

Pope & Young was formally organized on January 27, 1961, emerging from early gatherings of archery enthusiasts who wanted to prove archery’s legitimacy in big-game hunting and protect bowhunting’s fair-chase traditions. The Club takes its name from two early bowhunting pioneers and authors whose writings helped shape modern bowhunting ethics and methods. From modest grassroots roots, Pope & Young has grown into the standard-bearer for scoring, ethics, and bowhunting advocacy in North America.

Leadership at Pope & Young is volunteer-driven and governed by a Board of Directors and various committees (Records, Conservation, Youth, etc.). These steering groups oversee rules for fair chase, the records verification process, the biennial convention, and where conservation dollars are directed. The Club’s operational headquarters manages memberships, publications, entry processing, and outreach. Recent biennial conventions have included formal award presentations, record announcements, seminars, and sizable trophy displays that draw exhibitors and attendees from across the continent. For example, the Club’s 34th Biennial Convention added nine new world records and featured the largest trophy display in Club history.

---

Corporate Culture & Work Environment

Although Pope & Young isn’t a corporate behemoth, it has a distinct culture that blends rigorous standards with a community’s warm sense of mentorship. The Club’s ethos emphasizes fair chase, hunter ethics, conservation stewardship, and education, values that permeate volunteer roles (measurers, panel judges, committee members) and staff responsibilities alike. Expect a volunteer-heavy environment where field experience matters, and where tradition meets methodical record-keeping.

If you’re active with the Club, you’ll encounter people who obsess over precise antler measurements, pore over historical record entries, and mentor younger hunters with patience. The culture rewards involvement — attending a convention, volunteering as a measurer, or helping on a conservation committee are concrete ways to move from general member to regular or senior membership (roles that carry voting privileges within the Club). The Pope & Young workplace, both virtual and in-person, is collegial, mission-driven, and built around doing right by wildlife and bowhunting’s future.

---

Check out the Pope and Young Club on YouTube!

Membership Benefits & Programs

Joining Pope & Young gives you more than a sticker to slap on your truck. Membership unlocks benefits, programs, and opportunities to help shape bowhunting’s future. Here’s what members typically receive and how the membership structure works:

Membership Types

The club’s membership structure is designed to invite participation at every level:

• General Membership
  • Gain full access to the Pope & Young experience with The Ethic magazine, trophy submission to the Records Program, member-only digital content, and exclusive partner discounts.
    
    
• Youth Membership
  • Designed for young archers, this membership offers Club updates, mentorship programs, and eligibility for youth awards like the First Harvest Certificate, Small Game Slam, and Big 3 Challenge.
    
    
• Lifetime Membership
  • Show lifelong commitment to bowhunting and conservation. Enjoy all General Membership benefits, plus exclusive merchandise, special recognition, and long-term access to events and resources.
    
    

Exclusive Member Benefits & Programs

Membership in the Pope and Young Club is more than just a subscription; it’s an immersion into a world where every member plays a vital role in conservation:

• Publications
  • Members receive regular issues of The Ethic, a high-quality magazine featuring real bowhunting stories, conservation articles, policy updates, historical insights, species-focused deep dives, and updates on Club events and trophies. Members also gain access to special publications, including record book editions, yearbooks, and exclusive digital releases.
    
    
• Record Keeping & Big Game Scoring
  • Pope & Young maintains the premier Records Program for North American big-game taken with archery equipment. Members can submit trophies to be officially measured and potentially published in the Club’s highly respected records books and online database.
    
    
• Discounts & Special Offers
  • Membership unlocks access to partner discounts from some of the most trusted brands in bowhunting and outdoor gear. Members receive exclusive offers on equipment, apparel, accessories, optics, and more — along with opportunities to participate in raffles, special product launches, and P&Y-branded merchandise releases.
    
    
• Educational Programs
  • Pope & Young is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation. Youth-focused offerings include: First Harvest Awards, Junior Outdoor Program, Small Game Slam & Big 3 Challenge, and Educational outreach and conservation learning resources.
    
    
• Digital Content & Online Resources
  • Members can access an array of digital resources, including webinars, online articles, and interactive data on big game records, ensuring that even those who can’t travel to meetings or events remain fully engaged with the club’s mission.
    
    

Pope & Young membership elevates the bowhunting lifestyle. It provides the tools, community, and information you need to sharpen your skills, contribute to conservation, and uphold the fair-chase traditions that define ethical bowhunting.

---

Unique Events & Gatherings

The Pope & Young’s calendar concentrates on events that blend celebration with education:

• Biennial Convention & Big Game Awards
  • The marquee gathering. Every two years, the Club hosts a convention with seminars, banquets, the official awards program, and displays of archery-taken trophies. The banquet and awards segment is where new world records and honors (like the rare Ishi Award) are formally recognized. The Club’s conventions have grown into major get-togethers for the bowhunting community; the 34th Biennial event in 2025 set attendance and trophy-display records for the Club.
    
    
• Regional Chapters & Measurer Clinics
  • While much of P&Y’s presence is national, local volunteers organize regional meetings, measurable clinics, and mini-events. “Find a Measurer” resources help hunters locate official measurers for trophy verification across the continent.
    
    
• Youth Award Presentations & Junior Outdoors Programs
  • Youth award winners often receive recognition at the Club convention, and the Junior Outdoors Program has delivered hunts and prize packages to promote youth involvement.
    
    
• Special Award Ceremonies
  • The Club bestows several special honors: the Ishi Award (infrequently presented and reserved for truly exceptional trophies), Conservation Achievement Awards, stewardship awards, and law-enforcement recognition. These ceremonies tie the sport to conservation and community service, showing that Pope & Young values more than just tall racks; it celebrates conservation leadership.
    

---

Conservation Efforts

At the heart of the Pope & Young Club’s enduring legacy is a steadfast commitment to ethical bowhunting and wildlife conservation. For over six decades, the Club has promoted fair chase hunting while actively supporting initiatives that protect habitat, sustain wildlife populations, and educate future generations of hunters.

Supporting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

Since its founding in 1961, Pope & Young has upheld the principles of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, emphasizing fair chase, ethical hunting, science-based management, and public trust in wildlife resources. Through its Records Program, advocacy, and educational efforts, the Club has provided vital data and expertise that help wildlife agencies monitor populations, track trends, and make informed management decisions. Pope & Young has been instrumental in promoting policies that protect wildlife, prevent overharvesting, and ensure that ethical hunting practices remain central to North American conservation efforts.

Active Initiatives and Programs

Pope & Young champions several key conservation initiatives:

• Records Program and Wildlife Data Collection
  • By maintaining the premier database of archery-harvested big game across North America, Pope & Young generates long-term biological data. This information helps wildlife managers monitor antler trends, population health, and species distribution, supporting science-driven conservation policies.
    
    
• Habitat Conservation and Restoration
  • The Club actively funds projects aimed at habitat improvement and wildlife management. By partnering with federal and state agencies, private landowners, and conservation organizations, Pope & Young supports efforts to restore grasslands, forests, and critical wildlife corridors essential for sustaining big-game populations.
    
    
• Ethical Hunting Advocacy
  • Pope & Young takes a strong stance against unethical practices like canned hunts and poaching. Through education and outreach, the Club advocates for fair-chase hunting, ensuring hunters understand their role in protecting ecosystems and upholding long-term sustainability.
    
    
• Youth and Community Engagement
  • Conservation is a generational mission. Pope & Young invests in youth programs such as the First Harvest Award, Small Game Slam, and Big 3 Challenge, teaching ethical hunting, stewardship, and wildlife respect. These programs not only encourage young hunters but also cultivate future conservation leaders who will carry forward the Club’s mission.
    
    
    

Advocacy & Public Education

Education is central to Pope & Young’s conservation work. Through The Ethic magazine, webinars, workshops, and digital content, the Club informs members and the public about ethical hunting, habitat stewardship, and sustainable wildlife management. By fostering awareness and participation, Pope & Young ensures that conservation values are shared widely and embedded in the hunting community for generations to come.

---

Contact Information

Want to get in touch? Here are practical contact points to join, submit an entry, or learn more:

• Website
  • pope-young.org
    
    
• Headquarters Address
  • PO Box 548, Chatfield, MN 55923
    
    
• Phone
  • 507-867-4144
    
    
• Email
  • Reach out via their contact form on the website
    
    
• Social Media
  • Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram for the latest conservation updates, event announcements, and inspiring stories.
    
    
• Local Chapters
  • The club’s network extends across the United States and Canada. Visit the website to find a chapter near you and get involved in local conservation efforts.
    

---

Call to Action

If you’re a bowhunter, conservationist, or simply someone who respects ethical outdoor traditions, there’s a place for you in the Pope & Young story. Join the Club to support youth programming, back conservation funding, and help protect bowhunting’s future. Become a measurer to give back to the sport with your time and expertise, or submit a trophy to preserve a piece of hunting history for posterity.

Pope & Young’s mission matters because bowhunting’s future is not automatic; it’s built. By supporting organizations that promote fair chase, educate youth, and fund conservation research, you’re investing in a sustainable outdoor legacy. Visit pope-young.org to become a member, find a measurer, or explore their conservation and youth programs today. When hunters and conservationists stand together, wildlife and traditions both thrive.

Become a Member Today!

---

Last updated November 2025