Story by Shane Jahn

Hunters who follow the goings-on of the record book world have likely noted the little musky rascal of the southwest known as the javelina has made his way into “The Book” in recent months. Our collared peccary has been inducted into two records keeping genres, the Boone and Crockett Club and Pope & Young. I’m admittedly not a record book hunter. I certainly admire a big head and often try to shoot the oldest and biggest representative I can find while hunting, but scores and notoriety in the rosters mean nothing to this hunter. I don’t begrudge those who strive to get their names in the record books, it’s just not my thing.

Boone and Crockett Club’s mission statement is as follows. “It is the mission of the Boone and Crockett Club 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 in North America.” Pope & Young follows similar conservation pillars for the archery hunter. “Preserve. Promote. Protect.” is the mantra of P&Y. Each organization offers suggestions on fair chase and ethics for conservation through hunting, and these are good things.

Some might be wondering just what makes a javelina a trophy-sized javelina? The answer to this question is easy. A big head!

Boone and Crockett Club’s measuring instructions call for two measurements to be taken to the javelina’s skull to determine the greatest length and greatest width. The greatest length is measured between perpendiculars parallel to the long axis of the skull, without the lower jaw and including malformations. The greatest width is measured between perpendiculars at right angles to the long axis.

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