It’s the news of a lifetime for Mike Gallo. The Boone and Crockett Club just announced that the antelope buck he shot last year in New Mexico has been certified as a new world record.
The massive buck, taken in Socorro County, New Mexico in 2013 by Gallo, scores 96-4/8 B&C points.
Other outstanding features of the trophy include:
- Lengths of horns: 18-3/8 right, 18-4/8 left
- Total mass: 23-3/8 right, 23-2/8 left
- Lengths of prongs: 7 right, 6-5/8 left
Before Gallo’s trophy, two antelope bucks were tied for the world record at 95 inches. One was taken in Coconino County in 2000 and the other in Mohave County in 2002. The difference between the old records and the new is a staggering inch-and-a-half — a difference so substantial that now the margin between No. 1- and No. 2-ranked trophies is the largest in Boone and Crockett antelope records, which hold over 3,400 entries.
The impressive trophy denotes a worthy achievement for conservationists.
Boone and Crockett records serve as a barometer of habitat quality, recruitment numbers, sustainable harvest objectives and other factors of wildlife management and fair-chase hunting.
“Records reflect success in big-game conservation,” said Richard Hale, chairman of the Club’s Records of North American Big Game Committee. “Remember, the antelope was once nearly lost, much like the bison, until sportsmen led an era of wildlife recovery. Now the species is flourishing. And the fact that such incredible specimens exist today says a lot about how far we have come, and how bright the future might be.”
Now Mike Gallo will forever be linked to the esteem of the trophy antelope.
Hale extended his warmest compliments: ”Congratulations to Mr. Gallo on a tremendous animal and a tip of the cap to the New Mexico Department of Fish and Game and to the sportsmen and sportswomen of that state for their stewardship of this iconic North American species.”
Overall, New Mexico ranks second in antelope entries in Boone and Crockett records, with 627. Wyoming comes in first with 1,154. Filling out the Top 5 are Arizona (339), Nevada (288) and Montana (183).
The world records for other species are:
SPECIESLOGISTICSSCORE & KEY MEASUREMENTSBIGHORN SHEEPYear: 2000 Luscar Mt., ABScore: 208 3/8 Length of horn: Right 47 4/8 – Left 46 5/8 Circumference of base: Right 15 7/8 – Left 15 7/8 Circumference of 3rd quarter: Right 12 – Left 11 3/8 Greatest spread: 23 1/8 Tip to tip spread: 23 1/8 ELKYear: 2008 Piute County, UTScore: 478 5/8 Length of main beam: Right 46 4/8 – Left 46 6/8 Inside spread: 36 5/8 Circ. of smallest place between 1st & 2nd points: Right 9 7/8 – Left 9 2/8 Number of ponts: Right 14 – Left 9 MOOSE (Alaska Yukon)Year: 1994 Fortymile River, AK
Score: 261 5/8 Greatest spread: 65 1/8 Length of palm: Right 54 4/8 – Left 53 6/8 Width of palm: Right 22 2/8 – Left 21 4/8 Circ. of beam at smallest place: Right 8 – Left 8 Number of points: Right 19 – Left 15
MOOSE (Canada)Year: 1980 Grayling River, BCGreatest spread: 63 Length of palm: Right 44 5/8 – Left 45 Width of palm: Right 21 6/8 – Left 23 Circ. of beam at smallest place: Right 8 1/8 – Left 9 2/8 Number of points: Right 15 – Left 16 MOOSE (Shiras)Year: 1952 Green River Lake, WYGreatest spread: 53 Length of palm: Right 38 6/8 – Left 38 5/8 Width of palm: Right 16 7/8 – Left 15 6/8 Circ. of beam at smallest place: Right 6 7/8 – Left 6 7/8 Number of points: Right 15 – Left 15 MOUNTAIN GOATYear: 2011Score: 57 4/8 Length of horn: Right 11 3/8 – Left 11 3/8 Circumference of base: Right 6 4/8 – Left 6 5/8 Circumference at 3rd quarter: Right 2 2/8 – Left 2 2/8 Greatest Spread: 7 1/8 Tip to tip spread: 6 6/8 MULE DEER (Typical)Year: 1972 Dolores County, COScore: 226 4/8 Length of main beam: Right 30 1/8 – Left 28 6/8 Inside spread: 30 7/8 Circ. of smallest place between burr and first point: Right 5 2/8 – Left 5 3/8 Number of points: Right 6 – Left 5 MULE DEER (Non-Typical)Year: 1926 Chip Lake, ABScore: 355 2/8 Length of main beam: Right 26 2/8 – Left 26 1/8 Inside spread: 22 1/8 Circ. of smallest place between burr and first point: Right 5 – Left 4 7/8 Number of points: Right 22 – Left 21 WHITETAILED DEER (Typical)Year: 19993 Biggar, SKScore: 213 5/8 Length of main beam: Right 28 4/8 – Left 28 4/8 Inside spread: 27 2/8 Circ. of smallest place between burr and first point: Right 4 6/8 – Left 5 Number of points: Right 8 – Left 6 WHITETAILED DEER (Non-Typical)Year: 1981 St. Louis County, MOScore: 333 7/8 Length of main beam: Right 24 1/8 – Left 23 3/8 Inside spread: 23 3/8 Circ. of smallest place between burr and first point: Right 5 1/8 – Left 5 1/8 Number of points: Right 19 – Left 25
Given the current status of mule deer numbers across the western United States, do you think the mule deer record will ever be broken again?
