POPE and YOUNG CLUB members look forward to spending quality outdoor time using their bow and arrow equipment to hunt. They know that archery gear is a game of close encounters, stealth, hard work, and fantastic associations with lots of people, guides in some of the most fantastic scenic landscapes of North America.

The P&Y Club is a hunting community that promotes excellence within conservation programs, support for ethical hunting while using bows and arrows, and for long standing and highly regarded record keeping of the statistics and measurements of potential trophy animals. In cooperation with the Boone & Crockett Club (B&C), the exact same scoring methods are used.

Our measuring manual is a joint venture between both organizations and is 266 pages long. Each organization publishes a record book for new entries, all-time entries and any new world record submittals that have been received during the previous recording time frame.

These records honor the animal and the hunter, and the records are also used by fish and game departments of the states or Canada Provinces to help validate game animal populations that continue to produce some of the most impressive antlered or horned animals. Fish and Game departments know that carefully constructed big game seasons for both firearms and archery is just one way of monitoring the populations and the habitats that support those animals.

Every record book entry has a story to tell of the who, what and when, the planning and the physical exertion required in some of the most beautiful and demanding habitats of North America. When visiting with the hunter about the animal they brought to the convention, it does not take long to understand and congratulate that person on the accomplishments of the hunt.

The convention headquarters was the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, Ariz. The facility had adequate space for all the animal displays along three outside walls of the main convention hall. Adjacent rooms served as individual seminar rooms for speakers providing tips and know-how on all kinds of archery hunting topics. All were well attended, informative and inspirational.

Another highlight during the convention were live auctions to sell specific hunts donated by outfitters. One hundred percent of the sales went to assist the P&Y Club with its ongoing programs and services to archery enthusiasts.

Bidding was lively and entertaining, all for a good cause. Dedicated archers proved once again that their passion for the sport of using bows and arrows is very much alive and well.

Another insight into the convention was excellent taxidermy work in which the mounted animals were meticulously presented. These trophies will be and will remain a hallmark to the owner’s collection of archery adventures.

Every time they and or guests see the displays of big game animals stories will be told of how that hunt developed and was carried out. Those listening to the specific details will understand and perhaps see themselves accomplishing the same feats in some future year.

People make any organization the backbone of the reason why they exist. It is inevitable that one will see old friends at the convention, meet new people who will become new friends, with invitations to stop by for a chat or visit anytime one is traveling close to where those new friends live. An advantage to these visits is inspiration while learning of new landscapes, new habitats, management successes of the past and needed improvements for the future.

Many outfitters and their archery hunting locations were also on display and ready for booking future hunts to those willing to learn more, and secure a spot on their lists for future year hunts. New products, new bows, new broadheads and a lot of traditional bows, both longbow and recurve, were on hand for attendees to see and try out on a nearby archery range.

The Pope and Young Club was begun 64 years ago. One purpose was in part to validate to wildlife managers in all the states that archery taken trophies was a way to document success, as an equally valid method of take.

In this manner, P&Y proved that we were and still are an organization to preserve, protect, and promote bow hunting. P&Y emphasizes that legal and ethical taking of big game at close range with a bow is a personal achievement that is highly rewarding.

With all the above information in hand, it is with great pride that I am able to assist both the P&Y Club and the B&C Club in the function of being a certified official measurer. Feel free to contact me about these terrific organizations, and if and when you take a big game animal and desire to have its skull, horns or antlers measured, give me a call at 641-750-4914.

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NEW BIRDS are back from their southern winter habitats. The species list will continue to get longer during May.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are just one species that has made its appearance at my feeder station. House wrens have staked out a bird house and noisily chirped at me when I got too close.

An app on my cell phone listening to bird sounds tells me of Eurasian Tree Sparrows, White-crowned sparrows and Orioles. Some of these I have seen. Others I have not observed, but I do not doubt that their calls are out there.

I continue to see a good number of Ring-necked pheasants, and I continue to hear the raspy call of Sandhill Cranes. It is nice to listen to nature’s musical array of sounds.

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A large and mature snapping turtle was my surprise finding this past week. While driving on Stanley Mill Road, I observed a large object in the center of the roadway. I stopped and noted that it was a snapper.

So I dutifully used my camera to record the reptilian beast. Then my next objective was to move the turtle off the traveled portion of the road to prevent its demise by another vehicle.

The attitude of the snapper was typical — it was defiant about leaving its place in the sun. Its head snapped out suddenly with open jaws waiting to capture my stick to teach it and me a lesson.

Knowing this, I was persistent to successfully move the reptile toward the old river channel next to the roadway. I saved the snapper.

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HUNTER SAFETY classes, one of two traditional classroom and field experiences, are coming soon. The first dates to note are May 22 and the following Saturday, May 24.

Sign up is accomplished online by going to GoOutdoorsIowa.com and then clicking on the Go To Site button under Events and Hunter Education Certification Classes. The Marshall County listing for May 22 and 24 is posted. Fill out the registration information requested.

It is important to note that for this type of class, attendance at both the Thursday night class (6-9 p.m.), and the Saturday all day (8 a.m. until 4 p.m.) sessions is required.

If a person wishing to attend can make time free, it will be worth your action to do this. In today’s busy schedules, other options may be best to conduct the class online, and then sign up for a subsequent field day. However, a word to the wise is this: there is no substitute for hands-on training with qualified instructors to visit with.

Students ages 12 and above may sign up. Parents are encouraged to also take the class with their son or daughter.

Each will get a certificate of completion that is valid in all 50 states and honored in many other countries, particularly Canada. That certificate is valid for one’s lifetime.

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Lastly for this week, is this reminder. Leave wildlife babies, no matter if they are birds, bunnies, skunks, or fawns, to the care of the wild parents. Do not think a “rescue” is in order… it will be a big mistake on your part.

Humans are ill equipped to know all the intricacies of care required for wildlife youngsters. Death is all too often the end result of otherwise good intentions.

So let the adult birds, rabbits, skunks or deer do their thing in the way they know how to care for their offspring.

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May 10 just happens to be WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY. Go to the website to learn more about bird migrations, short or long distance travelers, all by wing and without passports or gold star drivers licenses.

Over 100 species of birds that nest in the Midwest are considered Neotropical migrants. These birds breed in North America but winter in Mexico, Central America, South America or the Caribbean.

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Garry Brandenburg is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology.

Contact him at:

P.O. Box 96

Albion, IA 50005