Pope and Young Club announces potential new world record woodland caribou

Chatfield, Minn. — In the late afternoon of Sept. 5, 2013, Newfoundland resident Jeff Samson stalked an exceptional looking local bull caribou to within 15 yards. The single fatal bow shot yielded an extraordinary specimen of unparalleled size. The Pope and Young Club says the bull has an initial record book entry score that could completely shatter the club’s current world record once it is verified.

The current world record woodland caribou is 345 2/8 from Victoria River, Newfoundland, taken in 1966 by Dempsey Cape. The Dempsey Cape woodland caribou, which is currently on display in the Pope and Young Club’s Museum of Bowhunting in Chatfield, Minn., is one of the longest standing current P&Y world’s records. It has stood for 48 years.

Samson’s woodland caribou has an initial entry score that is a 31 inches larger than the existing world record. Its initial entry score, 376 7/8, is still subject to a panel judging verification, which may change the final accepted score for a variety of reasons, including unusual shrinkage, initial mis-measurement, etc.. according to the P&Y Club.

Woodland caribou are the smallest of five subspecies of caribou recognized by the Pope and Young Club’s records program (barren ground caribou, mountain caribou, Central Canada barren ground caribou, Quebec/Labrador caribou and woodland caribou). Woodland caribou are currently found in sustained huntable populations across the Canadian province of Newfoundland.

This caribou is entered into the current, ongoing 29th Recording Period – the biennium representing entries accepted into the P&Y Records Program from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2014.

New world’s records are verified and proclaimed, and awards are presented to outstanding animals during the Pope and Young Club’s biennial convention and awards banquet.

The public can view this set of antlers on display at the Pope and Young Club’s National Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., April 15-18, 2015.