South Dakota Bighorn Sheep Confirmed New World Record

by
posted on February 18, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
worldrecordbighornsheep-sd_lead.jpg
Clayton Miller

On Jan. 24th, the Pope and Young Club assembled a special panel to officially measure a new potential world record Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, taken by Clayton Miller in Pennington County, S.D. in October 2018.

With a final score of 209⅛ inches, the ram was massive ram was confirmed as the largest hunter-killed bighorn sheep with both Pope and Young and Boone and Crockett, exceeding the previous world record ram (taken by Todd Kirk in 1998) by nearly 10 inches.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got the phone call that my name had been drawn for the first and only bighorn sheep unit in the Badlands of South Dakota! I have been dreaming of the opportunity to draw a tag like this since I started applying religiously at the age of 12,” said Miller. “I went into this hunt knowing that there were some spectacular animals in the area, but it was beyond my wildest dream that I would be after the new Pope and Young Club World Record!”

Justin Spring, Records Director for the Boone and Crockett Club and part of the special panel that measured the new world record sheep said, “Boone and Crockett would like to join Pope and Young in congratulating the hunter on his record-setting ram. In addition, we also would like to thank all those involved … in the restoration efforts bringing a robust population of bighorn sheep back to South Dakota. This is a true testament to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and a shining beacon of what can be accomplished with efforts and funds being dedicated to wildlife."

Miller’s ram will be on display at the Pope and Young Club’s 31st Biennial Convention in Omaha, Neb., April 10-13, 2019. It will accompany both the new World Record non-typical mule deer, which scored 191⅛ inches, and the new World Record Alaskan brown bear that measured 29-4/16 inches.

Latest

Olmsted Shooting 110 Trail Blazer
Olmsted Shooting 110 Trail Blazer

New for 2026: Savage 110 Trail Blazer

Leading off Savage's line of next-generation Model 110s comes the 110 Trail Blazer, perfect showcase for the company's new AccuFit 2 stock. Learn more about it in this exclusive video with American Hunter Editor in Chief Scott Olmsted.

Hot from SHOT: Best Optics of 2026

In the market for a new optic? You're in luck. In this installment of our 2026 SHOT coverage, we tasked experienced hunter and longtime contributor Brad Fenson with rounding up the best new optics of 2026. Read on to see what made his exacting cut.

New for 2026: EAA Balikli Blue Label O/U

This year, EAA has debuted the latest in its line of imports, with the Balikli Blue Label Over/Under shotgun.

Hot from SHOT: The Best New Hunting Rifles for 2026

The annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas is a launch pad for many new firearm platforms. Here is a list of the best new hunting guns arriving in 2026.

New for 2026: Hornady American Whitetail Tipped

Hornady’s American Whitetail ammo line has been a huge success, offering a no nonsense combination of Hornady’s InterLock and their excellent brass cases. Deer hunters now have even more to be happy about, with the release of the Hornady American Whitetail Tipped.

First Look: Galco Brush Hog Belt Holster

Galco has launched the Brush Hog Belt Holster, to protect hunters' pistols from nature and the elements while keeping them ready for quick action in the field.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.