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

002 R95P454 L Gun 01
002 R95P454 L Gun 01

Range Review: Rossi R95 Triple Black Pistol .454 Casull

Hold on tight because this lever-action pistol is an adventure to shoot! Check out the Rossi R95 Triple Black Pistol, chambered in .454 Casull.

Forest Service Signs MOU Advancing Wildlife-based Access

The U.S. Forest Service and the Boone and Crockett Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in late May that underscores the importance of sustaining outdoor recreation opportunities.

Henry Honors America's 250th with Collector-Grade Rifles

Henry Repeating Arms is now shipping the America's 250th Anniversary Tribute Edition Collection: three collector-grade lever-action rifles to mark the nation's 250th anniversary of independence.

Behind the Bullet: The .500-416 Nitro Express

When discussing the Nitro Express cartridges, my mind is immediately drawn to East Africa in the first few decades of the 20th century, but there are modern developments which fill a niche. One such is the .500/416 3 ¼-inch Nitro Express developed by Kreighoff at the end of the 20th century. Let's look at the history and characteristics of the .500-416 Nitro Express.

New for 2026: Bear Creek Arsenal .30-30 Uppers

Bear Creek Arsenal is expanding its lineup with new .30-30 Winchester rifle and upper options, bringing one of America's most recognized hunting calibers into modern sporting rifle configurations.

Shotgun Slug 101: What to Look For

Don’t overlook shotgun slugs. When hand-picked, they will deliver outstanding accuracy and big game-bagging performance. Here’s a primer.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.