FIFTY YEARS AGO, in 1961, Washington state bowhunter Glenn St. Charles launched the Pope and Young Club, the major records keeping organization for archery-killed big game. His goal was to give bowhunting credibility in the eyes of state game departments and the general public.

The P&Y Club has achieved that goal beyond Glenn St. Charles’ wildest expectations, and on April 6-10, the Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary during its 27th Biennium Awards Banquet and Convention in Rochester, Minnesota.

RELATED: Pope & Young Trophy Gallery

At the center of the celebration was a tribute to St. Charles, who died in 2010 at the age of 99. Even though he was physically absent from the biennial convention for the first time in 50 years, his spirit and influence clearly live on as seen in the achievements of the Club and its members.

RELATED: Pope & Young Trophy Gallery

Bowhunters entered a record 8,717 animals into the P&Y record book during the 27th biennium, ending December 31, 2010. Of these, 102 of the largest were on display at the convention, including three new world records: Alaska-Yukon moose (249 1/8) taken by Real Langlois near Earn Lake, Yukon; nontypical Coues deer (127 1/8), taken by Nathan LaCost in Gila County, Arizona; and typical mule deer (205 0/8), taken by George Harms near Hermosillo, Mexico.

That just scratches the surface of a memorable 50th Anniversary celebration. For a complete report, don’t miss the September issue of Bowhunter, which hits the newsstands the first week in August.

Here’s a look at some of the top trophies seen from the 27th Pope & Young Biennium Awards Show…

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Non-Typical Whitetail 264 6/8 Kyle Simmons another image on next page

Non-Typical Whitetail 247 1/8 Scott Odenbrett another image on next page

Non-Typical Whitetail 247 1/8 Scott Odenbrett another image on next page

Typical Whitetail 188 4/8 Anthony Partington another image on next page

Typical Whitetail 172 2/8 Casey Knight another image on next page

Typical Whitetail 190 2/8 J.T. Kreager another image on next page

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Columbian Blacktail 134 1/8 Michael Ratto another image on next page

Columbian Blacktail 134 6/8 Richard Heeter another image on next page

Non-Typical Columbian Blacktail 136 3/8 Cody Davis another image on next page

Sitka Blacktail 103 1/8 Tom Kothenbeutel another image on next page

Sitka Blacktail 97 2/8 Ed Fanchin another image on next page

Sitka Blacktail 102 0/8 Walter Palmer another image on next page

World Recor Mule deer 194 4/8 Matt Liljenquist another image on next page

Rocky Mountain Goat 52 0/8 Anthony Glasso another image on next page

Central Barren Ground Caribou 383 5/8 Tyler Allred another image on next page

Desert Bighorn Sheep 169 3/8 Rick Duggan another image on next page

Mule Deer 205 0/8 George Harms another image on next page

Non-Typical Mule Deer 231 3/8 Matthew Palmquist another image on next page

Stones’ Sheep 157 6/8 Ricardo Longoria another image on next page

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Non-Typcial Mule Deer 251 2/8 Dave Fuller another image on next page

Mule Deer Velvet 200 3/8 Paul Dallin another image on next page

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Mule Deer 187 4/8 Walter Palmer another image on next page

Desert Bighorn 167 0/8 Lucy Rechel another image on next page

Stones’ Sheep 154 7/8 Stacee Frost another image on next page

Bighorn Sheep 193 4/8 Don Moen another image on next page

Tule Elk 303 0/8 Rick Duggan another image on next page

Non-Typical Whitetail 261 5/8 Christopher Kiernan another image on next page

Quebec/Labrador Caribou 379 5/8 Tyler Henriksen another image on next page

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Quebec/Labrador Caribou 399 0/8 Daniel Green another image on next page

Alaska/Yukon Moose 201 4/8 Camp Newton another image on next page

Roosevelt’s Elk 336 0/8 Chipper Dippel another image on next page

Alaska/ Yukon Moose 209 6/8 Craig Crawford another image on next page

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Alaska/Yukon Moose 197 6/8 Mark Buehrer another image on next page

Non-Typical American Elk 397 2/8 Patrick Naumann another image on next page

Canada Moose 176 4/8 Perry Cuddeback another image on next page

American Elk 387 6/8 Michael Park another image on next page

Shiras’ Moose Velvet 169 2/8 Donald Hoard another image on next page

Tule Elk 311 4/8 Walter Palmer another image on next page

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Tule Elk 292 3/8 Chipper Dippel another image on next page

Canada Moose 199 4/8 Dale Tucker another image on next page

Canada Moose 193 1/8 Scott Jankowski another image on next page

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Pronghorn 88 4/8 Jeremiah Fauver and 86 2/8 Kendel Chetham another image on next page

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