Big Game Henry Kelsey Awards
Saskatchewan Henry Kelsey Big Game Records is the official records keeping system for Saskatchewan big game. Henry Kelsey, with its own constitution, is an ancillary body within the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.
Big game records keeping in Saskatchewan began in 1953, working in cooperation with the Boone and Crockett Club, and using their system of scoring antlers, horns, and skulls. In 1967 the Big Game Records Committee adopted the name, Henry Kelsey Club. The name change was in honor of the famous Saskatchewan explorer and historian, HENRY KELSEY. |
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Over three hundred years ago in 1690, Henry Kelsey was the first European to travel in-land from the Hudson Bay to the prairies. He was the first apprentice with the Hudson Bay Company to work his way through the ranks to become governor, and was one of the first visitors to work seriously on understanding the languages of the natives. Henry Kelsey was the first white man to see the great grasslands of the prairies and to see the plains grizzly and hunt the buffalo, when their numbers were unrecordable.
The first Saskatchewan big game awards were presented at the February 1954 annual Saskatchewan Fish & Game League convention in Moose Jaw, for entries received from the 1953 hunting season.
In the early 1990’s the name was again changed to Henry Kelsey Big Game Records. Although Henry Kelsey records adopted the Boone and Crockett scoring system, there are two main differences. Entries for Henry Kelsey do not require a sixty (60) day drying period and the minimum scores vary.
The objectives of the Henry Kelsey Big Game Records, in compliance with the Saskatchewan Wildlife
Federation’s aims and objectives, are to:
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Encourage the scoring and recording of big game animals taken in complete compliance with the game
laws of the province and in accordance with the rules of fair chase.
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Fair Chase, as defined by Henry Kelsey Big Game Records, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an
improper and unfair advantage over such game animals.
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Promote and encourage proper hunter ethics, good hunter-landowner relationships, conservation activities and preservation of wildlife and fisheries habitat throughout the province.
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Promote and present a positive image for ethical hunting activities in the province of Saskatchewan.
All Saskatchewan big game entries must be taken by a licensed hunter, under the rules of fair chase, meet minimum scores and be measured by an official Henry Kelsey measurer. All score sheets are kept on file at the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s Central Office in Moose Jaw. Each entry receives an attractive certificate recognizing the big game animal that was harvested. In addition, first place entries from each year and category (by a SWF member in good standing) are awarded a plaque at the annual Henry Kelsey Awards Banquet.
One official Henry Kelsey measurer from each SWF region, as well as the HK Chairman, and Vice-Chairman
sit on the Henry Kelsey Board of Directors.
There are 54 official Henry Kelsey Measurers - 21 are Boone & Crockett, 20 are Pope & Young, and 18 are Longhunter Society measurers as well. This speaks highly of our professional measurers.
2011 Henry Kelsey Award Winners: Click Here
2010 Henry Kelsey Award Winners: Click here
2009 Henry Kelsey Award Winners: Click Here
2008 Henry Kelsey Award Winners: Click Here
2007 Henry Kelsey Award Winners: Click Here
Saskatchewans all-time record holders: Click Here
Henry Kelsey fair chase rules: Click Here
Henry Kelsey minimum scores: Click Here
Henry Kelsey official scorers: Click Here
Henry Kelsey Score Forms: Click Here
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