Grant Advances Federal and State Wildlife Policy, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch Education Programs, and Implementation of Landmark Poach and Pay Research
MISSOULA, Mont. — Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund has renewed its support as a Diamond level Trailblazer in Conservation partner of the Boone and Crockett Club with a $120,000 grant for 2026. The funding will advance three priorities: federal and state conservation policy leadership, conservation education programs at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, and the implementation phase of the Club's landmark Poach and Pay Project. The renewal reflects the Outdoor Fund's sustained commitment to protecting North America's wildlife heritage and the ethical hunting traditions that surround it.
"The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund has been one of the Club's most steadfast partners in conservation, and this renewal reflects a shared belief that the work we're doing right now matters deeply," said Tony A. Schoonen, Chief Executive Officer of the Boone and Crockett Club. "With their continued support, we are able to advance conservation policy in Washington and state capitals, connect young people to the land at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, and move our Poach and Pay research into action. All of this is implementing real solutions that protect our wildlife and defend the reputation of ethical hunters across the country."
The grant provides $85,000 in conservation policy funding to support the Club's leadership across several high-priority federal and state issues. For 2026, this will include active habitat management and wildfire risk reduction, big game migration corridor conservation under Secretarial Order 3362, Chronic Wasting Disease research and management, and the Club's coordination role within the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), a consortium of 50 leading hunting-conservation organizations. The Club will also educate members of Congress, congressional staff, and federal agency leaders on policy priorities and will host targeted policy briefings in Washington, D.C., and other strategic locations.
"We are proud to continue our support of the Boone and Crockett Club and we're grateful to our generous customers who make the Outdoor Fund possible and help support conservation efforts like this," said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops.
The Outdoor Fund's support has helped build first-class conservation education programs at the Club's 6,000-acre Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch on the Rocky Mountain Front of Montana. The $35,000 in 2026, will support enhancing hands-on facilities and equipment at the ranch, expanding conservation education through science and technology platforms, including trail-camera libraries, podcasts, and online learning tools, and increasing youth engagement through outdoor experiences.
The additional $20,000 dedicated to the Club's Poach and Pay Project comes at a pivotal moment for the initiative. In September 2025, the Club unveiled the findings of the most comprehensive study of wildlife poaching ever conducted in the United States, a five-year effort demonstrating that only about 4% of poaching incidents are detected, with an estimated minimum annual conservation cost of $1.4 billion in lost fines and wildlife replacement costs. In 2026, the Club will translate that research into practical policy reforms, including advocating for increased fines and restitution so that poaching is never cheaper than legal hunting, promoting felony classification for high-value poaching offenses, strengthening enforcement capacity and investigative tools for wildlife officers, encouraging specialized prosecution models for wildlife crime, and developing continuing legal education materials for prosecutors and judges. The Club will also expand public outreach efforts to increase the stigma against poaching and upgrade traditional tip lines to digital platforms.
Since its founding by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club and its members have led the development of policies that protected federal public lands, developed the frameworks of modern game laws, funded conservation efforts, and reinforced the vision of sustainable use of North America's natural resources. The Club's Trailblazers in Conservation partnership program unites industry leaders in support of scientific wildlife management, hunter ethics, and conservation advocacy.
About the Boone and Crockett Club: Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Learn more at boone-crockett.org.