Since its beginning in 1970, the Official Records of Arizona Big Game, has been a means to recognize the unique, individual quality of big game animals in the state of Arizona. 2025 Arizona Big Game Record Book — Available for Preorder!The 2025 Arizona Big Game Record Book, pictured to the right, continues a proud tradition of documenting Arizona’s most exceptional big game and the hunters who pursue them responsibly. This upcoming edition will feature qualifying records from recent years, celebrate award-winning animals across multiple species, and highlight the conservation ethic that supports wildlife and wild lands across the state. This edition is set for publication and shipping in February 2026. Preordering the 2025 edition helps support the ongoing work of the Arizona Wildlife Federation and ensures this historic record — one of the longest-running big game record books in the country — continues for future generations. Reserve your copy today and be part of Arizona’s conservation legacy. Visit our shop here. 2020 Big Game Record Book AwardsEach year, the Arizona Wildlife Big Game Records program recognizes outstanding wildlife entries through an annual competition. All qualifying entries received by May 1 following the calendar year in which the animal was taken are automatically entered into that year’s competition. Entries submitted after the May 1 deadline remain eligible for inclusion in the next published record book but are not eligible for annual awards. Awards for the 2019 and 2020 Big Game Record Book competitions were presented at the Fundraising and Recognition Banquet on June 11, 2022, held at the Embassy Suites in Tempe. 2020 First Place Award Recipients
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2020 Honorable Mention Award Recipients
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The Annual Competition includes the following species: pronghorn; typical and non-typical Coues deer; typical and non-typical mule deer; typical and non-typical elk; desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep; bison; javelina; black bear; cougar; and wild turkey.
Note: Jaguars were placed on the protected species list in 1968 and were federally protected under the Endangered Species Act beginning in 1997.
Beginning with the 1990 edition of Arizona Wildlife Trophies, a special awards program was established to recognize hunters who intentionally harvest older, more mature animals and prioritize conservation-minded hunting practices.
Special awards include:
In 1950, the Boone and Crockett Club developed the internationally recognized scoring system used to evaluate North American big game trophies. Arizona Wildlife Trophies uses this system for all species except javelina and wild turkey.
Because no official scoring system existed for javelina, the Records Committee adopted a skull measurement method similar to Boone and Crockett’s approach for bears and cats—excluding teeth due to common dental irregularities. This method remains the most consistent and fair way to score javelina.
Wild turkeys were later added to the Record Book with a custom score sheet, as Boone and Crockett does not allow turkeys to be entered into its record system.