Trophy Measurement

If you obtain a really good African trophy you may be interested in official trophy measurement and entering it a record book .

The mainstream trophy record books are those run by Rowland Ward and Safari Club International and to get your trophy entered you must comply with their individual requirements and standards.

Rowland Ward and SCI have very different measuring methods, species categories and submission criteria, so check it all out first before submitting an entry

Rowland Ward Records Of Big Game

In 2015 Rowland Ward Ltd was sold to a private group of investors who gave all rights to the use of the Rowland Ward Ltd name to the same publisher who owns Sports Afield and Safari Press.

Rowland Ward will only accept trophies that are shot legally and in accordance with the game laws and the fair-chase, ethical practices of the country and locale where they were obtained.
For animals hunted in enclosures to be acceptable as a RW record, they must "contain self-sustaining, breeding populations that can feed themselves from naturally occurring vegetation and prey without continual supplemental feeding by humans. The enclosures must offer a hunting scenario whereby the outcome of obtaining a certain animal is by no means guaranteed".
Supplemental release of male buffalo or predators into a game-proof fenced area for hunting purposes will preclude these animals from inclusion in the RW record book.
Non-native introduced animals are accepted if they are in sufficient large populations, if a hunting license is required and they comply with the above.
Rowland Ward does not have separate colour-based categories for animals that are specifically bred for their colour.
Rowland Ward does not accept records for darted animals.
Rowland Ward expects hunters to stalk animals on foot, not shot from a vehicle. The only exception is for those hunters who physically cannot walk or stalk on foot.
There must be a 30 day drying-out period between the date the animal was shot and measuring for all entries. The only exceptions are rhinos which must be measured after a 60 day drying period and crocodile which must be measured in the field and witnessed. Elephant ivory must also have a 30 day drying-out period. Trophies may not be kept in any artificial conditions to prevent natural shrinkage during this period.
The trophy must be measured by an official RW measurer. If the trophy is in the top 10, it must be measured by 2 official RW measurers.
Every trophy has an applicable measurement method for its type. All RW measurement methods & all RW terms and conditons.
Entry in the RW record books used to be free. From 2015, an entry fee is required, per entry. There is a range of 'extras' you can purchase on your entry form, such as certificates, plaque and the RW record book. There is no charge for the official RW measurers service.
A completed entry form, fee + any required photographs (as below) must be submitted.
Field photographs (side and front view only) are now required to be submitted, with the entry form, for all Top 10 entries.
The following species also require (side and front view only) field photographs - all duikers, dwarf buffalo, Angolan or black-faced impala, all dwarf antelopes and white-eared kobs.
The following species require (side and front view + front facial and rump) field photographs (not back of horns) - Robert's gazelle, Bright's gazelle and Peter's gazelle.
The following species requires (side and front view + back of horns, front facial and rump) field photographs - bontebok
RW African Individual Measuring Instructions.

SCI Record Book

Only members of SCI may enter a trophy for the Record Book. You can become a SCI member or renew your membership on the record entry form.
A completed SCI entry form, correct entry fee and photographs must be submitted.
All SCI measurement methods & entry forms.
You can also complete a record entry with payments to SCI electronically.
There are 2 levels of SCI measurers: Official Measurers and Master Measurers.
All trophy entries must be measured by an official SCI measurer. There is no charge for measuring a trophy.
Every trophy has an applicable measurement method for it's type.
If the trophy entry is going to rank in the top 20 of its category or to be entered into the Major Awards, it must be certified and measured by a SCI Master Measurer and have a minimum 60 day drying-out period.
Field photographs must be submitted with your entry form. If the animal has antlers, 3 photographs (front, right & left sides) must be submitted. There is a fee for submitting your photographs
The online SCI Record Book is available to SCI members only.
There appears there is no stipulated drying-out period for any trophies except for top 20 and Major Awards entries.