On Wednesday, October 28, the Pope and Young Club convened a Special Panel of Judges at the Cabela’s Store in Lehi, Utah, for a potential P&Y World Record Velvet Non-Typical Mule Deer. Justin Gordon’s velvet mule deer scored an amazing 324 3/8" and is now the largest bow-harvested VELVET Non-Typical Mule Deer in North America. This amazing mule deer was shot in Colorado, on September 2, 2018.

Measurers present at the Special Panel were (L to R) Dallas Smith of Utah, Justin Spring of Montana, Dallas Leo of Utah, and Roger Atwood of Idaho. Also present to oversee the Special Panel, was Record’s Chairman, Roy Grace of Arizona. With a final score of 324 3/8”, Gordon’s velvet non-typical mule deer was confirmed as the new P&Y World Record. This mule deer surpasses the previous largest velvet non-typical mule deer in the records program taken by Jeff Cisneros with a score of 272 6/8". The Pope and Young Club recently changed a policy that now allows velvet antlered species to be eligible for world records status within their own velvet categories.

"To find an animal this rare in such a remote and beautiful setting can only be described as once in a lifetime." said Justin Gordon. "Five days into the 2018 archery season the buck was first spotted by a friend with whom I shared base-camp. The buck was a spooky deer, constantly on the move and rarely hanging around past predawn light. Several days after we initially spotted the buck, the deer actually presented an opportunity for a stalk. After a couple of hours on the stalk, I found myself inside 27 yards of the bedded buck. When he stood, he presented a steep quartering away shot. The arrow was true and the buck died after a very short run downhill."

"Upon viewing this Velvet Non-Typical Mule Deer, it was evident that this was a unique and tremendous animal." said Roy Grace, Records Chairman for the Pope and Young Club. "Animals of this size and age are a true testament to the success of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and support all science-based conservation programs across North America. Congratulations to Justin Gordon and the Colorado Division of Wildlife on this tremendous mule deer."

You can see this incredible animal on display at the Pope and Young’s Biennial Awards Convention and Pope and Young’s 60th Anniversary, in Reno, NV, April 14-17th, 2021. One of the largest displays of North American, bow-harvested, big-game animals (velvet and hard antlered) will be assembled for viewing. For Convention information, go to: https://www.pope-young.org/convention/default.asp. To register on-line, go to: https://tools.eventpower.com/reg/index/HYzHEVu3Zk

This World Record Velvet Non-Typical Mule Deer has been entered into the 32nd recording period representing entries accepted into the P&Y Records Program from January 1st, 2019, to December 31st, 2020. At the close of every biennial recording period, numerical awards and honorable mentions are awarded to the most outstanding bow-harvested animals in each species category that have been entered during this two-year recording period. New World Records are verified and proclaimed, and awards are presented to these outstanding animals during the Pope and Young Club's Biennial Convention and Awards Banquet.

A special thanks to the Cabala’s Store in Lehi, UT for allowing the Pope and Young Club to conduct the Special Panel at their facility. Our partnership with Cabela’s has always been appreciated.