Each winter in February crowds of people descend on Minnesota's Leech Lake for the annual Eel Pout Festival. Check out the action in this slide show from photographer Rick Adair.
Founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt, the Boone and Crockett Club can boast a list of hugely significant accomplishments, among them; the protection of Yellowstone, Glacier, and Denali National Parks; the foundation of the National Forest Service, National Park Service, and National Wildlife Refuge System; the passing of the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts; and the establishment of the Federal Duck Stamp Program.
It's a long list, and it gets even longer when you consider that each trophy the club records is another validation of the system it helped build, a sign that America's wildlife conservation efforts continue to be a resounding success because of the sportsman's support.
The 40 magnificent animals shown in this gallery are proof of this. So browse through the photos, plan your next dream trip, and know that each hunt you take strengthens the foundation of hunting's future.