LAST UPDATED: May 1st, 2015
Some records just aren’t meant to be broken. Michael Phelp’s record of 22 Olympic medals seems untouchable at this point. Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak has stood strong since 1941. However, a long a standing Boone and Crockett world record grizzly bear may have just met his match. Read on for details…
Steve West, founder and host of Steve’s Outdoor Adventures TV (stevesoutdooradventures.com), has taken the Muzzleloader World Record grizzly bear. The previous record of 23 2/16″ was shattered when West’s grizzly was scored at 26 1/16″, eclipsing it by almost three inches.
“I feel extremely fortunate and very lucky,” said West. “You never wake up in the morning going on a hunt and say to yourself, ‘I am going to go out today and take a world-record animal.’ To be honest, when I realized I had a potential world-record grizzly bear, I found it to be a very humbling experience.”
West used a CVA .50 Caliber ACCURA V2 to make the 49 yard shot on the big grizzly. The bear was taken during a 10-day hunt in British Columbia with long-time friend and hunting celebrity Phil Phillips.
“Steve is definitely one of the most highly regarded big game hunters in the industry,” said Dudley McGarity, CEO of CVA. “Now he has secured his place in hunting history with this incredible grizzly bear. CVA is proud to be a sponsor of the Steve’s Outdoor Adventures TV series, and we’re thrilled to have played a part in this historic hunting achievement.” West’s muzzleloader was topped with the Burris FastFire sight, which he says was critical for bullet placement in the fading light. “The FastFire sight provides an illuminated aiming point that allowed me to put the bullet in the perfect spot and dropped the big bear in his tracks,” said West.
“Steve’s focus on adventure big game hunting has been highly contributory to hissuccess in the outdoor television industry,” said PatrickBeckett, VP of Burris Company. “It seems like every time we turn around he has taken another record class animal on film. Burris has enjoyed a prosperous partnership with Steve’s Outdoor Adventures TV seriesfor many years, andwe are fortunate tohave Steve West endorsing our innovative and highly dependable products.”
West’s muzzleloader was shooting the 405 grain Copper Powerbelt Bullets propelled by 150 grains of IMR whitehot pellets.
Official Scorer and Legendary Archer Gail Martin, founder of Martin Archery in Walla Walla, WA, scored the bear skull at 26 1/16″ B&C. Because the skull had tissue and the lower jaw still attached the bear will have to be re-measured for official entry, but the measurement will likely not change, and both Gail Martin and Steve West acknowledge that the bear will easily eclipse the current record.
