Boone and Crockett Club Welcomes C.J. Buck as Regular Member
MISSOULA, Mont.--(Ammoland.com)- A fourth-generation leader of an American family owned cutlery company, C.J. Buck of Post Falls, Idaho, is the newest regular member of the Boone and Crockett Club.
Since Theodore Roosevelt founded the Club in 1887, its regular membership (those eligible to hold office and chair committees) has been restricted to 100 people recognized for their commitment and influence in conservation issues and policies. Buck recently accepted an invitation to be a part of that group.
Buck Knives was founded in 1902. Hoyt, Al, Chuck and now C.J. Buck have built the company into one of the world’s premier and most recognizable brands. C.J. started work on a production line in 1978 and is now president of a company whose products are known worldwide for quality, innovation and elegant function.
Because its products are used to prepare and enjoy the bounty of a hunt, Buck Knives also is deeply rooted in wise-use of wildlife resources and hunter-based conservation–two of Boone and Crockett Club’s most fundamental tenets.
“I’m pleased to welcome C.J. among the regular members of Boone and Crockett Club. We’re looking forward to utilizing his expertise in marketing and branding to help us be even more effective in our conservation goals for the future,” said Ben Wallace, president of the Club.
Buck is active in the Kootenai County Police and Firemen Memorial Fund and North Idaho College Foundation. He serves on the Economic Advisory Council to the Governor for the State of Idaho, and is a co-founder and current legislative chairman for the American Knife and Tool Institute.
Buck earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing at National University in San Diego, Calif. He is married and has three children, two stepchildren and a grandchild.
Q&A with C.J. Buck:
Before your introduction, what was your perception of Boone and Crockett Club?
Buck: Like many who don’t know the Club’s history, I assumed it was a stuffy ‘brandy-and-cigar’ group sitting around comparing trophies, telling hunting stories and watch-dogging the scoring of non-member trophies.
Did those perceptions change during your first Club meeting as a guest?
Buck: Yes. I learned the history of the Club and realized that many of the things I take for granted, like national parks, important conservation measures and even the first game laws, were really projects of Club members. I also did not realize just how unique in the world the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation really is.
How about when you attended the 27th Big Game Awards as a Club sponsor?
Buck: That’s where I saw firsthand the work ethic and constant giving of time and money for Club endeavors. At the awards, members really rolled up their sleeves and pitched in.
As a new member, what have you learned about the Club that you didn’t realize before?
Buck: As I’ve met and become more acquainted with Club members, I’ve learned they are everywhere, helping to accomplish great things by serving on the boards of other conservation groups, active on committees, advising political leaders and much more.
Why did you accept the invitation to become a regular member?
Buck: All of my previous community service has been devoted to economic development. I saw an opportunity to participate in something I’m even more passionate about–conservation, legislation, habitat restoration and wildlife management. Placing science over emotion is tough in a political environment but I want to be a part of that.
What do you see as your role in contributing to the mission of the Club?
Buck: As the newly appointed chairman of our associate committee, I realize lots of sportsmen think you need to have a trophy in the records book or deep pockets to belong to Boone and Crockett Club. We’re going to change that. Anyone with a passion for big game and a desire to keep hunting can be an associate of the Club for $35 per year. And I believe the Club needs new associates as we strive to improve our ability to facilitate long-range policies for wildlife and natural resource management.
About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.