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Field & Stream Magazine had an annual fishing contest that began in 1911. They presented these honor and award badges for fishermen and hunters from 1934 through 1977. The Award badges were part of their annual contest. The honor badge was given for meeting a minimum size. . The sportsman had to send in an affidavit of their catch, and a picture. There were fishing, hunting, first bird , trap, and skeet pins.
I am always interested in buying Field & Stream badges for my collection, or duplicates for sale or trade. Click Here to e-mail.
Freshwater Fishing
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Largemouth Bass
Sterling silver, no award |
Largemouth Bass
Sterling Silver Award |
Largemouth Bass
Award Chrome or Nickel |
Largemouth Bass Award
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Largemouth Bass
Honor Badge
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Smallmouth Bass
Author C. Boyd Pfeiffer |
Bass
Gold Award
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Largemouth Bass
Author C. Boyd Pfeiffer |
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Rock Bass
Gold Award *
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Rock Bass
Honor Badge
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Trout
No Marking *
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Trout
Silver Award
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Trout
Award
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Trout
Honor Badge
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Bullhead Catfish
Award *
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Bullhead Catfish
Honor Badge *
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Channel Catfish
Honor Badge *
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Sunfish
Gold Award. 1 lb 9 oz.
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Sunfish
Silver Award*
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Sunfish
Honor Badge
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Muskellunge
Bronze, not marked as to honor or award. 19lb 8 0z.
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Muskellunge
Not marked as to Honor or award. 56lb 0oz.see picture and etc. below.
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Northern Pike
Silver Award *
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Northern Pike
Award, no marking. Sterling Silver 17lbs.
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Northern Pike
Silver No Marking *
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Northern Pike
Gold Award *
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Northern Pike
Award Badge
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Northern Pike
Honor Badge
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Lake Trout
Silver Award
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Lake Trout
Award Badge
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Lake Trout
Honor Badge
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Salmon
Silver Award *
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Salmon
Award Badge
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Chinook Salmon
Honor Badge
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Crappie
Gold Award
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Crappie
Honor Badge
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Wall-eye Pike
No Marking *
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Wall-eye Pike
Silver Award
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Wall-eyed Pike
Award
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Wall-eyed Pike
Honor Badge
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White Bass ?
Gold Award *
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White Bass ?
Honor Badge
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Shad
Gold Award *
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Shad
Honor Badge *
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Grayling
Honor Badge |
Yellow Perch
Gold Award *
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Yellow Perch
Honor Badge
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Drum
Honor Badge *
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Sturgeon
Honor Badge *
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Carp
Honor Badge *
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Tiger Fish ?
Honor Badge
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Freshwater Dorado
Gold Award
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Peacock Bass
Honor Badge
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Largemouth Bass
Award diamond in eye. *
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Largemouth Bass Tie Bar w/fly (added by owner?) *
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World's Record Rainbow Trout On Fly
19 lb. 2 oz. A.E. Malacord.
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Bass Tie Bar
Unusual in that it has the weight engraved on the front, and the man's name on the back. "1939 9 lb. 1 1/2 oz. Bass J.E. Roach" *
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Saltwater Fishing
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Sailfish
No Award or Honor |
Sailfish
Award No Weight |
Sailfish
Honor Badge |
Swordfish
Honor Badge * |
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Striped Marlin
Gold Award |
Marlin
Silver Award *
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Marlin
No Markings *
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Striped Marlin
Honor Badge |
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Marlin (White)
Award badge
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Tuna
No Award or Honor
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Tuna
Honor Badge
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Skipjack Tuna
Honor Badge *
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Weakfish
Silver Award * |
Weakfish
Award |
Weakfish
Honor Badge |
Northern Porgy
Honor Badge *
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Channel Bass
Award |
Channel Bass
Honor Badge |
Striped Bass
Sterling Silver Award *
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Striped Bass
Silver Award 26lb. Must have been a line class, fly, or other division award.
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Striped Bass
Bronze ? Award |
Striped Bass
Copper Award. |
Striped Bass
Honor Badge |
Striped Bass
Honor Badge Variant |
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Tarpon
Gold Award * |
Tarpon
No Award or Honor |
Tarpon
Award Badge |
Tarpon
Honor Badge |
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Yellowtail
Honor Badge * |
Yellowtail
Honor Badge Variant* |
King Mackerel
Honor Badge * |
Spanish Mackerel
Honor Badge |
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Great Barracuda
Honor Badge |
Pacific Barracuda
Honor Badge |
Flounder
Silver Award |
Flounder
Honor Badge |
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Ladyfish
Gold Award * |
Ladyfish
Honor Badge * |
Bluefish
Not marked award or honor. |
Bluefish
Award
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Bluefish
Honor Badge
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Permit
Gold Award Badge
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Permit
Silver Award *
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Permit
Honor Badge w/certificate.
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Snook
Award Badge |
Snook
Honor Badge |
Bonefish
No Honor or Award Mark |
Bonefish
Award, 9lb 8 oz.
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Bonefish
Award Badge
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Bonefish
Honor Badge
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Snapper
Honor Badge *
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Shark
Honor Badge *
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Dolphin
Honor Badge
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Tautog
Honor Badge
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Giant Black Sea Bass
Honor Badge
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Roosterfish
Honor Badge *
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Barred Surf Perch
Honor Badge *
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Cobia
Honor Badge *
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Jack Crevalle
Honor Badge
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Tuna
Tie Bar *
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Other fishing badges I know of, but do not have pictures of, include: Blackfish, and Wahoo. There are probably others. I have also seen some pins that differ for the same species, there were different versions used through the years. Several will be shown above, the Largemouth Bass, possibly the Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, the Striped Bass, and the Yellowtail are among them. Award badges were gold plated, sterling silver, silver plated, copper and bronze.. The earliest versions, such as the silver sailfish above did not have Award or Honor Badge marked on them.
I have bought several Field & Stream pins (the largemouth Bass Award, Bonefish Award, and unmarked Sailfish), that were bright chrome or nickel plated. I have seen several others. I had thought at first that a fisherman might have had some chrome plated, but looking at them carefully, and the years between finding the ones I have, maybe Field & Stream had this done at some time, or for some reason.
I try to do the best job I can to identify species, in some cases I may get the identification wrong, or use regional names. If known, I will use the name that Field & Stream used to identify the species. If you see any mistakes, please e-mail me with any corrections. Ones I am uncertain of I will either say unknown, or put a question mark beside my best guess for the species.
In addition to the regular fishing contest, badges were awarded for fly fishing also at some period during the years of the tournament, there also were line class divisions, and youth divisions, I have not ironed down what years those divisions existed. It would not surprise me if there was a woman's division, but I have yet to find a reference. Dif
Fisherman who had earned an honor badge could also order a tie bar for $7.00 for a limited number of years.
A 1912 issue of Field & Stream shows a couple of Award Watch Fobs, two of which will be shown below.
There also were silver cup trophies presented for contest winners in the early years.
In one announcement of the contest it says "The badge, suitably engraved, will be sent to you with Field & Stream's compliments and you will automatically become a life member in good standing of the Distinguished Fishermen's Club."
Hunting
The Hunting badges were broken down into honor and award for big game. Some species may only have had an honor badge.
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Whitetail Deer
Award |
Whitetail Deer
Honor Badge |
Mule Deer
Award Badge |
Mule Deer
Honor Badge |
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Mountain Goat
Honor Badge |
Mountain Sheep
Honor Badge |
Pronghorn Antelope
Award Badge |
Pronghorn Antelope
Honor Badge |
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Elk
Award Badge * |
Elk
Honor Badge |
Moose
Award Badge |
Moose
Honor Badge |
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Caribou
Award Badge * |
Caribou
Honor Badge |
Bear
Award |
Bear
Honor Badge |
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Polar Bear
Honor Badge *
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Mountain Lion
Honor Badge
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Jaguar
Honor Badge *
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Mule Deer
Award Cufflinks. I do not know if these were done by Field & Stream, or by the recipient of the pins. You can see where the pins were cut off the back |
Birds
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Pheasant
No Marking * |
Pheasant
Award Badge * |
Pheasant
First Bird Badge |
Grouse
First Bird Badge |
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Canada Goose
First Bird Badge |
Duck
First Bird Badge |
Quail
First Bird Badge |
Dove
First Bird Badge |
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Wild Turkey
Honor Badge |
Trap & Skeet Badges
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Skeet
50 Straight
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Skeet
75 Straight
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Skeet
100 Straight
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Trap
50 Straight Trap |
Trap
75 Straight * |
Trap
100 Straight * |
Field and Stream started issuing trap and skeet badges in 1939.
Shown in the March 1964 Field & Stream magazine is a photo of bolo tie clasps made with honor and award badges. According to the caption they were converted from pins by Bob Parlaman of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. I have also seen pins attached to other jewelry, and embedded in ashtrays, and paperweights. Whether some of these were done by, or for, the magazine, or only done by the by people who had received the pins, I do not know.
Honor badges are usually copper plated, some award badges are copper, some silver plate, and some sterling silver. Some badges I have seen have a gold wash look to them.
From the September 1974 edition of Field & Stream Magazine "The emblems are made in a bronze finish, except for three special Award Pins finished in gold, silver, and green bronze for Field & Stream Annual Fishing Contest Winners"
Right now I have 130 different badges shown on this page. 73 different species, and two different types of clay pigeon shooting. According to one collector there are at least 144 different pins, I think there are more than that if you count all the variations. .
Requirements for the Honor Badge
Fishing 1938 Honor Badge Requirements
| Eastern Brook Trout | 4 lbs. | Channel Bass | 40 lbs. |
| Brown Trout | 5 lbs. | Weakfish | 7 lbs. |
| Rainbow Trout (Eastern) | 3 lbs. | Bluefish | 7 lbs. |
| Rainbow Trout (Western) | 10 lbs. | Tuna (School) | 75 lbs. |
| Lake Trout | 25 lbs. | Tuna (Giant) | 400 lbs. |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3 lbs. | Marlin (White) | 75 lbs. |
| Largemouth Bass (Northern) | 6 lbs. | Marlin (Blue) | 250 lbs. |
| Largemouth Bass (Southern) | 7 lbs | Sailfish | 60 lbs. |
| Largemouth Bass (Florida) | 10 lbs. | Tarpon | 100 lbs. |
| Muskalonge | 30 lbs. | Bonefish | 8 lbs. |
| Great Northern Pike | 15 lbs. | Wahoo | 40 lbs. |
| Wall-Eyed Pike | 8 lbs. | Broadbill (Swordfish) | any weight |
| Striped Bass | 25 lbs. |
Requirements changed over the years, and species were added to the contest.
A photograph of the angler with his catch was required, as was an affidavit with notarized signatures of two witnesses, with information on the rod, reel, and lure used. Some years fishermen also had to submit a length of the fishing line used.
Two 1970 Field & Stream Fishing Contest Applications
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1970 New World World Wide 613 Prizes, 80 Species, 25 Classes |
1970 New Central and South America Division 825 Prizes, 80 Species, 37 Classes |
These were from the 60th Annual contest. One application covered North and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and US. Territories. The other was useable worldwide. They include fly, and junior divisions. These included Peacock Bass, Dorado, and other fish.
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1958 Field & Stream Certificate
Bluefish Honor Badge. July, 2, 1958. 10 lbs. 3 ozs. Ben Wright, Publisher. 48th Annual Contest.
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1968 Field & Stream Certificate
These certificates accompanied the badges. This one was for a 20lb. Permit caught on 12 lb. line in Delray Beach, Florida. Caught August 10,1968. Judges for this year's contest were Dr. C.W. Greene, Van Campen Heilner, A.J. McClane, and Dr. H. John Rayner. |
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1969 Field & Stream Certificate
Arctic Grayling Honor Badge 2 lbs. 1 1/2 ozs. Caught by Michael Grimshaw on 6 lb. line.
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1964 Field & Stream Certificate
Presented with the honor badge to author C. Boyd Pfeiffer for a 4 lb. 2oz. Smallmouth Bass on 8lb line. Mr. Pfeiffer wrote many books on fishing and lure and tackle making. |
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Field & Stream Record Medal Watch Fob
"2nd Grand Prize Atlantic Salmon 43 lbs Won by J.T. Spaulding - Sterling." 1911. John T. Spaulding, caught in the Grand Cascapedia River, Leonard Rod, Vom Hofe Reel, enamel C Line, Dusty Miller Salmon Fly. 1 5/8 inches. Rare. John T. Spaulding had an estate, and ran a salmon camp on the Grand Cascapedia River. |
1912 Field & Stream Watch Fob
Record Bluefish. Sterling silver.*
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Field & Stream Record Cup 1913
For the Largest Muscallonge Caught During 1913 - Won by Dr. George E. Brambel Weight 47lbs. 3oz.** |
Field & Stream Record Cup 1912
Given for World Record Fish before the badges. This was for a World Record Brook Trout in 1912. **
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March 1962 Field & Stream Magazine
"Displayed on this month's cover are just a few of the 574 gold, silver, and bronze pins that will be awarded In Field & Stream's Annual Fishing Contest, now in its 52nd consecutive year. In addition thousands of Honor Badge pins will be presented for fish weighing over a specified poundage." |
Card Promoting the Field & Stream Contest
The bottom of the card held Applications for the
pins. |
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Letter & Envelope Weakfish Honor Badges
Letter giving notice that honor badges had been ordered for a 10 lb. 8 oz. and a 6 lb. 15 oz. spotted Weakfish . Fishing contest editor at that time was Mike Ball. February 25th, 1958.
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56 lb Muskellunge
(Pin front shown under Freshwater Fishing above.) The angler (holding the rod) has been identified as Percy Haver, a famous Muskie fisherman, also a lure designer. He designed the Percy Haver Muskielure. The fish has been identified as a 56 lb Muskellunge he caught at Lake St. Clair Michigan. This fish was submitted to the 1938 Field & Stream contest where it was first prize winner. This pin illustrates something important. Field and Stream used a special Musky pin for a short period of time including 1938, shown above with the 19lb 8 oz muskie pin, but in other years they also used the general pin like this for Muskie, Northern Pike, and Pickerel. You can see the front of this pin, and the other Musky pin above with the rest of the badges. Really nice to get the picture to go with the pin. this pin was not marked honor, or award. Percy Haver Muskielure
Made by James E. Aitken Mfg. Toledo, Ohio. |
Big Game Honor Badge Requirements (1965-?)
| White-Tailed Deer (Odocolieus virginiaus, etc., including Arizona whitetail, Coues deer, etc.) Minimum 8 points total, both sides, including brow points. "Point" in all instances hereafter to be considered a projection of at least 1 inch beyond normal outer circumference of the beam. | Moose (Alces americana, Alces americana shirasis, Alces gigas) Minimum for Alaska moose or Alces gigas, and moose killed in Yukon Territory, extreme spread of 50 inches. Minimum for moose killed in Wyoming, Montana or Canadian provinces, extreme spread of 40 inches. |
| Mule Deer (Odecolieus hemionus, etc., including Columbian Blacktail) Minimum 8 points total on both sides (4-4, 5-3, etc.) | Mountain Sheep (Ovis canadensis and related forms including bighorn, desert, Stone, and Dall) Length of horn, 35 inches, except for desert ram, (Minimum in desert ram, 30 inches) |
| Elk or Wapiti (Cervus canadensis, etc.) Minimum 5 points each side or total of 10 points. | Mountain Goat (Oreamus americanus) Length of horn, 9 inches. |
| Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana americana or mexicana) Minimum length of outside curve either horn 12 inches. | Caribou (Rangifer caribou and related species including woodland, mountain, and Barren Ground.) Inside spread, 30 inches, Minimum total number of points, 20 |
| Grizzly and Alaska Brown Bear (Ursus horribilis, Ursus middendorffi, Ursus gyas, etc.) Minimum rectangular measurement of skull (not over cranium) of overall length 12 inches, over all width across zygomatic arches 6 inches, the skull is to be skinned, cleaned of flesh, and dried before measurement. | Mountain Lion - Puma - Cougar (felis concolor hippolesles and related subspecies) Minimum skull measurement, total over-all length and width 10 (?) inches. The skull to be skinned, cleaned of flesh, and dried before measurement. |
| Black Bear (Ursus Americanas) Skull measurement taken as above, minimum length 10 inches, and width 5 inches. | Jaguar (felis onca hernandesii and related subspecies) Minimum skull measurement total overall length and width 13 1/2 inches. The skull is to be skinned, cleaned of flesh, and dried before measurement. |
| Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Skull measurement taken as above, minimum length 12 inches and width 6 inches. |
Scientific names are what was used by Field & Stream at the time these pins were offered.
Grizzly, Brown Bear, and Black Bear shared the same pin.
There was a minimum 16 lb requirement for the Wild Turkey Honor Badge.
Some Additional Info on the Field & Stream Pins
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This is the type of box the older Field & Stream pins came in. Later there was a plastic box.
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Back of one of the F & S pins, 1 1/8 inches, all have the same type of pin. The fish typically have size engraved on them. C-clasp closure
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Back of the Sterling Silver Northern Pike Pin showing the sterling marking. 17lb. No award or honor.
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Some Similar Pins
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Ozark Fishing Rodeo sponsored by the Saint Louis Globe Democrat Newspaper. Award Pin. Same maker as the Field & Stream pins. *
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Cabo Blanco Fishing Club Tuna pin. Made very similar to the Field & Stream pins. The Cabo Blanco club was a very famous big game fishing club in Peru. 1 1/4 inches.
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Beauchene Fish & Game Club. Not made for Field & Stream, but made for this Canadian club by the same maker. Similar to the Field & Stream Smallmouth Bass badge.
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Eli Lilly Company fishing Award. Not for Field and Stream, but by the same maker. Similar to the Field & Stream Largemouth Bass badge. *
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Lake Placid Pin. Probably a souvenir from the 1932 Winter Olympics. Marked on the back is Attleboro. Not sure this is the same company that made the F&S pins, but it looks the same.
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I collect, sell, and trade Field & Stream badges, fishing & hunting license badges and other hunting and fishing related pins. I need any badge not shown here, as well as any badges that are marked with an asterisk *. I also buy badges I may already have to sell. If you have any badges to sell or trade, please e-mail me using the link below. The badges shown on this page are not for sale.
Telephone: (828)-437-5938 10-5 Mon.-Sat. Eastern time.
I may also have some Field & Stream badges for sale or trade on the following pages:
Old Fishing and Hunting License Sales Pages
Other Field & Stream Items
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2003 Silver Pin
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2003 Patch
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2003 Gold Pin
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1995 Anniversary Pin
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1979 Skeet Team Pin
Field & Stream All-America *
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1980 Skeet Team Pin
Field & Stream All-America *
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Field & Stream 60th Anniversary Token
1955 The dot in the center, and arrow on back, |
Field & Stream Lighter
Storm Master, Made in USA Aluminum. 1970s?
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1976 Mepps Brochure, using the Field & Stream Contest to Promote their Lures
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Trophy with Field & Stream Magazine
April 1931 Issue, only engraving I can read |
Lower Forty Club Button & Book
Corey Ford wrote a some stories for a column in Field & stream during the 1940s-1950s(?), these buttons were given out to folks who sent an application for membership. I think it was mostly promotional. 1 3/4 inch. He compiled some of his stories about the Lower Forty Club into several books. |
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1940 Field & Stream Calendar Mechanical Pencil |
World Champion Field & Stream Patch
1974, WT. 10LB. 6OZ-8LB. Test Line, "Red" Harrison. 3 1/2 x 5 inches. Has a bass on it. So far I have found no info on this patch, or fisherman, not sure if it was connected to the magazine or not.
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* Photos marked with an asterisk (*) are used courtesy of Ken Walter. He was nice enough to let me use his photos of badges and other materials that I did not have in my collection. Some of the photographed badges also belong to Ken Cavanaugh. Ken Cavanaugh was a long time collector of Field &Stream Memorabilia. He passed away over New Years, 2010. **The photos of the two cups are thanks to him. Many Thanks to both !
Other Magazine Fishing & Hunting Awards and Items
Outdoors and Fishing Magazine (Austrailia)
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General Award
Marked on back "Amor Sydney" |
Marlin Award
1 1/8 inches |
Snapper Award
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Spearfishing Award
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Sports Afield Magazine
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Tiny Sterling pin 5/8" |
Award Patch |
I also collect other fishing and hunting items, rods, reels, lures, accessories and memorabilia, in addition to other fishing and hunting badges, pins, and medals, some of which will be shown if you click on the links below:
Wanted: Hunting & Fishing License Badges
Hunting and Fishing Badges, Pins, Medals, and etc.
North Carolina Hunting & Fishing Licenses Badges
Every badge I sell is an authentic, old, badge, unless noted otherwise. I guarantee such, and if you have doubts, you are welcome to return the item for a refund. Make sure any dealer will stand behind what he sells.
To visit one of our other pages, click on one of the links below:
Text
and Images Copyrights 1997-2010 Drexel Grapevine Antiques © 
