As an official Boone and Crockett measurer, Ron Boucher of Waterford, Vermont, who speaks fluent French, had scored several heads for his good friend, André Beaudy, a native of Quebec. Both André and Ron were later instrumental in helping to establish an arm of the Boone and Crockett Club in Quebec Province because so many hunters were interested in a permanent records-keeping system. Interestingly, because the French language is so common in Quebec, the scorer’s manual and score sheets were printed in French.
Being very familiar with Quebec’s Tourilli Sportsman’s Club and its history, André became intrigued with the story about Roosevelt’s last moose. After learning that the un-scored antlers had been hanging at Sagamore Hill for almost 100 years, he made arrangements to travel to New York on April 14, 2012 to score the historic old rack with fellow Quebec measurer Raynald Groleau. Since Ron had been so helpful in getting the Quebec B&C records program off the ground, André asked him to be part of the scoring team.
For all three men, it was an honor and privilege to measure the last trophy animal ever taken by Theodore Roosevelt. It was also an exhilarating experience to actually walk around the house and grounds where Roosevelt once lived.
“Seeing Sagamore Hill for the first time gave me goose bumps,” Ron said. “I actually touched the bed Roosevelt died in. When I first saw the rack, I got butterflies in my stomach. Measuring it and holding the old moose rack was surreal.”
The rack measured 167 4⁄8, making it eligible for the Quebec records program. Ron, André and Raynard would never forget their experience at Sagamore Hill.
“From a measurer’s standpoint, how lucky could three guys get,” Ron said. “We were actually touching a piece of history.”
At the end of the day, park rangers allowed the two Frenchmen to fold the American flag that flies over Sagamore Hill. Ron stood by and watched with a tear in his eye and a full heart. What better way to pay tribute to one of our greatest presidents, sportsmen and conservationists than to measure the last trophy animal TR ever shot.
