Modified SLAM
General Topic
The other thread prompted this...........................
Is there any momentum for something between the 10 and the 29 as recognized major accomplishments?
The 10 is not easy, you need the sheep and goat. The rest are all very reachable, but the muskox just requires the commitment to go. The other 7 are no problem if you get the easiest/cheapest of the species.
The 29 represent the summit and the difficulty between from hitting the 10 and hitting the 29 is probably 25X given cost, time, uncertainty of harvesting a sub-species, likelihood of having to repeat hunts, etc.
It seems like there should be something in the middle, some other milestone, that bridges that massive gap between 10 and 29.
Think about a path like this..............
Maybe two of each of some of the subspecies not just one. That would add a second species of moose, caribou, elk, and sheep. Require 4 deer vs just 1. Require both bison and muskox not just one of the two.
That would take it to 18 species and would be much harder than the 10, but much easier than the 29.
That would omit the requirement for getting your choice of 2 big bear sub-species, a moose sub-species, an elk sub-species, and 7 deer and caribou sub-species.
That would have it at 18 taken, and 11 missing from the 29, but you'd need a bear besides a black, a second sheep, a tougher moose than just a Canadian, and the ox or bison as well. You'd also need to get some deer besides the more readily available sub-species.
The Super 25 of North American Big Game was introduced in late 2011. Several GSCO members had written in with concerns about the difficulty in obtaining all 29 trophies necessary for the Super Slam, with the polar bear being the #1 concern. There are, in fact, several other trophies that present specific challenges as well, such as the desert sheep, Roosevelt and tule elk, and of late, even a couple of the caribou. With these and other considerations in mind, we knew there needed to be another level above the Super Ten. Twenty did not seem to be the right number, so we settled on the Super 25 and from its inception, this new level of recognition has been very well received. To qualify for this new award, one has to have completed a Super Ten – in other words, at least one from each of the 10 categories. After the Super Ten, to qualify for the Super 25, a member can have taken any additional 15 trophies on the list.
I’m at 24 and the last few will be some highly anticipated hunts. Stone sheep for the third time sure adds to the pressure. It’s all in good fun though.
"The Obtainable 18"
On ths day of Feb 5, 2024: I hereby reserve all Copyright and Trademark privileges to this phrase.
Don't any of you guys go using it without permission.
First BowSiter to accomplish this and provide proof gets a free hat. NO CROSSBOWS!
I just cut and pasted from the website. Other than the last paragraph.
It’s nice there is at least something between the two. Still take a sh** pile of hunting though.
I did "the Virginia slam" in 2019. Deer, bear turkey the three "big game" animals in Va. That's as slammy as I'm likely to get.
If I’m successful and connect on a Mtn goat this fall, I’m gonna start my own club. Maybe something like the “Not Too Shabby Nine” or something similar. The sheep ain’t gonna happen. Maybe I can qualify for a “Modified Super 10”……An aoudad is a sheep, right??
I think it’s a fair question. The 25 seems kinda odd to me. Seems like once you get to 25 keep going or don’t. I agree with bou. 18 or 20 would be a very logical stepping stone in my mind.
I have about 15 now, the second sheep in bous scenario would be hard for me, but not impossible. All 4 sheep is all but impossible at this point I’m afraid. I am going to stall out around 19-21 I think. That last handful are just going to be out of my financial reach at this point.
I suspect the number of SS 29 (archery) guys will start to taper in the next few years when guys who are close finish up. I think the costs are going to severely thin the next group of guys. I’d love to be one of those NA 29 guys, but don’t see it in the cards for me personally.
—Jim
Question, as far as the 29, is it even possible to hunt Quebec Labrador caribou anymore?
No quebec Lab caribou. There is talk of some substitution animals, but nothing is decided last I heard.
—Jim
I don’t think Quebec/labador caribou are huntable except by First Nation people. I arrowed two of them in the mid 80s, but have zero chance (or desire) of killing the 29. I’m at eight species and may never get beyond that. Good luck to all of you pursuing the 29 or the other multi species levels.
Here is a list and also shows auxiliary animals.
You should take a look at the SCI award structure. There are a lot more options if you’re chasing milestone related awards. I think the way they do it is pretty cool. My only gripe is what they charge if you actually want to register an award.
Problem with those Aux animals are they are all almost impossible or illegal with a bow!
—Jim
For GSCO you can substitute a Wolf for the QL caribou.
On another note for GSCO you can also use SCI rules for species boundaries which does allow some “estate” options like for bison etc that P&Y don’t recognize
The Super 10 always seemed a list made up to reach a certain number. Why would you need a bison OR a musk-ox? That's like listing a mountain goat OR a pronghorn because they both have pointy black horns. I always thought a "mini slam" would be better. One species from each genus. That would be 11 species, and would require a bison and a musk-ox.
Ziek— it’s all made up and somewhat arbitrary. Elk are just big deer. Brown bears and grizzly are the same thing. The caribou, take your pick.
They had to draw a line somewhere and seems reasonable (maybe not correct) to me. Super 11 sounds good to me though. You get them to change it and I’ll get behind you on it!
—Jim
What are the rules regarding ewes, nannies, cows, does, sows, etc?
Are there categories, such as sheep, where someone taking a female of the species wouldn’t be able to count it toward their total?
Would it be possible to let people shoot animals with a rifle and it count as an archery animal? Maybe only allow it if they do a thread on here or something?
Nick, that should be OK as long as in your story you say many times that you don't care about score, books, clubs or recognition. And you're only writing the story to let others know that.
The real question is, can you substitute your pancakes for more bacon in the All American Slam?
I really like bacon.
JTreeman, I disagree. Look at the first word in each category of the formal name. Each bear begins with Ursus. Each deer with Odocoileus. Each elk with Cervus. That denotes where it belongs taxonomically. So my "mini slam" would be one of each of the closely related species. There is a logical method behind it, more so than just "let's come up with 10 species".
There's nothing to hunt in February, so currently, I'm working on my "ma'am slam."
Idyllwild, plenty to hunt year round here. Predators, sprung turkey, groundhog, spring squirrel, groundhog, early bear, archery deer, rifle deer, late blackpowder deer and back to Predators. Love SW VA
How about the Poor 4? That is more my speed.
