Realtree’s Chef to be Among Judges at Pope and Young Wild Game Cook-Off
Posted March 20, 2025 by
Think you have what it takes to compete with some of the best wild-game chefs in the country? Head to Glendale, Arizona, next month to put your skills to the test and walk away with some great gear
Dates: April 9 through 12, 2025
Location: Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel and Spa
Find out more here: https://pope-young.org/Convention-agenda
Register here:
If you’re a bowhunter, you probably know about the Pope and Young Club. Founded in 1961 by Glenn St. Charles and Fred Bear, the club’s mission for 64 years has been to promote and protect bowhunting and serve as the official record keepers for big-game animals taken with archery gear across North America.
The 34th Pope and Young Convention will be held April 9 through 12 in Glendale, Arizona.
Since its inception, the P&Y Club has held a biennial convention where members meet, discuss the state of bowhunting and issues that might threaten it, and enjoy fellowship with other hunters from throughout North America. There are seminars and awards ceremonies, along the P&Y Hall of Fame inductions. The convention also displays the largest game animals taken by bowhunters the past two years.
New this year is a Wild Game Showdown, sponsored by Camp Chef, with Realtree’s Timber-2-Table blogger on the judging team.
This year, a wild-game cooking competition has been added to the agenda. Registered teams of up to six people can compete in the first-ever Camp Chef Wild Game Cookoff. Teams will be given a Camp Chef Pro 16 stove complete with grill box and griddle — and they’ll get to keep the gear at the end.
Each team will receive a Camp Chef Pro 16 complete with a grill box and griddle to keep.
The competition will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, as a kickoff for the Convention. The rules are pretty simple. You can cook on the supplied gear or bring in anything additional that you might need to prepare your recipe. Any wild game is eligible. There will be two judged winners, a team of celebrity judges — including Realtree’s Michael Pendley, host of Timber 2 Table — and a people’s choice award. Winners will walk away with an incredible prize package from MEAT processing gear.
Michael Pendley, Realtree Timber-2-Table blogger, will be one of the celebrity judges for the inaugural event. Image by Realtree.
If you are planning to attend but don’t want to compete, stop by and sample the food so you can vote for the People’s Choice award. Registration for the cookoff is open here. Besides the cookoff, attendees to the Convention can attend seminars with some of the most recognizable names in bowhunting, learn about measuring big game, check out vendors with the latest in bowhunting gear, attend auctions, and check out the trophy game animals on display. There will also be a raffle in which the winner gets to choose a dream hunt, with options including:
Attendees will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a dream hunt.
An eight-day brown bear/grizzly, caribou, black bear combo hunt from The Perrins Rainy Pass Lodge, in 2026 or 2027, depending on availability.
An eight-day adventure with six days of spring musk ox hunting for one hunter. This Canada North Outfitting barren-ground musk ox hunt is the truest way to experience Canada’s Arctic.
A 10-day South Africa Safari, including lion, cape buffalo, sable and spotted hyena combo from Motshwere Safaris & Outfitters (is exportable).
It’s sure to be a good time, so come enjoy some early spring warmth in Arizona, eat some great food, and mingle with a great crowd of bowhunters.
