Hunter, developer releases hunting app

All sports have rules for determining scores and world records and hunting is no different.

Local entrepreneur Chip Hunnicutt has developed an application for iPhone and iPod Touch that helps hunters properly score and record their hunts.

Hunnicutt’s application helps hunters navigate the complicated scoring procedures, accurately score their hunts and share their scores with other hunters.

Hunnicutt said there are three major scoring bodies that determine records and score animals. The application supports all three different score bodies rules: Boone and Crockett (for game harvested with a firearm), Pope and Young (for game harvested with a bow), Safari Club International (gun or bow and game hunted worldwide).

With Hunnicutt’s application, Trophy Score, hunters can score 15 species and 21 subspecies: including American elk, bear, moose, deer, aoudad, cape buffalo, caribou, eland, kudu, pronghorn antelope and turkey. The hunter inputs measurements into the application, which then computes the score according to the method and species selected.

Hunnicutt recently returned from the Safari Club International annual convention in Reno, Nevada, where the organization officially sanctioned his application.

According to Honeycutt, there are other iPhone applications that score game, but none that have been approved by the major scoring bodies.

Hunnicutt said he received support from Safari Club International because the group was interested in mobile applications, but did not have the resources to develop them. The application is tied to Honeycutt’s website www.anchorpointoutdoors.com where hunters can share scores and organize hunt clubs.

“It’s a database for all harvested game that falls in between what the world record organizations track (best-in-class) and the state DNRs (species only),” Hunnicutt said.  The application sells for $4.99 and is available on iTunes or via the website.