Wildlife Management Merit Badge History

Earned through 1972317,236

Best year196222,626 earned

All-time popularity#86official, as of 2020#89by 2025 (estimate)

Earned by Year

First earned in 1952. Peak year 1962 with 22,626. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.

19522,311 earned#68 of 120

19538,309 earned#30 of 105

195411,752 earned#30 of 103

195512,228 earned#30 of 100

195613,313 earned#29 of 100

195713,254 earned#29 of 100

195814,433 earned#29 of 101

195915,404 earned#29 of 101

196017,005 earned#30 of 100

196120,711 earned#28 of 101

196222,626 earned#25 of 101

196321,460 earned#26 of 102

196418,123 earned#30 of 107

196516,666 earned#29 of 109

196616,330 earned#29 of 110

196716,061 earned#30 of 112

196816,125 earned#30 of 112

196917,502 earned#28 of 113

197017,072 earned#29 of 113

197116,328 earned#29 of 113

197210,223 earned#44 of 124

"#44 of 124" means the badge was number 44 of the 124 merit badges earned that year. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.

19522,311#68 of 120

19538,309#30 of 105

195411,752#30 of 103

195512,228#30 of 100

195613,313#29 of 100

195713,254#29 of 100

195814,433#29 of 101

195915,404#29 of 101

196017,005#30 of 100

196120,711#28 of 101

196222,626#25 of 101

196321,460#26 of 102

196418,123#30 of 107

196516,666#29 of 109

196616,330#29 of 110

196716,061#30 of 112

196816,125#30 of 112

196917,502#28 of 113

197017,072#29 of 113

197116,328#29 of 113

197210,223#44 of 124

Grand total through 1972:

This page keeps growing. More of this badge's history, including its patches and pamphlets, is being checked and will be added once it is confirmed.

Wildlife Management: workbook data

Printings (20)

Have	Year	Month	Cover	Back	Run	©	BSA #	HC	Notes
x	1952	December	6	back-6b-1	5M	1952	3300
x	1953	April	SPECIAL		7M	1952	3300		jamboree cover
x	1953	April	6	back-6b-1	7M	1952	3300
x	1953	November	6	back-6b-1	5M	1952	3300
x	1954	March	6	back-6b-2	12M	1952	3300
x	1955	March	6	back-6b-2	15M	1952	3300	HCJV1
x	1956	December	6	back-6b-2	10M	1952	3300
x	1957	June	6	back-6b-2	12M	1952	3300
x	1958	October	6	back-6c-2	12M	1952	3300
x	1959	November	6	back-6c-2	12M	1952	3300
x	1960	July	6	back-6d	12M	1952	3300	HCJV2
x	1961	April	6	back-6e	14M	1952	3300	HCJV2
x	1962	March	6	back-6f	14M	1952	3300	HCP
x	1963	March	6	back-6g	6M	1952	3300
x	1964	February	6	back-6g	17M	1952	3300	HCK
x	1965	March	6	back-6h	11M	1952	3300	HCP
x	1966	February	6	back-6i	17M	1952	3300	HCL
	1967	not made
x	1968	March	7	back-7	14M	1952	3300
x	1969	February	7	back-7	17M	1952	3300
x	1970	February	7	back-7	18M	1952	3300	HCL
	1971	not made
	1972	not made

Earned and rank by year

Year	Earned	Rank	Of
1952	2,311	68	120
1953	8,309	30	105
1954	11,752	30	103
1955	12,228	30	100
1956	13,313	29	100
1957	13,254	29	100
1958	14,433	29	101
1959	15,404	29	101
1960	17,005	30	100
1961	20,711	28	101
1962	22,626	25	101
1963	21,460	26	102
1964	18,123	30	107
1965	16,666	29	109
1966	16,330	29	110
1967	16,061	30	112
1968	16,125	30	112
1969	17,502	28	113
1970	17,072	29	113
1971	16,328	29	113
1972	10,223	44	124