I shot a nice Heart beast that green scored as No. 13 in the Safari Club records. I am sure even now with extensive drying it will still place in the books. Should I register it after the fact? I primarily hunt for the experience and the memories as well as the meat so what are the pluses of getting it recorded?

It’s entirely up to you.
I have a few USA animals that would be accepted by the Pope and Young club. I have chosen not to enter them as I see no benefit in doing so. Obviously some people think the opposite.
Some people say it’s honoring the animal, that makes no sense to me.
Your call.

Of course you should and Rowland Ward too. Now ordering the actual "award" itself that another story, some folks want them other don't.

I entered my qualifying African heads to help out my PH and outfitter. Also the owner of the land where the animal was taken.

It gives them recognition for working hard to find mature animals for me.

SCI uses the record book to monitor herd dynamics over time.

I have at least three trophies which (I am told) would make the SCI book. I would never bother to register them. I could care less about getting on a list with hundreds of other unknown people. I would have shot them if the horns were slightly shorter, or the lion's skull were slightly smaller (who could even tell). The "book" in my opinion is largely a matter of luck and the "reward" does not reflect achievement. YMMV.

The SCI book standard is so low that damn near any decent representative head wil be admitted at the bronze level. Rowland and Ward is much tougher to qualify.

Like others have posted, its entirely your call. And like jdollar posted, the SCI bronze level is so low that getting your name in that book is kind of like getting your name in the phone book. Costs are another factor. SCI charges $35 per animal to be listed. Then if you want your animals listed in any of their other awards, inner circles, or pinnacles, they charge $100 and up for each one and/or level. I don't know what Rowland Ward charges, and Boone & Crockett charges $45 per animal.

In my 50 years of hunting, I've taken over 60 different species and over 200 animals. A few of my African animals meet the RW minimums, I have quite a few animals that would qualify for SCI including several at the gold level, and two of my caribou and my muskox qualify for B&C. The cost of entering my animals in the various record books and the different SCI awards program would just about equal the cost of another hunt. I have not entered anything in any record book.

Your kids or grandkids would probably enjoy showing their friends your name in any of the various record books.

I have entered one head (not African) in the record book for the outfitter because it was SCI #1. I have never had any of the others measured and don't care.

Like many others on this site I've killed critters such as a warthog and an impala that would make SCI gold (I am told) but haven't entered them into the book, for various reasons.

I did enter my 2009 Montana wolf, but only because it was the first one from the lower 48 to be officially entered into a record book.

It is important to some people, but not all. Game agencies do sometimes use data from B&C, P&Y, SCI, etc. for management decisions, though. I think that is an important point to bring up.

Because it makes your dick seem bigger?
They don't record dick size, you know.
Or maybe they do.
I have no clue on this book stuff (obviously).

If it makes whoever wants to buy their name into a book
happy, I say great. You pay for your choices and I'll pay for mine.
For instance, I paid $140 bucks for a bottle of wine recently. Insane, I am.
It was tasty, but my unit did not grow. Oh well.

I had the good fortune of collecting some Top Ten (Springbok and kudu) and Top 20 (gemsbok) way back on my first safari and put them in the book. It was fun to see my name in with some big names in the safari world. It does do a bit of good for your PH, as he can use it for marketing. I haven't gottent things measured or submitted for years now.

I have a gemsbuck and kudu that will both make RWard. I never bothered to enter either one. 42.5 gemsbuck and 55.5 kudu, don't remember what the minimums are.