When it got to within 150 yards, Rotarius calmed his nerves as best he could and squeezed off the shot, dropping the deer. Experts determined that the buck died of natural causes and demolished the score of the previous record, 286 inches from a buck . Rightmyer's buck scored 272-2/8 and ranks #4 in Kansas and #33 on the All-time list. As it turned out, Gibson had at least three years of history with the buck. "I tried to let out a 'meh' to get him to stop, but I was shaking so bad, I couldn't get it to come out." But it finally cooled off, and the hunter caught the buck making its way from the swamp to a food plot. He was pleased to know the pass paid off when he found his sheds last winter. Sutphin said though it felt like an hour had passed when Willie re-emerged from the woods, but it was only moments. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Our client hunted this deer for 11 days. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. Yes, it is a legitimate buck. He says the local scene went dead when temperatures peaked near 80 degrees last week. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. Available in 180- and 200-grain sizes. Ball shot that buck, waited about 30 minutes, then started the walk back to his side-by-side to load it up. A big nine-point buck, killed in Kansas, earned Ashford resident Andrew Lowe the $50,000 first prize in the inaugural Bone Collector North American Whitetail Championship. Jim Wilson of Chase City, Va., killed the deer on a private tract on Oct. 30 during the archery season with his Parker Enforcer crossbow. The wind continued to blow. Theres no question that someone, somewhere, is going to kill eye-popping whitetails somewhere in the Old Dominion, but the magic and mystery is pinpointing exactly where the great event will take place. As it turns out, Wilderness Whitetails specializes in abnormally-large whitetail deer and antlers, as proven by the game farm's trophy gallery and this montage from their YouTube channel published years ago. A mature Missouri buck showcased some serious head gear totaling a staggering 333 7/8 inches, making it the most giant whitetail ever scored. Bucks are definitely gearing up to bust loose. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. "The weather wasn't going too good, with temps in the 70s and a bad wind direction for my stand, but there was no choice. I think the most important aspect of it is I get to be alone. His friend Ashley sat with him that evening to video the hunt and possibly shoot a doe if the opportunity arose. New New New. Sutphin mentally kicked himself for not hunting that morning. Rudden stopped the buck at 25 yards and sent a perfect shot into his chest. This rack scored 206 1/8 points and has held the . According to Snopes.com, a website that looks to settle internet rumors factually, the facts surrounding this story have been unearthed. Ontario, 1977. The buck came to an opening at 30 yards and Joshua pulled the trigger. All Rights Reserved. Alvey waited on the outskirts in case the buck jumped up as Joshua headed into the brush. Settling in around 2 p.m. Haynie used his deer call to perform a sequence of doe bleats followed by some quick buck grunts. 9 talking about this. The No. Around the same time, a farmer driving a combine was exiting a nearby cornfield, and Barrera was able to sneak in and set up as the farmer was coming out. For more information on deer management in Virginia, please visit the deer section of this website. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. That Sunday morning was the only time I had a picture of him in daylight.". With stories from East River South Dakota, Siouxland, South Dakota, Lincoln County (S.D. 2022-2023 Deer Kill Summary. Posted by Kathi Hawkins onFriday, November 29, 2013. ELD Match, and 175 gr. A female bald eagle got herself ensnared in an illegally staged steel trap in mid-February, but due to the kindness and work of quite a few, she's now on the mend. Both G-2s were about 10 inches long. "I never thought I would have an opportunity at a buck of this quality, but having it was genuinely a life-changing experience. There was little movement at the outset of the hunt, with only a couple button bucks making their way under his stand. Only 10minutes had passed when he noticed a deer coming out of the thicket that the doe had bounded into. Skis are easily the most efficient way to cover snowy ground on foot in winter. I'll remember this day and hunt forever.". In Virginia, the total length of adult bear skulls was found to average 262 to 317 mm (10.3 to 12.5 in). Rotarius credits his dad, Jimmy Rotarius, and hunting buddy, Clay Turner, for the tireless work they do on the property to grow big deer. The deer fell upon impact. He had cut three shooting lanes to ensure any buck entering the woods from the picked cornfield in front of him would pass through an opening. The society's panel judging isn't slated until sometime in 1995. "I am still on cloud nine with this buck," Sears said. Regarding the harvest of a piebald deer December 11, 2019 On December 3, 2019, my 17-year-old son was hunting alone on our vacant property on Spring Hill Mountain in West Virginia during a legal hunting season when he shot and harvested a piebald deer. Ive hunted this piece of property for years and Ive never seen him and its not like he got that wide over the course of one year. Product . Brandon Butler. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. At 6:05 a.m., just minutes after legal shooting light, the big deer stepped into view. "As soon as I settled in, I notice a big, fresh scrape on the edge of the field in front of me," Rodes said. This buck was harvested out of Kansas & scored 211"..Westin McCauley is a 12 year old outdoorsmen . "They're hammering cut corn and beans," the bowhunter says. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. Typical: 186 1/8 inches. This buck was one of the first to show up on camera in the summer of 2021. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet At 6:30, with about a half hour left of light, Garries hadn't seen any deer, so he decided he should try grunting. Wilson had seen the deer on trail camera photos but had only come close twice, and the wary buck didnt respond to his calls or rattling. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. On Saturday morning, Nov. 11, 2017 a friend named Brian Wallace who also hunts those 30 acres was on his way to his stand and checked the SD card in his game camera that he had not looked at since August. He decided to creep out the door and position himself behind the picket fence that surrounded the yard just in case Willie appeared. Weather during the 2022-23 deer season was also highly variable with unseasonably warm temperatures or precipitation falling on the opening day of multiple seasons (archery and muzzleloader). After two weeks of hunting without any sign of Willie, Sutphin decided to take a break and sleep in. NON-HUNTERS ATTEMPT DEER CALLS IN HILARIOUS VIDEO. Josh Honeycutt. This monstrous whitetail from Virginia definitely grabbed our attention when it began circulating on social media and hunting sites recently, and the mystery behind its validity was quite the topic for a while. Josh Honeycutt. Joshua planned to go deep into the property and his father went about half the distance. Check out Cochrans full report on the big buck here! In the above video, NWTF's Jason Burckhalter talks about the group's accomplishments and future plans with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. He drew back, settled the pin and took the 13-yard, quartering-away shot. Marlin is back in the game with the re-introduction of the classic 336 and 1894 lever-action hunting rifles. Brandon Butler. Hornady's Seth Swerczek goes in depth about the new cartridge with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The lesson learned is a simple one: Expect and prepare for the unexpected. ", The buck is a main-frame 10 with a kicker, and the bruiser weighed 200 pounds dressed. On Nov. 17, after lunch, he climbed into an elevated blind along the edge of a cut cotton field. David Pepper, a former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, says Brown's "secret sauce" is his willingness to take his made-in-America, union-strong messaging to places outside the cities. "Uncle Kevin was pretty much my outdoors influence," Wallace ways. Subscriber Services. This massive buck became one of deer hunting's biggest urban legends. No one had been there since January. There is no official weight listed for the deer, but it looks heavy. David's buck took over the Number 4 position for Typical Bow kills in the list that ranks the top five buck scores for all time in West Virginia. ''I told her I had the biggest deer I'd ever killed,'' Smith said. The timing couldnt have been better. Nevertheless, his record stands as the biggest typical whitetail in history. There are a lot of big deer pictures floating around the Internet these days. At SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. This buck was seen over the past several years on trail cameras, and Amanda and her family havehad a long history with the deer. Nick Gatlin recently hung his tag on a great Tennessee whitetail. Alexis Moore of Brockway, Pa., harvested this mature 8-point late last week. 10. During the lead up to the season, it seemed like everybody in the local community, along with a lot of outsiders, had become well aware of this particular buck. "I hunt with my two best friends at one of their family farms," Develle says. He killed 30 or 40 American black bears with only a knife, which he would use to stab the bears between the shoulder blades while they were distracted by his . His family owns several hundred acres scattered across the Northern Neck region, but one particular 30-acre plot has always been open to extended family and friends and is hunted often. UPDATED 8:55 A.M., MARCH 20, 2018 - Debi Elliott reports she has received an official antler score on the big buck she bagged with her crossbow in October near her Bedford County home. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. . 2 spot in Virginia's all-time records. When they ran into the picked cornfield, they spooked some does. Sears drew back, settled the pin and took the broadside shot. "Hunting with a trad bow is all about the satisfaction of the challenge," he says. A 430-pound buck is enormous, so even a bit short of that qualifies as a giant deer. As he usually does, he called his wife, Becky, and his 21-year-old daughter, Shelly, to tell them about his kill. This year, Develle finally crossed paths with it. Information regarding the animal's sex, date of kill, weapon . The original post dates back several years and states the buck weighed 430 pounds and was shot in Hartford, Michigan. Scott opted to hunt across the street from the property while Stephen made his way up the beaten tote road roughly a quarter of a mile to his stand. Don't miss a story! The whitetails rack seemed out of place in central West Virginia which made him easily distinguishable from other deer in the area. This is the second season that all deer were reported using the Departments electronic harvest reporting systems (telephone, online, and mobile app). The buck then lowered his head and moved to the only opening Wayne had for a shot. According to Masoner the main beams were right about 28 inches and other than a slight variation in the two G-2 antlers, the 10-point buck is almost perfectly symmetrical. Browning Ammunition has two big-game hunting loads new for 2023 that are effective on a wide range of species: the Max Point and Silver Series. The buck was supposedly killed around Chase City on October 30th on a large tract of land that borders the town limits where hunting is not allowed. In the last 10 years, 733,868 white-tailed bucks have been harvested in the Bluegrass State. The buck ran off into a thick patch of brush. biggest buck killed in virginiafrank sinatra concerts 1980s. The hunt was finally over. It was the biggest buck Masoner had ever killed and he even admitted it was the widest spread on a set of antlers hed ever seen on any deer with his own eyes. The check station at Fort Pickett was full of hustle and bustle on the morning of Nov. 14, 2017, as Joshua and Alvey Collins showed up for a day in the woods and some deer hunting. When this brute entered one of those lanes at 35 yards, Hayden drilled him. But, given the windy conditions, they debated whether a hunt was even worth the bother. The buck had a home range of about 40 acres, which he stuck to pretty tightly, and Rodes had him on camera regularly. "We watched two small bucks fighting. Virginia Hunting . I threw my arms up in the air and started screaming like I had won the lottery. The hunt started with several bucks walking through, ranging from in age from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old. "This buck means so much to me; it was the reward for perseverance and patience," Gatlin says. ELD-X Precision Hunter). Thats a Virginia deer? On Jan. 13, 2021, official scorers measured the buck at West Virginia Division of Natural Resources headquarters and . Eventually, the buck walked to within 15 yards. After running off trespassers who were fishing ponds they weren't supposed to, he settled into his hunting spot located next to the ponds, which were in a cattle field full of native grasses. The biggest wild American black bear ever recorded was a male from New . Over the next few weeks, Sutphin had one mission and that was to put an arrow into Willie Chappell. He wasn't disappointed. $36.20. At first, I thought it was a white barrel at the bottom of this hollow he was in. Joshua felt that his shot was a quality one, but with all the sudden action and the deer running out of sight into the thicket he couldnt be sure. He left his stand to help her with the field dressing and recovery, then returned to his spot. In mid-November, Alan Hunt encountered a buck in-person for the first time since previously only seeing him on a single trail-cam image in 2018. "We do everything together. Taken on land owned by Smith in Warren County, the buck scored 296 in the Western Regional Contest of the 1993 Virginia Big Game Trophy Show in Harrisonburg. Barrera ranged the buck at 27 yards, but a large truck then drove past, pushing the buck even closer, to within 15 yards. Then, at about 3:20 p.m., a double-drop-tine buck walked right down the same trail as the does had earlier in the afternoon. Darn sure is, and congrats to Wilson along with thanks to Cochran for his assistance. Every deer hunt is different, too. Last Thursday evening and Friday morning, the buck showed himself during daylight, so Rodes slipped in Friday evening, hung a stand and climbed in. Year after year Virginias deer hunters harvest some incredible whitetails that are the envy of sportsmen across the continent. The top Virginia buck in Boone and Crockett is a 38-point Buckingham County trophy killed in 1986 by James Shumaker of New Canton. Hunting in general is something that I think about every day. Estimated Weight On Hoof: 540-Lbs. Gray streaks in its hide reveal that the venerable deer was wise and defiant in life. Around 3:30 p.m. Joshua came upon a spot that had some well-worn deer crossings and he decided to sit for a while. The majority of these came from Maverick (28), La Salle (24), Webb (23), Dimmit (20) and Kleberg (11) counties. He'd be in the woods every day if could, but as it is, whenever he's able to get off work, he hunts. One that's recently caught our attention is this super wide buck from Virginia with a reported 32-inch inside spread. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Average Price Per Acre of Raw Land: $4,314 Brandon Butler. 759 talking about this. Franz Buck 261 7/8"https://youtu.be/mg7Z4juaGo2. The buck had his eyes set on a doe, and before long they began running around the opposite side of Stephens stand. Sheds from this great Virginia buck were found over the past three seasons within an 800-yard radius. "I double-lunged him," said Barrera. LaRue's Ethan Alexander talks about the Siete's features with Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Dustin Prievo. His spot was deep in a hollow flanked by steep hardwood ridges on each side. "He came out following a group of four or five does. The buck ran about 30 yards and crashed. The distance was a bit long for the dated Knight muzzleloader but Sutphin wasted no time. Ball arrived at the farm soon after daylight and spotted a buck chasing a doe in a river bottom. "Uncle Kevin told me he could see five deer out of his window," Adam says. The buck earned the name "Willie Chappell" after having shed his antlers in two areas on a 2,400-acre property owned by Sutphin's cousin known as "Willie's Woods . Baker said he has a lot of history with this buck, as it was a dominant and aggressive buck in the area for years. Just me, my thoughts, and the big man upstairs. Before long, a second doe arrived on the scene. Bucky Sargent of Logan, W.Va. with the buck estimated to be around 10 years old killed at the height of the 2022 rut. The does then turned their attention to the surrounding timber, and Edmonds got her first glance at the buck she had been after. He turned slowly to check it out and a doe was standing just feet from him. And this is how he got a chance at his trophy. This deer is one of the biggest that I have ever seen and one that could hold the record for a very long time! Deer Management in Virginia; 2007 Deer Facts; About Deer Antlers; Black Bears in Virginia; Wild Turkey Management; 2007 Turkey Facts; State Contest Winners. "With a dozen sits last year and not seeing any deer, I got discouraged and somewhat abandoned it. Unfortunately, he quickly realized he'd forgotten his call in the truck. They dont even mind the 2 hour drive from their hometown of Virginia Beach to Fort Pickett in Blackstone Virginia to do so. Brewster left Virginia at 3 a.m. for the annual . The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. While he was hoping to get a chance at the big buck, Masoner also knew there were a lot of potential pitfalls to getting there. Rudden gave the buck an hour before climbing down and finding it roughly 60 yards away. When the smoke cleared the legendary Halifax County buck lay motionless. I pulled out my phone, zoomed in as far as I could and couldn't believe my eyes. Brandon Butler. Marion, Iowa. The buck's antlers totaled 1964/8 inches on the Boone and Crockett Club's measuring system. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. Brandon Butler. It's a spot that holds good deer, but it's very difficult to hunt due to minimal shooting lanes. Early action consisted of two small bucks passing through the area. Peter Sutphin of Halifax County, Virginia, and a Virginia Tech graduate considers himself blessed to have harvested the biggest whitetail buck in the countys history. And those qualities endure, even in death. There are a lot of big deer pictures floating around the Internet these days. As Wayne's brothers headed to the rear of the property, Wayne made his way into his son's stand for the evening hunt. He was too far for a shot, so I let him work his way toward me. Haynie was born and raised in Richmond County, Virginia. It never showed itself during shooting hours and Haynie had all but given up on the buck because it hadnt been seen in a couple years. There have been a few bucks over the past few years out of Virginia with super wide racks, but none to our knowledge have surpassed the 30-inch mark. A 430-pound buck is enormous, so even a bit short of that qualifies as a giant deer. Joshua decided to stick it out. In essence, of the near three-quarters of a million . A local taxidermist green-scored Haynies buck at 183 3/8. The deer began to walk away and Wayne prayed for him to change directions. Published Nov 5, 2012 7:36 PM EST. Bow Hunting. Big Game Hunting. One thats recently caught our attention By Since Wade had a football tournament out of town, John enlisted his outdoor mentor, his uncle Kevin Krimm, to take Adam out for Ohio's youth firearms season. At this moment, the buck raised his head to check the wind and Wayne felt he was going to be busted. CVA PalmSaver Replacement Ram AC1700. The 12-point buck had a spread of about 32 inches. All Rights Reserved. Although there were certainly bigger bucks killed in other parts of the state, Masoner believed it was quite large for this part of West Virginia and unique. At the 22nd Big Game Awards Program in Dallas, Texas, the Boone and Crockett Club Judges' Panel declared Hanson's buck the new world's . The cornerstone of Virginia's deer management program is the big game harvest reporting system, which allows the Department to effectively monitor the annual deer kill on a county basis. He saw a nice 8-pointer in the morning that he'd hoped would show back up in the evening. Bucks have been doing some chasing, but not a ton with the warm weather. When Ball returned, the piebald deer was still in the same spot making a scrape. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. South Texas' ranches are known to grow some giants; still, this state just barely made the top 10 list for typical bucks. "I decided to leave my muzzleloader in the box stand because I had no intentions of shooting another deer," says Ball. Masoner also knew the buck was an interloper. The following morning, Rudden was on stand as day broke. Virginia whitetails set out to prove our state can produce giant whitetails join 80,000+ hunters The open area bordered a large block of timber, and he expected the deer to enter the field and pass through within range. He was kissing the deer. Give a Gift ", The buck was aged at 8 1/2 years old.Josh Honeycutt. Dustin Prievo. "It is more than just something to do," he continued. When he came in range, I made the shot." So, to have him now taking my children outdoors, it really means the world to me.". Then he started wobbling and going in a circle, and I knew I got him. "There are no sights, and I have to get in closer. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "The wind shifted, so l left. He reappeared a few moments later and continued toward Jackson. The bucks existence became known in the summer of 2014 by way of trail camera images. "Hunting is very different than fishing," Plunkett says. Smith might have to wait for a while for his trophy to officially take the top spot in the Long Hunter Society record books. Location: Calhoun County, S.C. "After I shot him, I went through old pictures and I definitely have photos of him from 2019," Gibson says. Then he pretty much disappeared until the 2021 firearms season, when Rodes gave him a pass. Then, around 8:10 a.m., Rudden noticed this buck coming across a creek, but thought it was a different deer he had been after. Jackson decided to give the deer some time, but as he walked back to his truck, he noticed a white object just off the trail. "As I was walking up a logging road, I noticed something white that caught my attention. We had both shot piebald bucks on the same night!" Josh Honeycutt. I have pictures of him from last year when I tried to get my wife a shot at him. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Another had trail cam images and several visual sightings of the deer but not on the property where it was finally killed. EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS. With about 15 minutes of legal light left, he saw the big buck milling on the field edge. I must have grunted at him 15 times before he finally committed. The buck sported a 25-inch inside spread and a 27-inch outside spread. Hornady's Seth Swerczek goes in depth about the new cartridge with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The buck was moving with his nose to the ground, oddly enough back-tracking the very same trail the doe had taken on her escape. It was cold and crisp, so he suspected it might be a good afternoon. The summer of 2017 was ending and still there were no pictures of Willie. Wayne says hes blessed to have been able to harvest such a beautiful animal but more blessed to share his time in the woods with his family and friends. He took a moment to say a prayer and count his blessings, with the warm feeling that his late grandpa was there to share the moment with him as well. Road kill along I-79 or U.S. Route 19 were the most prominent threats, but also illegal hunting from the roadway was also a concern. The buck dropped immediately as Haynie quickly reloaded and walked cautiously toward the buck, prepared to shoot again if need be. Which begs the question: Why arent more bird hunters using them? At 5:10, Barrera saw a big buck crossing the road, followed by an even bigger buck. The youth and apprentice deer-hunting weekend resulted in a harvest of 2,358 deer. Once he made it through the thick stuff, Edmonds grunted at him. Trapped eagle in Pocahontas County saved by a string of concerned individuals. The deer was shot on a property in Elk County that is managed by Baker, who is a Whitetail Properties Real Estate Agent/Land Specialist. After shooting four does, it was time for Develle to punch a buck tag. Georgia's Hunter Rotarius keeps a detailed inventory of the bucks on the property where he hunts. Date of Kill: Aug. 22, 2021. This is the heaviest whitetail deer ever killed. "We are very blessed to have family and friends who open their property up to these boys," Wallace says. There were 40 does in the field and he pinpointed one. During that same timeframe, only 418 bucks (typical and non-typical) have been entered into the Boone and Crockett records. The buck ran out of sight. Before long, they arrived and joined Jessica in tracking the buck. However, the buck was still moving so Rotarius put a second round into it just in case.
