| DEC Announces 2020-21 Deer Harvest Estimates Hunters in New York Harvested More than 253,000 Deer in 2020-21 . With a 31-inch spread, many who see this deer will claim it's the biggest deer they've ever seen. Ed Arkenau, his son, and their friend Cole had hundreds of trail camera photos of a particular buck in 2019, 2020, and 2021. (Photo by Chase Geary). Opening day of deer season 2021 didn't disappoint with reports of Bluegrass State bucks taken by bowhunters measuring 170-plus inches. Settles biological father, Terry, passed away earlier this year. I wasnt really getting many pictures of him, though, and my only good chance to kill this deer was during the rut, Kline says. Kentucky produces some fine bucks year after year. The buck ran a short distance and tipped over. Jacob, his brother and father pose proudly with Sasquatch. Hope that's not the case cause I would like to see some better pics of it. Dad told me to climb down and make sure he was dead. LaRue's Ethan Alexander talks about the Siete's features with Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Few people could really hunt him because of where he was unless he traveled around or went across the road, which he did.. Harvest Comparison by Month. Brian Butcher shot a deer with massive antlers, but he won't let that give him a big head. The raw score of the behemoth buck is 212 inches. This makes for heavy hunting pressure and many deer become nocturnal at an early age. Hes a union carpenter and lived a couple of miles from his current property. If we dont hear about it from the public, then we dont know that theres a case to be made, Gray explained. But nothing prepared Settle for the buck he started getting trail cam pictures of in July 2020 at one of his mineral plots. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Oklahoma's bow hunters have killed some big bucks already this young archery season, but perhaps the most impressive so far has been Johnny Maxwell's 28-point whitetail from Stephens County. We knew Sasquatch was big, but to have our hands on his rack was a completely different story. I've filmed a lot of deer hunts. On the third day, the buck didnt show at all. Its like living out a dream from when I was little.. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. I looked around a little bit and something caught my eye. 10 Amazing Photos of a Buck Shedding Velvet, How to Tag a Velvet Whitetail Buck (and the Best States to Make It Happen). Incredible 57-Point Whitetail Buck Shot in Kentucky - Field & Stream Womack's buck will certainly be close, but he'll have to wait another 59 days to get an official Boone & Crockett measurement. You must log in or register to reply here. I thought, Thats not a rack. Moments later, the deer he was after walked into the open and followed the same path as the first buck. It isnt every day you tag a giant 179-inch deer, and its even rarer to do so with traditional archery equipment. Learn more in the video above, with Remington's Joel Hodgdon and Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Whenever pictures of dead megabucks circulate social media, commenters are always quick to ask: Was it a high fence deer? It happened when Guner Womack killed one of the most perfectly symmetrical whitetails in Oklahomas history, and again when Jason Kline found the deadhead of one of the biggest non-typicals in Ohios history. They next day, it showed up in front of another treestand, but both the Deckards were sitting in the blind. "It was emotional because this was [my girlfriend's] uncle's old stand. Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Spin to Win: Panfish Secrets for Catching Limits on Spinners, Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Backyard Ready: Grilling the Perfect Steak, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection, Classic Marlin: 336 and 1894 Lever-Action Hunting Rifles, NWTF's Passion for Wild Turkey Conservation Still Burns After 50 Years, First Look: Leupold's BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binos, Browning's Max Point, Silver Series Rifle Ammunition, New Hunting Ammo from Remington: 360 Buckhammer, New from Browning: X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan, Hornady's Hot New 7mm PRC Cartridge: SHOT 2023, Hawke Optics' Frontier LRF Laser Range Finding Binoculars, New from LaRue Tactical: Siete Chassis Rifle. Ever since we started hunting Sasquatch, my dad would say, If we ever kill him, we are getting a picture in front of that sign.. Copyright 2019 WAFF. He didnt disappoint On November 4 at 6:40 p.m., Dustin Huff of Greensburg, Indiana, shot a caliber of whitetail that normally only occupies a hunter's dreams. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Everything in my body at that moment wanted to give up, he says. So, now that you have a brief history of LBL, here is the story of the buck we named Sasquatch.. Eventually, the buck he was hoping to see walked into the clearing, and Beach took the shot. My dad, Luke, family friend Jason Divita and I covered miles almost every day, and we found one of his sheds in late January. He is truly special. I was bringing him along for the ride. LBL is also home to a wide variety of recreational activities. It turned out the deer was on a steady evening routine.". It was so bad that my dad would take his sheds off the mantle and hide them if we had company. In the video above, Leopold's Shawn Skipper highlights the features of the exciting new optics with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Reed has owned the farm he hunts for eight years and has spent a lot of time developing it into what it is. I would only move when it got windy. He just sat there, admiring the deer and soaking in the conclusion of a multi-year hunt. All the congrats to the hunter on taking that buck, but from our record book standpoint, its not an eligible deer, Spring said in an interview with MeatEater. Updated: 8:51 PM EST November 17, 2021 DECATUR COUNTY, Ind. So, just from knowing the property, I thought that there would be one particular place where a big deer might go to die. The arrow struck true, and the deer ran for cover. I hunt a little patch amid the several hundred acres, Herman says. 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. Tennessee deer harvest was the largest in six years His desk-mate was a mounted warthog. 412-Pound Deer | Snopes.com An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky . We didnt want anyone to know about him. Word continued to spread, and once social media got ahold of the story it went viral. Josh Carter killed this massive non-typical buck in Logan County on Halloween 2021. A food plot and lots of edge habitat stretched out in front of them. The Latest on the Derek Settle Buck | Field & Stream Dad ran to me and we hugged and thanked God again for an unforgettable hunt that we got to experience together. I tried to post the video but it didn't work. It had 5-inch bases and carried between 5 inches and 4. I looked up at Dad to see what direction he was pointing, but I couldnt see anything with my eyes or with the scope. Its a thick, secluded creek bottom.. DAN KIBLER COLUMN: Biggest deer killed in 2021 ranks 4th largest in "I ventured away from deer hunting because of my passion for waterfowl hunting, but there's nothing like harvesting a buck with a bow. 10 Giant Bucks from the 2021-2022 Deer Season In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. Here are there stories of those giant bucks. 5 Common Deer Abnormalities Caught on Camera, Oklahoma Hunter Shoots Target Buck That's Locked Up with Another Giant, Potential Kentucky State Record Crossbow Typical Shot in Hemp Field, A Look Back at No. Congrats on the once-in-a-lifetime hunt, Blake. We loaded him up and took him to the Golden Pond check-in station. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Kline had never killed a deer that big. Illegal killing of trophy deer results in hunter's arrest - FOX19 Standard exercised patience, though, and waited for the giant to appear. Most of those acres are open hardwoods, with many hills, hollows and some crop fields scattered around. Almost anyone can hunt LBL, all you need is your statewide hunting license, tags and an LBL user permit. That's crazy! Moore got there about 5:45 p.m. in knee-high boots, basketball shorts and a camo top. On opening afternoon, the buck walked in front of Deckards fathers hunting blind, but he wasnt there to kill it. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. Photos: Is this 50-Point Buck the New World Record Whitetail? - MeatEater If the words Butcher Buck dont mean anything to you, its damn time they do. He would make a great first buck with my bow.". You know, I was getting excited. That isnt the area of Ohio thats best known for big deerthe southern third of the state is more often recognized as monster buck countrybut dont tell that to Kline who recently picked up Hermans 233 7/8-inch rack. About 300 yards away, in the corner of a soybean field south of me, the light shined on his rack right when I was looking that way. Tag already filled; Kline couldnt help but wonder what had happened to Herman. Kline hunts Sandusky County, Ohio, which is located in the northwestern region of the state. Strutter. Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Its a moment that will be very hard to top and a memory that will last a lifetime. This buck was killed yesterday in Richmond in front of Krogers. This summer, the buck used a consistent travel route, and Taylor quickly patterned the deer. One of the things Kentucky deer hunters look forward to is hunting velvet bucks. Published Jan 27, 2021 8:50 PM EST. I knew this would mean a lot to him. "I don't believe I will harvest another one this size," Kirkpatrick said. His broadhead zipped through the vitals, and the buck took off. Location: Calhoun County, S.C. Then, the buck started to turn. On September 15, Blake Keating killed a Kansas buck that would likely dethrone Luke Brewster's whitetail as the biggest in North American history. Hunting July 28, 2021 1 Five Underrated Areas for Kentucky Public Land Deer Hunting by John Stepp Pennyrile State Forest Size: 14,379 acres Location: Christian & Caldwell Counties Total Harvest 2020: 79 Bucks: 56 Does: 23 Terrain: Moderate to Hard; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges The property hunted wellreally well. Then, they spotted a trace of blood on the top of a beanstalk. 5 Biggest Whitetail Bucks Found (Not Killed) - Wide Open Spaces Back before the construction went full bore that is. When the buck walked through an opening, and the younger Deckard shotand missed. He is one of the biggest bucks ever taken out of LBL. Derek Settle solo hunted a monster buck that's sure to make the record books and is quite possibly the biggest buck ever taken in Kentuckya state that is known for its booners. Photo Gallery See all Photos Jamison Standard's Beanfield Behemoth He was looking over his back at me. I never told a soul about him. Hundreds of deer killed in Idaho due to incurable disease | Lexington After giving the deer plenty of time, the Arkenaus took up the blood trail, and found the buck. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area is about 20 minutes from our hometown of Benton, Kentucky. Neal Kirkpatrick started hunting deer at the age of 9 and credits his grandfather with getting him into the outdoors at such an early age. But almost immediately, skeptical hunters started asking what everyone was thinking: "Was it a high fence deer?" According to Keating, the 50-point buck was not killed inside of a high fence. We started receiving messages from people all over the country. It ran a ways and crashed into the soybeans. You are using an out of date browser. One of the best messages we received was from a local woman saying she may have found three of Sasquatchs sheds while squirrel hunting. Five Under-the-Radar Trophy Whitetail Counties Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. Published Sep 15, 2021 6:00 PM EDT. Hunting season started and we still received random pictures of him, but we never had an actual sighting. Harvest Results by Weapon. The area where his stand was hung served as a great staging area as deer moved out to feed. While checking one of the cameras, Dad saw a mature deer cross a saddle. He moved frequently during daylight, but they knew they didnt have all fall to make something happen. Then, the big deer came back out, now concealed by a bunch of weeds. I took my backpack off, got a drink of Coke, and just settled in. He was still in early velvet, but I could just tell he had a lot going on under all that fuzz., The deer returned to the mineral plot at different parts of the day for nearly six weeks. But to put something like that in our record books would skew the data.. Saskatchewan Hunter Finds Target Sheds After Looking for Multiple Days, Iowa Bowhunter Goes Stealth Mode with a Tree Saddle to Bag 194-inch Non-typical, Nebraska Shed Hunter's Wife and Dog Find 6x9 Set One Year After Learning About the Buck, Dr. How Many Whitetail Bucks Do Hunters Kill Across America. I have two children and I hope that in the future they will want to go hunting with me and be as passionate about it as I am. After lunch, he settled in and waited for deer to begin moving. Roughly 223,000 Colorado hunters harvested 39,000 elk in 2017, a 17% success rate. The buck ran about 50 yards and died in the brush. Miss a Deer? I debated. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Aug 20, 2007. in early November. He saw only two deer that evening: A 3-year-old buck traveling with the big 4.5-year-old he was hoping to see. Jason Kline has spent much of his life chasing whitetail deer. I just wanted to see what it was like in that stand a few hours before dark.". They waited a few hours before blood trailing and didn't find any blood or the arrow within the first 15 minutes of the search. The farmer/landowner doesnt let anybody deer hunt, but he allows me to go shed hunt, Kline says. "I had never taken a buck with my bow before and was strongly considering taking this shot. "All I did was get lucky," the Kansas bowhunter told The Topeka Capital-Journal this past week . I owe a lot of this to him., Read Next: Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. In fact, the closest game farm is nearly 10 miles away from where he arrowed the whitetail. That was, until the 2021 Kentucky deer quota hunt at LBL. We looked for his sheds and never found those either. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. We finally got a picture of him, and he blew up that year into a 180-inch 15-point. I found a stand I really liked, cleaned up the area around it and placed a camera two weeks before the hunt. I had an incredible year in 2021, from my dad and I taking trophy-class mule deer on a DIY public land hunt in Wyoming, to killing a buck of a lifetime near home. Gentry Roof first deer ever. Kline and other hunters hoped that the 2020 season would be the year. Having disappeared from cameras during the heart of hunting season, its possible that another hunter wounded Herman. He climbed down to look for blood and his arrow but couldnt find any sign that the buck had been hit. He did some landscaping for the woman who lived on the plot. "I stood up and watched him run about 150 yards, falling over just short of a ditch. "My heart started pounding," Reed said. Reed had in-person encounters with this giant deer in 2019 and 2020. Then, after a while, he saw the giant. The non-typical green scored 211 and was the largest buck by far taken by Maxwell in his 40-plus years of deer hunting. The morning started out peacefully, with a small buck feeding around. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. (Settle has a medical exemption to use a crossbow during archery season because of a herniated disk in his neck. Put in his scenario, we would have done the same thing. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. As proof of the effort's success, in 2020 two new records were set with the largest typical and non-typical archery bucks ever taken . While in the hospital, he learned about the temporary crossbow permit for injured and disabled hunters. Published Sep 15, 2021 12:23 PM EDT. EDITORS NOTE: When the photos of this deer were first sent to us by the hunter, Derek Settle, our immediate gut check was: This is a high-fence deer. Settle says the impressive whitetail has at least 57 scorable points and rough-scored it at 289 5/8 inches B&C. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. At our best estimate, Sasquatch was at least 8 1/2 but likely 9 1/2 years old (we are in the process of having him officially aged). There was a wild sapling pushed right up against the trees on the weed line. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. He even started hearing loud music. The illegal killing of a trophy deer in Northern Kentucky led to the arrest of a hunter, Kentucky officials said. By 2021, it had grown into a stud 4.5-year-old. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. During the five-year hunt for the buck, Jacobs father always said that they would take a picture in front of this sign if they killed Sasquatch. We would share trail camera pictures with each other and talk about the deer, Kline says. But on Sunday morning it was just me and Dad. That would be the only time Kline ever spotted the buck from the stand. Another field and drain stretched out behind him. I drive down the bypass all the time and me and my cousin once counted 10 in that grew up ditch at one time. He only wanted Sasquatch. 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. However, when Keating found a small hole in the bucks left ear, the illusion of this being a free-range deer started to disappear. Features quick-change barrel system. When he stood up, he had nothing but his rump facing me. He decided it was worth checking out and that he still had plenty of time for a stalk. We spent a lot of time out in the woods together growing up. He shared the good news with them, and then met them at his house nearby. I initially didnt believe it, but she sent me a picture and sure enough they were his. Jason Kline has spent much of his life chasing whitetail deer. In January we got one picture of him, nearly two miles from where wed found his previous years sheds. Hes killed his fair share of good ones, but theres only ever been one Herman, which is the monster buck he focused on for the past five seasons. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for 20 years or more. Right after he got into the blind, he saw something that stirred [his] curiosity., I was getting situated, he says. Huge buck killed in town | Kentucky Hunting To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Mississippi hunter takes massive 170-inch buck on public land An intensive, four-year pursuit of an elusive buck dubbed "Sasquatch" at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) ended in celebratory tears, hugs, and shared joy between father and son. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. 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. Its unclear when the buck escaped, but Keating started getting pictures of it on September 11. However, his obsession and hard work were ultimately what put us on Sasquatch. It was kind of dumb for a deer this big, but people would see him every day, either morning or evening.. The carcass was picked over by scavengers so there was no way to tell what had actually killed the buck. This deer is big, he carries a big, non-typical frame. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. From seeing him to when I shot him it was a three-minute thrill ride, Huff told MeatEater. "My dad raised me to love deer and turkey hunting," Reed said. Though Settle didnt post the buck on social media, he immediately sent the photos of his trophy to his stepdad. I've seen some biggins in the middle of Frankfort. 1:07. Word got out fast, and we had people calling and wanting to come see the deer. Standard took a deep breath, drew his bow and took the 40-yard shot, hitting the buck square in the vitals. I stopped a bunch to try to check him out and calm myself down. So, on opening weekend, he moved in and hunted along a promising ridge line. "I had never had a deer quite this size before on the farm.". The afternoon started off slow, with very little deer movement. Shortly after, some young bucks walked through. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. "I still can't believe that I was blessed enough to harvest this mature buck," Reed continued. Eventually he found waterfowl hunting, which has consumed his time in recent years, but he finds his way back to the deer woods every season. Nice to see other people from Richmond. By mid-October, he was gone. The big velvet buck ran a few steps, tangled its antlers in a tree, and collapsed. Right after Deckard settled in, he spotted the buck in the corn running away from his fathers blind and down into a ravine. The bulk of Hermans core area was located on a large tract of land owned by a farmer who doesnt allow hunting. Moments later, Clark squeezed the trigger on his 7mm Magnum rifle, and the biggest buck taken in North Carolina during the 2021-22 season was on the ground. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Carnine). Story is that someone cut it;s head off and left before the F&W guys arrived. People in Limestone County noticed, and so did law enforcement. DEC Announces 2020-21 Deer Harvest Estimates Afterward, Reed's father and brother-in-law helped him recover the buck and get it out of the field. Then, after seven or eight bucks walked through, he spotted giant antlers moving through the timber. All Rights Reserved. Then he started pulling those long legs out from under him to stand up. Browning's Rafę Nielsen shares details on the new X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan hunting rifle with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. LBL Trophy Buck is the Hunt of a Lifetime for Father and Son Five Underrated Areas for Kentucky Public Land Deer Hunting CWP collects hunters' voluntary harvest reports, and estimated 84,000 hunters killed 38,000 deer. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. ( Photo: Fort Campbell Fish and Wildlife) The whitetail had a three-point right side, the size of which wasnt anything special. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. I heard the same story as you. I just couldnt get a good shot at him, and to be perfectly honest, he was standing right on the property line. All thanks to the good Lord above.". LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - In November, a Limestone County man illegally killed a 25-point deer on private property. Keith Srakocic AP. "The sun was starting to sink but there was still plenty of daylight left.". I immediately facetimed my girlfriend, who was at home with my mom and Luke, to tell them we just killed Sasquatch. I could tell that a lot of deer were running through here, he says, noting that the neighbors also allow him to hunt their adjoining land. I just kind of put him in the back of my mind. But he never got the chance. Record-Class Fort Campbell Buck Killed by Vehicle - Deer And Deer Hunting It takes an equal mixture of intelligence and luck for a buck to reach that age, especially on public land. He climbed down and walked over to the downed deer. We ended the season with very few pictures, still none in daylight, and no sight of him while hunting. Casey Reed had photos of one particular buck on his farm from the past three seasons, and this year he hoped to tag the 5 -year-old giant. "Deer hunting means the world to me. Hunter charged after lying about killing deer, officials say Dustin Huff found one, hitting a record-setting buck with his crossbow. All the while, a 162-inch deer showed up on a different farm. This fall, Lacefield knew hed have to target and tag the buck quicklyhe was running out of chances. Here are a handful of the best velvet bucks to come out of Kentuckys 2021 bowseason. We are investigating this story and will continue to publish updates as we learn more. "When walking to my stand, I crossed through the soybeans to avoid the edge of the woods where they may have been bedded or would cross my path coming out of the woods," Standard said. Conservation law enforcement officer Sgt. Records of North American Whitetail Deer is available for $60 on the Boone and Crockett Club's website; B&C Associates receive a 20% discount. I want that to be a rack but must be brush or a pile of sticks, or something., Settle got out his Bushnell Powerview 7-1525 binoculars for a better look.