Skis are easily the most efficient way to cover snowy ground on foot in winter. Fast forward to January. Deer began moving and, later in the day, movement really began to pick up. I was bringing him along for the ride. ELD-X Precision Hunter). Score: 211 inches (unofficial gross score), "This was the first year I had access to this farm," he said. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) is reporting an unusual harvest of large whitetail bucks as this season came to a close Feb. 10, with some true giants showing up on social media and. Date of Kill: Aug. 22, 2021. I think Herman was already dead by the time I killed mine.. He did some landscaping for the woman who lived on the plot. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. 193-inch Kentucky Public Land Giant Falls After Five Years: - North Fortunately for Kirkpatrick, a cold front had recently passed through, spurring deer movement. (Settle has a medical exemption to use a crossbow during archery season because of a herniated disk in his neck. I came in on his left rear flank.. Kline hunts Sandusky County, Ohio, which is located in the northwestern region of the state. I rarely hunt with a firearm.". Settle steadied the bow. The illegal killing of a trophy deer in Northern Kentucky led to the arrest of a hunter, Kentucky officials said. Anything raised for the purpose of shooting is not eligible by our standards, and this buck would fall under that category. It was amazing to have this experience with my family; it was a day I will never forget. While checking one of the cameras, Dad saw a mature deer cross a saddle. Mel's Perfect 66 Illinois deer scored 204 inches. 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. 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. I just kind of put him in the back of my mind. He just sat there, admiring the deer and soaking in the conclusion of a multi-year hunt. Settles biological father, Terry, passed away earlier this year. It started with a friend of ours getting one trail camera picture of him in December 2017. "My heart started pounding," Reed said. The arrow struck true, and the deer ran for cover. Clark's huge buck carried 23. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The deer started out as a main-frame 8-pointer, but sported a shiny sticker, too. His rack was just the icing on the cakeitll never happen again to me.. "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. Five Under-the-Radar Trophy Whitetail Counties The 360 Buckhammer cartridge is designed for lever-action rifles and will be available in two Remington Core-Lokt loads. There are some giants out there especially the 300" deer at the end of this video. I kind of got out of it for a while because I went to college and lived in the city, but I made it back out into the country and got back into it. My dad and Jason talked daily about Sasquatch, diving into different topo maps, aerial views and theories of what the deer might do next. You must log in or register to reply here. On opening afternoon, the buck walked in front of Deckards fathers hunting blind, but he wasnt there to kill it. According to Keating, the 50-point buck was not killed inside of a high fence. Kentucky Giant Buck, 226 Inches! - Big Deer 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. Robert Koch, 58, faces multiple charges after he was accused of lying about. Harvest Comparison by Month. I was thinking, Do I keep hunting this giant? Kline says. This makes for heavy hunting pressure and many deer become nocturnal at an early age. Nathan Taylor started getting trail camera photos of a nice typical in 2019. Moore got there about 5:45 p.m. in knee-high boots, basketball shorts and a camo top. After several tense minutes, he finally offered a broadside, 30-yard shot opportunity. After several weeks of scouting, hunting and running cameras, we finally got a picture of him about a mile and a half from his summer location. I looked up at Dad and with tears in our eyes we went crazy, and we said a prayer thanking God for this opportunity. There was a wild sapling pushed right up against the trees on the weed line. On the third day, the buck didnt show at all. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. All Rights Reserved. Imagine hunting a buck for four years without ever seeing him in person. Access. Score: 155 inches. He especially didnt expect it to happen during his first year on a new farm. 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. Much to his surprise, the deer returned this summer. Dad always says, Hunt harder, go deeper, stay longer and when you want to quit, youre almost there. LBL does offer a three-day rifle quota hunt in November that you must apply for and draw a permit. We also figured out if he saw or smelled your trail camera, he wouldnt use that area again. "I was doing everything I could on short notice with food plots, cameras and cleaning up stands," Kirkpatrick said. By mid-October he was gone again, so we started scouting the area with cameras trying to find him. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. Give a Gift All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This winter, he found the bucks rack, By "I was very excited about opening day," Standard said. Within 10 seconds we saw Sasquatch running wide open in our direction. 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. He even started hearing loud music. Having disappeared from cameras during the heart of hunting season, its possible that another hunter wounded Herman. At 200+ inches, Huffman's deer becomes the new Kentucky state record for typical bucks taken with a crossbow. I debated. A creek rippled along behind the blind. His story started several years ago, when a big 9-pointer graced his trail cameras. Sasquatch officially has 15 scorable points that make his gross score 193 0/8 inches. He would make a great first buck with my bow.". Everything in my body at that moment wanted to give up, he says. Kline had never killed a deer that big. Sage Marshall Hoping to hunt the buck on the opener, he decided to set his stand on the edge of some woods that sat high on a little knob. Subscriber Services. LBL is also home to a wide variety of recreational activities. Last year, during gun season, I had him in gun range at about 80 yards. Settle, 41, grew up in the Bluegrass State and is a long-time local of Henderson County. Put in his scenario, we would have done the same thing. He left everything in the blind except for his crossbow, a brand-new Raven R26, and one arrow. Here are there stories of those giant bucks. We are still blown away that we killed Sasquatch. In the beginning, the deer was mostly typical, but that changed with time. Kentucky Big Bucks. Before we interviewed Settle, we confirmed with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife that the buck had been checked in as being killed and tagged in Kentucky on telecheck. 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. Still, he and others regularly glassed the giant out in the open on the big farm that wouldnt allow hunting . I turned to Dad and threw my hands in the air, and I promise you have never seen a man climb out of a tree faster than Dad did that day. Upon walking up on the deer, Standard raised the buck's head from the soybeans and immediately realized how big it was. With shaky hands, Standard called his father and asked for help recovering the buck. 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. Updated: 8:51 PM EST November 17, 2021 DECATUR COUNTY, Ind. All the while, a 162-inch deer showed up on a different farm. Features quick-change barrel system. I felt like my dad was with me like an angel on my shoulder, he says. It may not display this or other websites correctly. After giving the deer plenty of time, the Arkenaus took up the blood trail, and found the buck. The Latest on the Derek Settle Buck | Field & Stream 0:05. Nice to see other people from Richmond. People in Limestone County noticed, and so did law enforcement. Then, the buck started to turn. State-by-State Hunting Data | Archery Trade Association He eased toward a stand on top of a ridge that tapers down to a soybean field. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. | 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. My dad has been hunting, fishing and camping there for over 30 years, and my brother and I have joined him all our lives. He taught me all the rights and wrongs, dos and donts, and how to be safe in the field, Settle says. No one would believe me anyway. I felt the dread of thinking its never going to work out again. I heard the same story as you. The whole crew was there to celebrate their collective accomplishment, and one that was years in the making. This page has. The massive deer laid dead only 50 yards from the property line. Almost anyone can hunt LBL, all you need is your statewide hunting license, tags and an LBL user permit. Occasionally, the buck traveled through the 7-acre property. He was real broken up last year, but we knew if he could make it through the winter that he would be something special. Jacob, his brother and father pose proudly with Sasquatch. By mid-October, he was gone. That started the process, and they followed the trail for about 150 yards before recovering the buck. This year, on opening day, Reed got the southwest wind he needed and decided to hunt a hilly ridgetop. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Five Underrated Areas for Kentucky Public Land Deer Hunting While in the hospital, he learned about the temporary crossbow permit for injured and disabled hunters. 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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.. I looked around a little bit and something caught my eye. I never showed the trail cam pictures to anybody I knew what he was., Settle recently set up an elevated ground blind on the corner of his property closest to his house. 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. The property hunted wellreally well. I drive down the bypass all the time and me and my cousin once counted 10 in that grew up ditch at one time. So, on opening weekend, he moved in and hunted along a promising ridge line. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. During the summer of 2019 we started getting pictures of him, but we never received pictures in the daylight. We had one camera left, so we decided to put it up by the scrape. 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. The next morning Dad called me broken-hearted; he found the deer, but it wasnt Sasquatch. This Might Be the New World Record Whitetail - MeatEater Then he retrieved his gear from the blind returned home to pick up his 16- and 18-year-old boys, who Settle calls his little tracking dogs. They went back to look for the buck. It was kind of dumb for a deer this big, but people would see him every day, either morning or evening.. Although the story didnt end the way Kline had hoped, at least he found closure, and the 233 7/8-inch rack to remember the buck and all the seasons spent chasing it. The whitetail had a three-point right side, the size of which wasnt anything special. But the left side boasted an Social media is abuzz this morning as deer hunters fawn over what might be the new world record whitetail. Fortunately, Kline has permission to hunt a 7-acre parcel that borders the sanctuary. The NWTF is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. So, with Herman missing in action for numerous days, Kline transitioned his attention the other buck. A cold front passed through, and Taylor expected deer to be on their feet. Harvest Comparison by Year. Settle was able to get an official SCI Green Score on the incredible buck, which came in at a whopping 311 2/8 inches. What is the biggest deer killed in Kentucky? After finding the buck, a game warden arrived to check everything out. Whether you hunt or not, you take notice of an animal like that, Lindsey continued. Hunter charged after lying about killing deer, officials say Joe Lacefield accomplished both simultaneously. The buck had a huge body, and we guessed him to be 4 or 5 years old. Kentucky hunter Daniel Deckard didnt expect to start his deer season with an injury, but thats exactly what happened. We knew Sasquatch was big, but to have our hands on his rack was a completely different story. He had a slow hunt, though, only seeing three does and one small buck. 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. Even if he can't reach the Hanson or Johnson buck, Womack will likely beat the current Oklahoma typical record of 194 inches. Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Later that night, Lacefield recovered the deerhis biggest ever. KENTON CO., Ky. (FOX19) - An illegal killing of a trophy deer in early November has led to a hunter's arrest for wildlife-related charges and drug charges. | On September 15, Blake Keating killed a Kansas buck that would likely dethrone Luke Brewsters whitetail as the biggest in North American history. A photo of a dead deer prompted an . Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. Word got out fast, and we had people calling and wanting to come see the deer. Womack's buck will certainly be close, but he'll have to wait another 59 days to get an official Boone & Crockett measurement. While Deckard had hoped his father would be the one to kill the big velvet buck, they were both just glad a Deckard had tagged him. He hung around on the side near camp catalpa last year. Available in 180- and 200-grain sizes. We loaded him up and took him to the Golden Pond check-in station. It was on Sept. 4 when Jamison Standard and Casey Reed tagged two of the biggest deer from opening day. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. 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. "I had never had a deer quite this size before on the farm.". He drew back, anchored, settled the pin and took the 42-yard shot. By 2021, it had grown into a stud 4.5-year-old. Eventually, the buck he was hoping to see walked into the clearing, and Beach took the shot. The window is short, usually lasting only five to 10 days, but those who work hard to pattern deer during the pre-season have a great chance of tagging a good buck. Buy License; Hunt; Wildlife; Fish; Boat; Education; Law . Weather Service confirms tornado with two tracks in Jackson County, Huntsville Utilities employee hurt while repairing power lines, Limestone Co. Sheriffs Office searching for car thief, One person hospitalized Saturday in Huntsville crash, One injured in Huntsville shooting Friday evening. It truly felt like I was supposed to be in that stand.". Both bucks were 100% free-range, but the answer is a bit more complicated for this next whitetail. Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. Kline hoped for the best, but expected the worst. I couldn't control myself.". As of March 1, 289 deer and three elk had been killed from the . 6 of the Biggest Kentucky Velvet Bucks from This Fall 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. Around 6:15 p.m., a small, 6-point buck walk through behind them. The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. The big velvet buck ran a few steps, tangled its antlers in a tree, and collapsed. (High fence deer in Kentucky do not have to be checked in.) Dustin Finley tells me his dad, Larry, killed this deer in Pendleton Co, KY on 11-11-12; they measured him at 226 7/8. Opening day of deer season 2021 didn't disappoint with reports of Bluegrass State bucks taken by bowhunters measuring 170-plus inches. Of course, since the deer was so visible, everyone in the area knew of him and wanted a crack at the giant. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. Published Sep 15, 2021 12:23 PM EDT. We ended the season with very few pictures, still none in daylight, and no sight of him while hunting. Right after Deckard settled in, he spotted the buck in the corn running away from his fathers blind and down into a ravine. It isnt every day you tag a giant 179-inch deer, and its even rarer to do so with traditional archery equipment. It was a wise decision, because soon he noticed deer started moving. When he stood up, he had nothing but his rump facing me. But on Sunday morning it was just me and Dad. Stephen Tucker killed the deer in Sumner County, TN. Just $1 per month , Jason Kline spent years chasing a giant non-typical buck he had named Herman. When a deer of this magnitude is killed, especially when I immediately have calls coming to be conflict, the red flags do go up and we do investigate when big deer are killed, senior conservation law enforcement officer Joe Lindsey said. Of the elk harvested, 21,000 were bulls. Knowing that Kline had actively hunted this deer for years, the landowner was nice enough to let him keep the rack. JavaScript is disabled. They use the clearing to get back and forth between the ag-fields and the hardwoods., Settle got to work setting up mineral and food plots and installing several permanent stands. His treestand was positioned on the ridge, with bedding cover at the end of the point. Below, you can see the total number of deer harvested by county and by weapon, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife's numbers. Lacefield slowly drew back. AL man illegally kills record-setting buck - WAFF He quickly recognized the big typical, and watched as it walked all the way to within 15 yards. I didn't have high expectations for the hunt. But once in the area, he found the buck within minutes. LaRue's Ethan Alexander talks about the Siete's features with Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Subscriber Services. We told them to grab all his sheds off the mantle and meet us in LBL to drag him out. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 8,446. But he never got the chance. When bow season rolled around, we seldom got pictures of Sasquatch; and when we did, they were never during daylight. When I saw him on the ground, Ive never really acted like that in my adult life, says Settle. This buck was killed yesterday in Richmond in front of Krogers. Closer to dark, more does entered the field, then the big 150-inch buck the giant was with the day before stepped out. He only wanted Sasquatch. Marlin is back in the game with the re-introduction of the classic 336 and 1894 lever-action hunting rifles. My stand was in the top of a tall cedar tree with a good view of the soybean field.". I worked nearly six years at Mossy Oak Productions filming hunts all over the country. The afternoon before the opener, he glassed a large soybean field and spotted the giant, plus a 150-inch buck and others, as they walked out into the open. However, his obsession and hard work were ultimately what put us on Sasquatch. He had a few stands throughout the farm. Published Sep 15, 2021 6:00 PM EDT. We looked for his sheds and never found those either. The velvet was a little damaged from the branches, but Beach didnt much care. | An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky . To have a deer that big in gun range, and not be able to shoot? He had never seen an animal quite like this one beforeand neither had the rest of the world. 3,757 likes. Several oaks were already dropping acorns, and there was heavy deer sign.