My dad and Jason talked daily about Sasquatch, diving into different topo maps, aerial views and theories of what the deer might do next. I had no shot whatsoever.. Ken Vitale with Buck Knives chats with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller about two new hunting knives for 2023the purpose-built Alpha and PakLite series. Eventually, the buck he was hoping to see walked into the clearing, and Beach took the shot. So, now that you have a brief history of LBL, here is the story of the buck we named Sasquatch.. 10 Giant Bucks from the 2021-2022 Deer Season 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. The deer frequented a food plot theyd planted specifically for him, and his movements became very predictable. I hadnt really realized what Id done because the hunt was so intense. We began looking for sheds daily again, grid searching the 3000-plus acres. Im sad that he died and wasnt killed by someone, but I am glad to have him., Read Next: An Elevated Shed Hunting Experience. | Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. He was an impressive 160-inch 12-pointer. To be so close, and to not be able to pull the trigger, that was difficult to deal with.. Officers say a deer this big sends red flags flying. 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. But to put something like that in our record books would skew the data.. His window was narrow, too: Shortly after shedding its velvet, the buck always departed Lacefields hunting grounds. Then, after seven or eight bucks walked through, he spotted giant antlers moving through the timber. We hunted the area every chance we could, trying not to bump him. The carcass was picked over by scavengers so there was no way to tell what had actually killed the buck. Tennessee deer harvest was the largest in six years The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. The next time he looked over his shoulder, he spotted the big deer walking toward him. Then when a game farm reached out and said the antlers looked familiar, Keating knew the whitetail was an escapee. Post anything thread - piss n on lefties version. He moved frequently during daylight, but they knew they didnt have all fall to make something happen. "I was doing everything I could on short notice with food plots, cameras and cleaning up stands," Kirkpatrick said. Kirkpatrick immediately called his friends: Chase Geary, who shot a 167 4/8-inch deer earlier in the season; Nick Huff, who's shot plenty of mature deer; and Jake Peveler, someone who knew the land well. I just kind of put him in the back of my mind. We know he traveled further than that, but he spent most of his time in this area. I just couldnt get a good shot at him, and to be perfectly honest, he was standing right on the property line. According to Justin Spring, director of big game records for Boone and Crockett, the answer is simple. Whitt. The raw score of the behemoth buck is 212 inches. They state this deer garners more attention than any buck on the premise because it almost looks too big to believe. Wish someone had some better pics. Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is a 170,000-acre peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with 110,000 of those acres being in Kentucky. The internet celebrity, who is a member of Officials say that increasing the moose harvest is Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. He knew it was a big buck, but he wasnt certain that it was Sasquatch. He was a disabled veteran who served the country in the Army and was commended by Kentucky Senator Robert Mills for making many lasting contributions to his friends, family, community, and nation before his passing on March 25, 2021. Terry was never able to join Settle in the field when he was alive because of his disability. We ended the season with very few pictures, still none in daylight, and no sight of him while hunting. Features quick-change barrel system. Then, around 7 a.m., the big deer walked out, and Ed took the 25-yard shot. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. 8,446. Its unclear when the buck escaped, but Keating started getting pictures of it on September 11. I was able to get a perfect shot within a few seconds.". I've filmed a lot of deer hunts. After graduating from college, he worked as a freelance journalist for two years before returning to the F&S team full-time in 2021 as the brands News Editor. I couldn't control myself.". The velvet buck is his best archery buck to date, and one he wont soon forget. As of March 1, 289 deer and three elk had been killed from the . Subscriber Services. Bowhunting is just one of those things that I used to love when I was growing up, Settle adds. 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. 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. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Huff made a 40-yard shot with a Stryker crossbow in an area hes hunted since he was 12 years old. All Rights Reserved. At SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. 6 of the Biggest Kentucky Velvet Bucks from This Fall 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. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Five Underrated Areas for Kentucky Public Land Deer Hunting Copyright 2019 WAFF. Some were saying 230 or 240 pts. Then, the buck started to turn. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. The Land of Giants: Where the Biggest Bucks Were Killed in the Last Just $1 per month , Jason Kline spent years chasing a giant non-typical buck he had named Herman. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. A couple friends helped Taylor recover the deer. Score: 155 inches. Settle steadied the bow. Around 6:15 p.m., a small, 6-point buck walk through behind them. Kansas-shot buck has the second-largest antler size of any hunter-taken Published Sep 15, 2021 6:00 PM EDT. I stopped a bunch to try to check him out and calm myself down. CNN . The fence is broken down right there, and I couldnt see it from where I was.. His second shot struck true. Beach was ecstatic. Lance Hill's South Carolina Stud. In October, the stud disappeared. I looked around a little bit and something caught my eye. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. I immediately facetimed my girlfriend, who was at home with my mom and Luke, to tell them we just killed Sasquatch. We found one of his sheds in late January and looked for the other side all spring with no luck. Date of Kill: Aug. 22, 2021. He has double drops that are huge. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. One of the things Kentucky deer hunters look forward to is hunting velvet bucks. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Year of the big deer in Alabama - al.com | in early November. I debated. Logan Beach arrowed this 162-inch giant in Logan County, Kentucky. Check out these 10 monster bucks that were taken throughout the country. State-by-State Hunting Data | Archery Trade Association Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. By mid-October he was gone again, so we started scouting the area with cameras trying to find him. Marlin is back in the game with the re-introduction of the classic 336 and 1894 lever-action hunting rifles. I took my backpack off, got a drink of Coke, and just settled in. The deer jumped, and then walked back into cover. Id never seen anything like him before. Find Your Arrows and Broadhead. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. At 200+ inches, Huffman's deer becomes the new Kentucky state record for typical bucks taken with a crossbow. Dad ran to me and we hugged and thanked God again for an unforgettable hunt that we got to experience together. Boone and Crockett's Top Whitetail States At that point, he could tell it was a good deer. It started with a friend of ours getting one trail camera picture of him in December 2017. 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. We continued looking for the other side but never found it. Its a thick, secluded creek bottom.. Deciding on a particular area, he settled into the stand on a 50-acre soybean field surrounded by woods, with a food plot located between the crops and timber. We got there well before daylight to keep from spooking any deer. While in the hospital, he learned about the temporary crossbow permit for injured and disabled hunters. Having disappeared from cameras during the heart of hunting season, its possible that another hunter wounded Herman. Fortunately for Kirkpatrick, a cold front had recently passed through, spurring deer movement. Gov. Then, the big deer came back out, now concealed by a bunch of weeds. I worked nearly six years at Mossy Oak Productions filming hunts all over the country. 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. Lacefield slowly drew back. When I saw him on the ground, Ive never really acted like that in my adult life, says Settle. When bow season rolled around, we seldom got pictures of Sasquatch; and when we did, they were never during daylight. How many deer were killed in Kentucky 2019? 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. The buck was bedded down. To have the opportunity to take a buck like this is a dream come true.". Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The whitetail had a three-point right side, the size of which wasnt anything special. This deer is big, he carries a big, non-typical frame. It stretched the tape to 179 inches. Biggest bucks Ive ever seen were in the middle of Louisville. This page has. This was a great accomplishment considering how many other people hunt sheds in LBL. Here are a handful of the best velvet bucks to come out of Kentuckys 2021 bowseason. LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - In November, a Limestone County man illegally killed a 25-point deer on private property. He shared the good news with them, and then met them at his house nearby. Harvest Comparison by Year. "It came out into the soybeans broadside at 20 yards right in front of me," Standard said. Huge buck killed in town | Kentucky Hunting He is truly special. 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 . The next morning, Sept. 4, brought cool weather and light southerly winds. Incredible 57-Point Whitetail Buck Shot in Kentucky - Field & Stream He says it was one of the most intense moments of his life. A photo of a dead deer prompted an . Sage Marshall Thinking his hunt was over, he started to climb down, then decided against it. Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck All Rights Reserved. He climbed down to look for blood and his arrow but couldnt find any sign that the buck had been hit. He turned his head in my direction and turned it back straight. Another field and drain stretched out behind him. About an hour later a small buck chased a doe from the same direction Dad had seen Sasquatch. Imagine hunting a buck for four years without ever seeing him in person. This page is designed to showcase bucks from the Bluegrass State. 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. Deer hunting in Tennessee started strong during the summer and finished strong in January with the harvest almost 20% larger than the previous season. Buy License; Hunt; Wildlife; Fish; Boat; Education; Law . He eased toward a stand on top of a ridge that tapers down to a soybean field. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Its a natural corridor. Derek Settle solo hunted a monster buck thats sure to make the record books and is quite possibly the biggest buck ever taken in Kentuckya state that is known for its booners. A week later we went back to check the cameras and there he was: Sasquatch in daylight. Read Next: Shed Hunting: Secrets of the Shed Masters. Though Settle didnt post the buck on social media, he immediately sent the photos of his trophy to his stepdad. He was a pretty regular deer coming in the evenings ever since, Keating said. LBL is also home to a wide variety of recreational activities. Everything in my body at that moment wanted to give up, he says. 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. 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. 10 Amazing Photos of a Buck Shedding Velvet, How to Tag a Velvet Whitetail Buck (and the Best States to Make It Happen). He just disappeared, Settle says. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Hope that's not the case cause I would like to see some better pics of it. I was going really slowly. Word got out fast, and we had people calling and wanting to come see the deer. That summer, Dad ordered a topo map of Sasquatchs core area, which was about 3,000 acres. Huff is just fine with the slow pace of life in the country. But nothing prepared Settle for the buck he started getting trail cam pictures of in July 2020 at one of his mineral plots. 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. Kentucky hunter Daniel Deckard didnt expect to start his deer season with an injury, but thats exactly what happened. 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. More than 300,000 Hoosiers are sitting in their deer stands, looking for their dream buck this hunting season. Weve had him on camera for several years and watched him grow up, Womack said. I owe a lot of this to him., Read Next: Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. Photo Gallery | KDFWR - Kentucky 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. We even had a friend drive three hours to come see Sasquatch in person. Hope everyone gets to. His story started several years ago, when a big 9-pointer graced his trail cameras. 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. Five Under-the-Radar Trophy Whitetail Counties Harvest Results by Region. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. However, after now reading Facebook comments and seeing photos of his deer that were posted on the page of an Indiana deer preserve, one thing is clear: Someone is not telling the truth. So, with Herman missing in action for numerous days, Kline transitioned his attention the other buck. That's crazy! 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. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. DAN KIBLER COLUMN: Biggest deer killed in 2021 ranks 4th largest in Hes a union carpenter and lived a couple of miles from his current property. 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. We looked for his sheds and never found those either. Needless to say, LBL is not for the faint of heart. 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. Womack's buck will certainly be close, but he'll have to wait another 59 days to get an official Boone & Crockett measurement. During the summer of 2021, we had several pictures of Sasquatch, and he was still impressive. ELD Match, and 175 gr. This year, while Saturday's number of 20,263 was lower, hunters made up for that on Sunday with 12,126 deer harvested, for a total of 32,389. I made a little compilation of some big Ohio brutes. 0:05. The morning started out peacefully, with a small buck feeding around. "I had never taken a buck with my bow before and was strongly considering taking this shot. Hes so much bigger in person. Aug 20, 2007. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky . Hiking, biking, fishing and small game hunting are all very popular. Fast forward to January. Then, after a while, he saw the giant. 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. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. It stretched the tape to 179 inches. The hunt started off slowly, and Kirkpatrick didn't see a deer for the first several hours on stand. However, that isnt always the case. 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. East ky. Strutter said: This buck was killed yesterday in Richmond in front of Krogers. I hate to see a great one taken out by a car. City deer are a different breed. Conservation law enforcement officer Sgt. It turned out the deer was on a steady evening routine.". Indiana songwriter bags record-setting buck in Decatur County - WTHR By summer 2020, we had several more pictures of him, and Sasquatch continued to grow. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. It ran a ways and crashed into the soybeans. Look below you," Moore told him. The buck slowly walked into bow range. Gentry Roof first deer ever. In January we got one picture of him, nearly two miles from where wed found his previous years sheds. "You must take the time to do all the preseason scouting," Reed said. We finally got a picture of him, and he blew up that year into a 180-inch 15-point. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Read Next: 10 Amazing Photos of a Buck Shedding Velvet. We hunted and ran cameras all fall and never saw him. He grew again and was a 200-incher with some serious mass. The velvet was a little damaged from the branches, but Beach didnt much care. 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. Back before the construction went full bore that is. 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. Oklahoma hunter kills possible state record deer in Logan County Were not opposed to that hunter shooting that deerwed actually encourage hunters to remove the buck in those situations. Kline hoped for the best, but expected the worst. Legendary Whitetails has it on display. When the buck reached 35 yards, Mattingly released his arrow. A creek rippled along behind the blind. June 28th, 2013 | Big Deer Stories, BigDeer | 2 Comments 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. Your honesty about the situation is more impressive than this genetic freak's antlers. He quickly recognized the big typical, and watched as it walked all the way to within 15 yards. That's the second big deer killed in that area, we're they are doing construction across from kroger,. Ed Arkenau, his son, and their friend Cole had hundreds of trail camera photos of a particular buck in 2019, 2020, and 2021. "All I did was get lucky," the Kansas bowhunter told The Topeka Capital-Journal this past week .