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BuckTracker: Local Legend Falls
You hear about deer like this from time to time. Monster whitetail that everyone knows about, but nobody can kill. Well the buck pictured here was such a deer…the evening of Friday, October 3rd, when Ben Spanjers put his tag on the giant.
This deer lived in a goofy little patch of timber not far from Hokah, Minnesota and avoided hunters for many seasons. Ben and friend Josh Swenson finally figured out this monster’s hideaway this summer. Like many old deer (the buck is 8-1/2 years old) he had a small core area. As proof, Ben and Josh had over 500 trail-cam pics of this buck from summer to early fall.
Any guesses as to what this monster would score? I put the question to a veteran B&C scorer and he has an estimate. Also, Josh rough-scored him after the harvest. If you care to take your own shot, post it and I’ll check in from time to time. Before I make my next post, I’ll tell you the numbers that I’ve been given. So score away!
This person did a great job of following the rules of a great outdoor picture. My gross score guess would 202
Posted by: T.R. | October 13, 2008 at 11:35 AM
The length of the beams is very nice. I'd give it about a 220B&C.
Nate
Posted by: I'm in school right now | October 13, 2008 at 12:56 PM
216...gross
Posted by: trev | October 13, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Great Buck, but a 200+ incher? It may gross 200-205, but net somewhere in the 190's. Nevertheless, a fantastic buck.
Posted by: Randy | October 13, 2008 at 02:38 PM
I'll take a poke t 224".
Posted by: J-Mo | October 13, 2008 at 03:07 PM
from the photo I took the width of the guys hand and used that as a reference point. Form that measurement (around 4 inches) I scored the rack.
Inside spread 22inches.
Main beams 24 inches.
18 inches in deductions.
Gross score: 185
Net score: 167
From the photo I see at least 3 nontypical points. Both brow tines, and one on the G3.
It;s hard to judge from a photo though. Also the body size helps. He looks around 180 lbs live.
The main thing is not what this deer will score, but figuring out the core area where this deer lived and then devising a plan on taking him. And also doing it with a hunting buddy. That's more exciting than just being in a stand and having the deer walk by.
Posted by: John | October 13, 2008 at 03:44 PM
i'd guess gross around 230 inches, the body size looks arout 200 lbs
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 05:01 PM
*about 200 lbs
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 05:01 PM
*about 200 lbs
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 05:02 PM
that deer is easily over 200 lbs. we're not in Texas. MN bucks actually get pretty large on the hoof, that's if they can reach 3.5 yrs old, let alone trying to get past their first two years of life.
what a dandy. he could be a 190". great picture!
Posted by: joshd | October 13, 2008 at 05:54 PM
id say 235 gross
Posted by: eddie | October 13, 2008 at 05:59 PM
my guess on this buck is 185, I had a buddy who shot a deer that looked close to this one in Kansas that scored around that. My guess on the weight is 220 on the hoof.
Posted by: greg | October 13, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Interesting comments, goes to show you a picture does not do deer justice, there is no scale there. I won't give the score, it is all over the internet anyway, but he weighted 310 on the hoof guts in with 20 or so witnesses. Also had 2 certified scorers score him ,and they were both with an inch of each other. Find the pic of him at Midwesthunter.com in my truck, that will give him some scale, full size truck.Thanks for the kind comments, this buck earned every one of them Ben.
Posted by: Ben Spanjers | October 13, 2008 at 07:14 PM
280"
Posted by: t | October 13, 2008 at 09:51 PM
I'D guess around 231" gross he's a beautiful buck!
Posted by: Gina | October 13, 2008 at 10:08 PM
dont want to make a prediction just want to say way to go....this just proves what can happen when you dont give up on a buck....
Posted by: Pam | October 14, 2008 at 01:58 AM
gross around 214" non typical and net slightly over 200" probably like 260lbs live weight and 200lbs field dressed
Posted by: JPike | October 14, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Ben,
Fantastic buck!! Can you give me and other hunters that may be chasing 'local legend' bucks insite on setup and core area? I have a no-doubter Booner in the area...old as the hills, small core area, tough to spot during daylight hours, 7-8 years old. Give some info on the hunt.
Thanks and WAY TO GO BRO!!
Doc
Posted by: Doc | October 14, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I'm no good at judgement but everyone else is throwing numbers out there so ill guess 231 gross.
Posted by: Adam Johnson | October 15, 2008 at 10:08 AM
n
Posted by: | October 15, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Thanks Doc, apprecitate it. It is so funny, you won't believe the rumours that I have seen, heard, it is amazing, I tell ya. I've heard every stupid thing like it was tame to it was shot in a different state, and the list goes on and on. My best advice is don't overlook the very obvious, and I mean very obvious. I can't share all the details at this time as much as I would like to, but find out where the "most" sightings have been and work from there. It became obvious to me after I put two and two together, grabbed a good trail cam, and got him right away on film. Lucky fer sure, but educated a bit as well. Really map sightings, walk highways where sighted, you may be amazed at where he is.
Posted by: | October 15, 2008 at 11:05 AM
With a new post about to be, well, posted I thought I better announce the green score for those of you who've guessed.
Kudos to Gina and Adam for getting within 1"! Ben had B&C scorer Chris Fechner green-score the rack, which grossed 230-5/8" and netted 223-6/8".
Ben pointed something out worth noting above. Sometimes a photo does not do a rack justice. The position of the photographer and the angle the hunter holds the antlers can really skew an estimate.
As an example, I sent the 1st photo of Ben's buck that I received to Tim Walmsley, one of B&C's top scorers. His guesstimate that day was 190" tops. Two days later I got a different set of photos and shot them to Tim. Just two peeks at a different angle, and Tim upped his score well over 200".
Something to think about next time you're shooting photos of YOUR world-class deer!
Anyway, I was lucky enough to meet Ben and hold the rack of this incredible deer at a banquet Sat. night. Always nice when a fine young man finds a great big buck!
Posted by: Scott Bestul | October 15, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Aint nothing "gross" about 15 beautiful points!
Posted by: bob | October 15, 2008 at 03:30 PM
227 gross
Posted by: BoonesFarm | October 15, 2008 at 06:03 PM
I think that this buck scored 260 class.
Teddy Craven Thomasville, GA
Posted by: | October 20, 2008 at 10:04 AM