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Special Report: The "Field & Stream Buck" Falls
Special Report by Field & Stream Senior Editor Colin Kearns
On September 4, we posted a video on our Whitetail 365 blog of a monster buck walking around unfenced property in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, that many hunters and deer experts speculated could be a new typical world record. Now, two months later, we have more images of the deer—courtesy of Bob Decker, the Wisconsin bowhunter who shot the deer on November 1.
Decker had been in a tree stand for more than three hours, seeing nothing, before he heard a twig snap below him. There, 40 yards away and coming closer, was a big buck. At the time, Decker only knew the deer was plenty big enough to shoot, so when the deer was 6 or 7 yards below, he released his arrow. The buck ran for 50 yards and dropped.
It wasn’t until Decker and his hunting buddy Paul Olson approached the deer that they realized just how big it was. As soon as they saw the buck, Olson started shouting that Decker had killed “the Field & Stream buck!”
F&S contributing editor Scott Bestul, who reported on the buck in the November issue of F&S, has not seen the actual rack, but based on the photos, he said he is almost certain that the buck Decker shot is the same from the video. However, Bestul believes the deer is not a world record and will be scored as a non-typical.
Decker said a score has not been released and added that it will be a close call on whether his buck will be scored typical or non-typical. “I’ve heard people say it could either way,” says Decker. “It’ll just be a judgment call. I have mixed feelings about [its potential as a world record]. I’d love it if it was the record. But if it’s not, maybe I can quietly ride off into the sunset and get out of the spotlight. Either way, I’m proud to have taken the deer.”
What do you think: World record or not? Typical or non-typical? And keep checking whitetail365.com for the latest on this story.
Will Barhnes needs to grow up and shouldn't even talk. Its all jealousy.
Posted by: Buck Shot | December 06, 2008 at 11:13 AM
wow congrats to begin with i've seen a lot of big bucks people have harvested and also a lot of tv hunts and i have never seen such a monster whitetail.
Posted by: jared wriedt | December 14, 2008 at 12:41 PM
wow what an amazing buck. i've seen a lot of monsters harvested from people and a lot of tv hunts and none of them come close to this beast. this buck is going to score big as a typical or non-typical. and to take it with a bow that is truly amazing.
Posted by: | December 14, 2008 at 12:45 PM
it's not truly amazing to shoot a buck like that with a bow when there hand fed.
Posted by: jason | December 14, 2008 at 04:05 PM
that is unbelievable sir. That buck read the script but wasnt planning on showing up anytime early. better late than never ofcourse
Posted by: jacob | December 15, 2008 at 12:32 PM
that was the buck because i looked at it over a houndred times good job killing it
Posted by: travis | January 07, 2009 at 12:28 PM
and im sure that it was not hand feed even if it was ohh well he still killed it theres nothing wrong with feeding deer i do that i think it is a good kill with a bow good joe
Posted by: travis | January 07, 2009 at 12:31 PM
i think it is typical and it probley ant the world record but its a nice buck
Posted by: travis murrell from booneville ky | January 07, 2009 at 12:48 PM
As alongtime freind of Bob Decker I just learned that the buck was scored non-typical. I saw the buck first hand and can only say this, "Thousands of hunters like myself hit the woods every year in Wisconsin after the elusive trophy whitetail. You've broken the state record and I couldn't be more proud. You're the top seed among many great hunters and fallen trophys,something you can treasure forever. Congradulations Bob!"
Posted by: Gary Scharlau | January 09, 2009 at 12:53 PM