2008.09.03
Check out this massive buck from the Roanoke area
A friend forwarded this shot to me a few weeks ago. I was led to believe that just a few people had seen this picture so I respected my buddy's request to keep this picture under my hat.
However, I have since learned that this picture is making the rounds so now I don't feel guilty about posting it here. Plus, my good friend Christian Berg at the Allentown Morning Call in Pennsylvania keeps pestering me about all of the buck shots he's putting up on his blog and I need to remind him what real deer look like.
The deer in the back is a great trophy, but the buck in the front is truly special. Drop-tined bucks are rare enough, and this giant has three big ones. I count at least 16 points.
The rack isn't wide but with it's pretty high. With all the points I think it would push 190 gross B&C. Score doesn't really matter. This is just a great, unusual buck.
Where is he? Well, I don't know the guy who took the picture so I can't be sure. But I was told that this buck is in Roanoke County, in a neighborhood. I've heard that from several people who also got the shot.
If this is a suburban buck I suppose it could be hunted, although the neighborhood that I've been hearing this is from is not a huntable neighborhood. It will be interesting to see if this buck gets killed this year, and then to hear the story.
If anyone knows more about this deer or picture I'd love to hear about it.
the picture also appears to put the lie to the idea that deer don't look up.
Comment by sam shumate — September 3, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
I think anybody who has spent much time in a tree can confirm that deer look up. I've never had them look up at an acute angle, but at more gradual angles such as this one.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 3, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
WOW!!!! Now that will get your blood boiling. That is a picture there to hang on to for a life time. If this fella dont ever see these bucks agian he has his trophie (pic) an memories of I guess sitting in that tree stand and having these two bucks walk up an even bed down right below him. Ive done this many times before season and have had nice bucks walk right under me and never see them again but trust me having a picture is the next best thing. Good luck this season to all and bevcareful. Only 36 Moe days.....................Moe
Comment by Moe — September 3, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
That is such a great deer!
Comment by Tommy Nunley — September 3, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
He's a fairly nice buck, but the one laying down is by far the better of the two and more likely to make B&C.
Comment by teddy — September 4, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
You're kidding, Teddy, right?
Seriously, the lying down buck may "score" better and have a better chance of making the B&C book.
But there are, relatively speaking, plenty of awesome typicals such as that lying down buck out there. That deer in front, however, is one of a kind.
If both of these deer walked under your stand, which one would you kill first? Me? The non-typical, without a doubt. I think most other hunters would, too. Of course I will never actually have to make such a decision. But it's fun to dream.
Thanks for commenting.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 4, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
The buck lying down is by no means "typical", all bucks are 1 of a kind. Yes he apears to have a typical antler layout, but can you say wide, tall and very symetrical with world class beam length. If these bucks walked by my stand, which 1 would I "kill" 1st? Only asuming I got a high percentage bow shot, I would much rather take that beatiful monster (I'm guessing 170ish gross) to go along with my archery taken B&C non-typical. But I do see your point about the unique features of the other buck.
Comment by teddy — September 4, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Teddy,
you said "which 1 would I "kill" 1st?"
I hope you wouldn't kill both in the same day since West of the Blue Ridge the bag limit is one per day.
Comment by P.R. — September 4, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Mark,I agree with you. Scoring is nice,but ole drop tine would look the best over my mantle.
What would be cool is if one showed up on monday and the other showed up on friday. If your going to dream,make it a good one:].
Alfie H
Comment by Alfie H — September 4, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
I submitted a post 24 hours ago and still hasn't appeared. what gives?
Comment by P.R. — September 5, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Sorry for the delay, P.R. I have to personally approve every comment before it gets posted. Although it sometimes feel like I live at the computer, I've been away from it for awhile.
It's only a matter of time, Alfie, before you get a monster to put above your mantle -- and to keep all those giraffes company. (No, he hasn't killed any giraffes.)
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 5, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
I would have to say that it would be a hard decision. I have lived in the Salem area all my life and my house borders Roanoke County. There has been a monster buck around there for probably 6 or 7 years. Heck, he might be dead from old age for all I know. I hunted him on the RC side for 5 years and never got a shot on him. He would always "disappear" about a week before the season opened. I wouldn't mind either buck, but a real pretty rack would be hard to pass up personally.
Comment by Jon B — September 5, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
mark the deer looking up is a fine one if people only knew what roanoke county had they would be amazed i took my first bc last year it took only thirty years to do this if i seen one like this it would be awsome it might be in that area now but when the rut comes in it will move and will be on someones wall that what dreams are for if we did not have them it would be boring good to everyone this season remember saftey first wag
Comment by wag — September 6, 2008 @ 11:24 am
i would be thrilled with either of those, but the one standing is a trophy of a lifetime.
Comment by chip — September 8, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
I am a fairchase hunter and I always hunt by the game laws. The "which 1 would I shoot 1st" came from mark and I just aswered his question. Both of these deer would be great trophy's to any hunter, especialy a bowhunter. I already have a P&Y/B&C non-typical. I feel that anyone who takes a B&C deer is lucky (very lucky), as long as they didn't buy him. I like the uniqueness of the non-typ, but that doesn't mean he is a bigger/better trophy or smarter buck than the typical looking one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally would hold out for the typical if I thought that I had high odds at a shot at him. If only one was going to pass by in bow range, then I would take the 1st good shot I got at that deer. Every deer taken fairchase is special to the hunter who took it, or at least should be. I personally am a very agressive doe hunter, and I really prefer the fawn does. Talk about small targets with a bow, and by far the best venison.
Comment by teddy — September 8, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Wag, You are right on. There are some awesome suburban deer out there. It's amazing how big they can grow when they're well fed (on our gardens and shrubs) and not hunted.
Chip, you nailed it, too. It's a personal thing. That's what it should be. As for those fawns, we all know they taste great. But saying they're challenging targets because of their small size is a new twist. I'll have to remember that one!
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 9, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Both bucks are nice ones and just remember that archey season is less then a month away and someone will get that buck or bucks with a bow watch and see.
Comment by CG — September 9, 2008 @ 11:33 am
teddy, my friend, that's all foolishness! Give the buck some credit, who cares what the net b&c score is! That's a once in a lifetime buck anywhere in the world and it's in Virginia! I run a hunting ranch in Texas and if the deer grows it, we score it! If you would like some lessons, I could teach you. And fawn hunting? Seriously? That buck is absolutley remarkable, to kill a deer that produced such magnificent horns in the wild few men will ever do!
Comment by Jeremy — September 10, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
jeremy, What is all foolishness? Both bucks are once in a lifetime. I gave the buck credit for what he was, the same credit that I gave both bucks. I have taken an "officially" scored whitetail that is 206 6/8" gross Non-Typ, WITH A BOW. Yes he grew it, wild, free ranging, and in Virginia. What could you teach me? Odds are that I can score a buck as well or better than you. What's wrong with fawn hunting? Here in Va we hunt with what mother nature gives us. We don't rely on feeders/bait to get a shot at a deer, we "actually" hunt them. Give it a try sometime. If you would like some lessons, I could teach you.
Comment by teddy — September 11, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
ahhh, my friend, if you taught me the things you know about hunting, I would have to revert back to when I was 4 years old and stepping into the woods for the first time. My day to day job... is deer, but that is not what this is about. I just felt a strong need to comment on your first post. You sound like a man that believes he is a superhunter, a little too worried about the b&c score and maybe bragging right? Im sure you get full of yourself every time you get to tell someone that you shot a 206b&c with your bow.
While that is an amazing accomplishment, don't forget you are talking to someone from Texas. It is funny how east coast hunters try and justify the success of the Texas Hunting industry by writing us off as hunters that need bait to kill something. We like to practice a little thing called wildlife, or deer management. If you could ever humble yourself and come down from your "superhunters" throne, there is a lot you could learn. When a hunter looks at the picture above and has to think for more than 2 seconds about which is the better deer, there is something misfiring in his ability to judge deer. And yes, "each to his own", but that doesn't mean that we do not think "your own" is absolutely nuts
Comment by jeremy — September 12, 2008 @ 8:32 am
I think I'm going to send an e-mail the Drury brothers and nominate Teddy and Jeremy for the next season of Dream Season. That could be interesting.
Seriously, let's reel this one in.
I think we've established the point here. We all take a somewhat unique approach to this sport we love. As long as we're doing things legally and ethically -- and, as someone who grew up in an area where road hunting was perfectly acceptable, I can tell you that ethics vary -- then no one is right and no one is wrong.
Everyone, keep scouting and keep shooting. D-Day comes (in Virginia, at least) in three weeks!
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 12, 2008 @ 11:22 am