2009.01.29
Tech baseball great Chuck Hartman's monster buck
I don't do many "This Guy killed a huge buck" stories for The Roanoke Times. But every once in a while a story comes along that makes the cut. I'm working on one this week, and it will run tomorrow.
The hunter is Chuck Hartman, the retired Virginia Tech baseball coach. He killed this 12-pointer in the Catawba area during the late muzzleloader season.
While talking to people about the deer the thing I kept hearing was "The pictures don't do the deer justice." So I took a little trip to visit the taxidermist who is mounting the deer so I could put my hands on the rack. My thoughts: "The pictures don't do the deer justice."
This thing is simply awesome. It's not astoundingly wide, or tall. But the mass is just incredible.
Of course the question people will want to know is how this thing -- a non-typical because the G-2 on the right side is split -- will score. One person who is familiar with the rack guessed mid-160s under the B&C system. Not that it really matters. Virginia just doesn't grow many bucks like this.
I had the opportunity to see this buck in person the night Coach Hartman was checking it. You are right. The picture does not do it justice. Also, if I am not mistaken, it was Coach Hartman's birthday as well. Do you know the taxidermist who is doing the mount?
--Yes, it was Coach Hartman's birthday -- number 74. That's part of what helped make this story a little different. That and the fact that Coach is an icon. I do know where the antlers are. I was there yesterday -- and can tell you this rack weighed about twice as much as anything else I picked up. The taxidermist asked me to keep his name out of it. mt
Comment by Tim McClung — January 29, 2009 @ 10:24 am
Awesome buck. One of the best I have seen this year. Congratulations. I would love to see some more pictures of it.
--I'll try to post a couple more shots. mt
Comment by C F — January 29, 2009 @ 10:30 am
Let's hope he bred with many a doe.
-By the looks of his body, I think he was busy in November and probably even some in December. We can only hope those mass genes carry on. mt
Comment by Jeff — January 29, 2009 @ 11:55 am
Great buck coach. I'll bet that's the best birthday present you have ever gotten. Good luck in the spring. Maybe a 25 pound Gobbler is in the cards.
Comment by Fred Hatfield — January 30, 2009 @ 8:23 am
I live in Catawba and have seen the that buck cross the road back when he was in velvet. I knew he was a monster.I got to see the buck haging at Steve Garmens Meat Locker. He is a true big monster buck for that area.Congraulations Chuck
Comment by Don Ramsey — January 30, 2009 @ 11:47 am
nice deer wish he was mine good luck next year
Comment by Daulton Biggs — November 11, 2009 @ 3:57 am