"The wind shifted, so l left. We are seeing a lot of hunters practicing quality deer management, Hotton said. The 45-yard, quartering-away shot struck true. However, he had never laid eyes on this bruiser buck until the day he shot it. His company, Maximum Exposure Productions, has done work for operations like Midwest Whitetail and Operation Impact 22. The buck ran about 60 yards, stopped, wobbled, and fell. The hunt, even though it involved several obstacles, with other people on the property and coyotes interfering, was as textbook as it could have been. Baker said he has a lot of history with this buck, as it was a dominant and aggressive buck in the area for years. Later in the day, he spotted a young, small 3-point. In Maryland, sika deer are a rare chance to hunt a non-native deer. Dustin Prievo. Mongrello says does have largely transitioned back to food over the last few days. "I've killed Pope and Young bucks, but this one just meant more," Develle says. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Hunting is also simple, as long as you have a valid hunting license and a firearm. When youre ready to head out into the field, be sure to dress in camouflage and take along a good pair of binoculars. All Rights Reserved. He was following her into a wooded draw when Plunkett shot him with a .280 Ackley rifle she built. Wisconsin has nearly 6 million acres of public land, making it easily the most open-space state in the country. "While FaceTiming one of my hunting buddies, he told me to look at the screen. Around 3:45 p.m., Barrera was in his stand, and before he could nock an arrow, a couple of does came walking in, and passed through the area. So what opportunities are available on the Eastern Shore for the traveling hunter? So not only do we want them to leave with a trophy buck, but also some helpful advice from guys who have been through it. Clay Craft's "Monster in Oz" buck, taken with a compound bow on Sept. 15, scored just under 190. I threw my arms up in the air and started screaming like I had won the lottery. When this brute entered one of those lanes at 35 yards, Hayden drilled him. Her regular haul of impressive lunkers earned her the nickname, "Big Fish." He almost had an opportunity to arrow it on opening day, but a miscommunication between him and the farm manager led to an incident where Wide Open was walking toward Schwach just as the farmer was driving up the hill. Urban and suburban areas produce some of the largest bucks. However, the buck made a mistake when it stopped and offered Bennett a shot. I drew back and let it fly. Maryland is home to over 200,000 whitetail deer, making it a popular hunting state. He constantly kept talking about this. White-tail deer are the most commonly harvested animals in Maryland, accounting for one-third of all deer taken statewide. "This deer is something I have dreamed of since I was introduced to hunting around the age of 4," Rotarius says. Every deer hunt is different, too. Maryland Monster Bow Buck, 194 5/8! - Big Deer We had both shot piebald bucks on the same night!" "I knew it was a big-bodied deer," he says. "I immediately told my friend that was my target buck," Bittick said. After her success last weekend, she's now shot a good buck three seasons in a row. Nick Gatlin recently hung his tag on a great Tennessee whitetail. Deer are plentiful, and people who enjoy watching wildlife will find many opportunities to see them roaming free in forests and parks all over the country. The non-typical record was shot in Charles County by Donza Watson in 2007. The Maryland monarch is quite stunning as well. While Wisconsin has plenty of game to hunt like turkey, upland birdsand even elk and wolvesit's the whitetail deer and black bears that make the record book. I whispered to Maribeth, "If I take this shot, can we still hunt tonight?" It can be difficult to find the best way to hunt them. "Hard work pays offnever give up," Jackson says. Maryland has been a hot spot for big money in recent years. I eased my muzzleloader into position while the deer watched me, trained the crosshairs on the big bucks shoulder and flicked off the safety. From last year to this year, he put on a lot of mass and just got bigger overall.". "I tried to let out a 'meh' to get him to stop, but I was shaking so bad, I couldn't get it to come out." Another cool twist is John's cousin, Ernie Wallace, owns and operates Central Flyway Taxidermy. Here's What You Need to Know, 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. On Nov. 24, after hunting the buck for seven straight days, Gatlin got his opportunity. "We both let arrows fly," Bittick said. The harvest was a 24% increase from last year's official harvest of 16,314 deer for the same period. Location of Harvest: Wicomico County, Maryland. Then, in October, he moved back into the area and was there until the end. The early season harvest decline was attributed to multiple factors, including warm weather during the first part of the archery season . He came in around 6 pm, walking right down a trail toward me. The bucks non-typical score of 268 1/8 was the highest ever recorded on the Eastern Seaboard. The only thing Wallace cares about more than conservation is his family, and last weekend was a big one for the Wallace clan. Before long, a second doe arrived on the scene. My jaw dropped. The brute roughscored 171 6/8 inches. "If I kept grunting, he kept coming," Hayden says. Through the thick cloud of smoke that followed my shot, I saw the buck lurch into the woods and crash to the ground. Thankfully, he was able to harvest his deer before the warm spell. "Without them, I would not have gotten a chance at this quality of a deer," he says. Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe this site needs far more attention. The mature buck slowly made his way upthe dry creek bed in the timber until stepping out into a small clearing. "His schedule was very sporadic, and he showed up on one of my cameras on November 20 while I was at church," Gatlin says. The buck is a tall 10-pointer with a broken G4 on its left antler. Josh Honeycutt. After exploring a few of the articles on your blog, I seriously like your way of blogging. The deer was shot on a property in Elk County that is managed by Baker, who is a Whitetail Properties Real Estate Agent/Land Specialist. Hayden Ashworth was in his treestand just 15 yards in the woods when this big 9-pointer gave him a shot. Maryland: 217,000. And knowing that I can pass this way of life on to my kids and family means the world to me." That includes the Missouri Monarch and the Hole in the Horn Buck. However, the buck was still moving so Rotarius put a second round into it just in case. Early action consisted of two small bucks passing through the area. There is no definitive answer when it comes to the best deer hunting in Maryland. 01:00 Thats a winning combination anywhere.. The buck ran about 30 yards and crashed. But hes tryiong none the less. So, to have him now taking my children outdoors, it really means the world to me.". He was too far for a shot, so I let him work his way toward me. It was now Develle's turn to shoot. Amanda had made the 10-point her primary target for this rifle season, and she connected during the first hour! "I never thought I would have an opportunity at a buck of this quality, but having it was genuinely a life-changing experience. Maryland Reports Strong 2022 Early Deer Season Results You should be aware that coyotes are active at night and may be difficult to locate while hunting them. Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. I wanted to try to double with him on both bucks.". Soon after settling in, several does stepped out, and Ashley shot one of them. My coder is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP. "I thought I had missed my chance. Right there on the screen was a piebald he had just shot! Schwach put the arrow where it needed to go, and the buck ran about 80 yards and tipped over. Dustin Prievo. Courtesy of onX Hunt, here are the eight states in the USA with the highest deer density: Mississippi: 38 deer per square mile Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile Wisconsin: 33 deer per square mile Michigan: 31 deer per square mile Indiana: 28 deer per square mile Alabama: 25 deer per square mile South Carolina: 24 deer per square mile Paul Sears first gained permission to access an Oklahoma property for coyote and varmint hunting. He hung up his compound bow and began shooting traditional archery exclusively. The refuge also offers a variety of different habitats to explore, making it a great place for any hunter. He zigged and zagged out in the field, then he mounted the doe. As a cool 16-pointer, the. The massive Maine monarch made it 50 yards before going down.Dustin Prievo. Josh Honeycutt. And this is how he got a chance at his trophy. I am going to send this information to him. The predators in this category include bobcats, wolves, and coyotes. There was little movement at the outset of the hunt, with only a couple button bucks making their way under his stand. Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, Exotic Fishing Paradise Awaits in South Florida, Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Go Big or Go Home to Hook Lunker Summer Bass, Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues, It's Tick Season. "He was bringing up the rear.". It leads the category by nearly 5 inches. The Story Behind the World-Record Whitetail Deer - Field & Stream At least not for me. "Hunting is very different than fishing," Plunkett says. Of Marylands six record-book categories for whitetails there are typical and non-typical classes for bucks taken with firearm, bow and muzzleloader three are topped by Eastern Shore bucks. He'll be mounting Adam's deer, thus making this experience a total family affair. To my surprise, I had a picture of a relatively good 10-point but had no idea this buck was in the area.". In any weapon season, no more than one antlerless deer may be taken without the Primitive Deer Hunt Days. Many of these veterans are struggling mentally, and this experience is a huge pick-me-up. This is due to a variety of factors, including habitat loss and changes in the environment. They found it within 100 yards of where it was shot. Due to the good conditions, he fully expected to see lots of movement. He is my biggest Missouri whitetail and my second-biggest bow kill. Dustin Prievo. The buck then lowered his head and moved to the only opening Wayne had for a shot. He reappeared a few moments later and continued toward Jackson. The Wildlife & Heritage Service would like to recognize Bucks Bears Stags as the official record keeper for Maryland trophy deer and bears. "The deer were hungry, and I knew they would be coming to acorns.". That's the beauty of hunting. With about 10 minutes of light left, they spotted a big deer walking across the field. John A. Breen. He put up some trail cameras and started getting photos regularly. Studs are . "All the other beans were turning, but there's always green left in this corner until the end of September because of the shade.". This was when Wayne really got a grasp of the actual size of this beautiful whitetail. In each of the other three categories, Eastern Shore bucks rank in second place. The buck ran 20 yards, tipped over and tumbled down the ridge into the ditch in front of him. To give the deer some time, he went and recovered the 8-point before returning to the piebald 10-point. Then, at about 4 p.m., a doe emerged to feed in the food plot over which she was hunting. That afternoon, the rain cleared out and a cold front pushed in. requested was moved or deleted. His spot is between an alfalfa field and a standing cornfield. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Heads of State: All About State-Record Bucks - Realtree Store Another pair of does showed up around 30 minutes later. Weve had a mild winter for several years, as well as good mast crops, and the herd is in good shape going into the fall. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. About a half-hour before sunset, he decided to rattle. Each year, the buck has been a main-frame 10-point. At 67 years old, and having been hunting since the age of 14, Wayne says he has never had the shakes like he experienced after shooting this buck. The scales tipped at 218 pounds and hats were tipped to Wayne when this buck was dropped off at the butcher shop. Stephen Bennett killed this 201-pound, 11-point whitetail with his 7mm-08 on Oct. 29, in Lincoln, Maine. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Feeding there on the succulent green shoots just beginning to poke out of the soil was a dandy 8-pointer, with towering G-2s, and I desperately wanted to take him with my in-line muzzleloader. Once down on the ground, the two friends found the arrow covered in blood and the big buck 60 yards from where he was shot. At 7:05 a.m., he watched the buck enter one of his food plots about 90 yards away from his stand and start chasing a doe. On his way, he set out a Tink's Scent Bomb, which became an integral part of the hunt. Plant Cover Crops for All-Year Food Plots, The Antler Obsession is Long GoneGood Riddance, Deer Science: Why Bucks Vanish from Your Trail Camera. The buck's non-typical score of 268 1/8 was the highest ever recorded on the Eastern Seaboard. As it turned out, Gibson had at least three years of history with the buck. He saw a nice 8-pointer in the morning that he'd hoped would show back up in the evening. As the afternoon sun burned toward the horizon, the bugs and frogs in the pond started making a ruckus and a few raccoons showed up to play and munch on acorns. While Maryland DNR officials and local hunters have long known about the fantastic deer hunting on the Eastern Shore, only recently has word begun to spread to the outside world. An hour or so later, another 5-pointer and a 6-pointer showed up. The increase in sika deer populations has been driven by predators no longer being present to control them. Waynes son had suggested he sit in his hang-on stand in a spot they call the "Lower Woods." Brandon Butler. His initial thought was the buck was probably a shooter, but he was hesitant because they had no trail-camera photos and no observations of this deer. Now she works in the outdoor industry as the Hunt/Fish Community Manager for Sawyer. Unfortunately, he quickly realized he'd forgotten his call in the truck. I have pictures of him from last year when I tried to get my wife a shot at him. He immediately called his son and thanked him for the suggestion and opportunity to sit in his stand. The buck had his eyes set on a doe, and before long they began running around the opposite side of Stephens stand. Ball leaned up against a tree, settled in and took the 75-yard shot. It took Hunt about 20 minutes to walk to his hunting spot. It's an unbelievably rewarding thing to be a part of.". Hunting in general is something that I think about every day. He said there was no one in the hunting group that had history with this deer either. "We are very blessed to have family and friends who open their property up to these boys," Wallace says. Max Mongrello is a 25-year-old Southerner working to make his way in the Midwestern whitetail world. "I 10-ringed Split G3, but the 9-pointer dropped on [hearing] my shot, and my buddy shot just over his back. Historically, the Eastern Shore has been known across the nation for its waterfowl hunting. ", Plunkett's buck came out into an open bean field in pursuit of a hot doe. Whitetail Bucks Found: 5 Biggest Deer That Didn't Fall to a Hunter He took off and ran about 100 yards through the woods before he crashed. It also ranks in the top three in the number of harvests per hunter in an average year. At this point he was about two feet from the blind, walking away.". The fawn was very vocal, and he captured great video of it bleating. "They hunt for three or four days and get to see what Iowa whitetail hunting is all about. Weapon of Harvest: Mathews V3. Two of the biggest deer recorded in Walton County were killed over the last two years - a 178 non typical killed in 2014 and a 163 killed in 2013. For a fine selection of Big Game Hunting gear,click here. Hunters on Schraders restricted farms are limited to taking only bucks with at least eight points on racks that stretch as wide as a deers ears. His story: I had my trail cameras set at three different locations since the middle of June. Millman saidSussex County, the southernmost Delaware county, is the state's deer hunting hotspot, with 8,622 harvested in 2021. Because of their proximity to the legendary waterfowl hunting in the Chesapeake Bay region, sikas attract flocks of geese. He weighed in on the hunt: "Brandon Butler. With a healthy deer herd, Georgians annually enjoy really good hunting in Walton County. Bucks have been doing some chasing, but not a ton with the warm weather. Calloway with his Maryland giant. This state allows two buck antlerless harvests, but only with a liberal harvest limit. Its a great thing to hunt in Maryland because there are so many options. 2020 Bow Bucks: Archers share photos of their trophy deer from this The buck ran out of sight. Just then, the buck turned back and started walking straight toward him. 3. Since Wade had a football tournament out of town, John enlisted his outdoor mentor, his uncle Kevin Krimm, to take Adam out for Ohio's youth firearms season. 2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Well, there are a few guide services, such as Schraders. What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? ", The buck is a main-frame 10 with a kicker, and the bruiser weighed 200 pounds dressed. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) shut down all hunting seasons for five years for migratory Canada geese in Maryland and other states along the East Coast, citing a steep decline in the goose population. Gatlin ranged the deer then squeezed off the 128-yard shot, which hit the mark. Hunting is not. Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry . This buck was one of the first to show up on camera in the summer of 2021. "I could not believe my eyes. What a great feeling to put my hands on him, with my son there. Gibson says the younger bucks in his area are pushing does around, but the big boys haven't started getting aggressive yet. He moved quietly to his box blind and settled in. Sika deer were introduced to North America by Japan as a small brown animal. Develles buck was tagged in the summer of 2018 as a 4 1/2-year-old deer, and Develle has been getting photos of him ever since. Additionally, the deer populations in these areas are typically higher than other parts of the state, providing hunters with more opportunities to bag a trophy buck. And I love opening weekend of firearms season because it's the one weekend of the year where you can see so many people who love the same thing you do. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. Quality Guide Services Available Four years ago, Justin Gibson decided it was time for a new challenge. "I hunt with my two best friends at one of their family farms," Develle says. The little 8 came right to him, but the big 9 was more interested in the doe. On Nov. 17, after lunch, he climbed into an elevated blind along the edge of a cut cotton field. This year was different. "I decided to leave my muzzleloader in the box stand because I had no intentions of shooting another deer," says Ball. For more information, visit bucks-bears-stags.com. Tyler Rodes, a forester with the National Wild Turkey Federation, killed his largest bow buck to date on Friday, Oct. 14 in Caldwell County, Mo. The impact of this on ecosystems has been severe, with diseases spreading and ecosystems being destroyed. He thinks the chasing is going to begin in earnest this week or next. Hitting the buck in the spine, it dropped in its tracks; Sears followed up with a second shot to the vitals. Rotarius credits his dad, Jimmy Rotarius, and hunting buddy, Clay Turner, for the tireless work they do on the property to grow big deer. "To kill an old warrior that never daylighted, that always seemed to stay out of harm's waythat was priceless. Here's a look at big bucks tagged during the 2022 deer-hunting season, as told in our weekly Regional Rut Update reports this season. Of the 26 points on this great rack, the one that draws the most attention is the 10 7/8-inch drop tine corkscrewing down off the right main beam. Hunt aimed, settled the crosshairs and pulled the trigger. Baltimore hunter bags his biggest buck yet on last day of bow season With about 15 minutes of legal light left, he saw the big buck milling on the field edge. Instead, all he had was a rattling pack, so he gave it a shot. It's a spot that holds good deer, but it's very difficult to hunt due to minimal shooting lanes. Deer Hunting Season 2022 Forecast: A State-by-State Guide Within seconds, Split G3 and the 9-pointer walked to within 30 yards. Blanford immediately texted his friend, Kevin, who was hunting nearby. Jason Rudden had never laid eyes on this buck until his trail camera captured three images of it on the night of Nov. 13. Best Deer Hunting States in the Northeast - Game & Fish I had not let my bow down yet, and was able to put a great shot on him. |
Everything about the shot felt right. "They tagged roughly 20 bucks in the area and put ear tags and GPS collars on them to track movement patterns for the two-year program.". After several tense moments, the buck stopped 15 yards from the blind and Blanford took the quartering-away shot. There are an estimated 220,000 deer in Maryland. Already committed, though, he figured he would still give it a try because his son had been seeing a lot of deer movement in that area in all different directions. "I sweated the entire walk through the chest-high soybeans and continued to sweat in the stand until the sun got behind a tree," Bittick said. Deer are a favorite big game animal. The buck had a home range of about 40 acres, which he stuck to pretty tightly, and Rodes had him on camera regularly. He came in around 6 pm, walking right down a trail toward me. Amanda Baker harvested this 10-point buck on the opening morning of Pennsylvania's rifle season on a family-owned property in Elk County, Pa. With a little planning and patience, youre sure to have a successful deer hunting trip in Maryland. At first, I thought it was a white barrel at the bottom of this hollow he was in. "I heard something brush the side of the blind and then heard a stick snap to the right of me. No abusive comments, threats, or personal attacks. Hunting is something we live for down here. Billy Crutchfield of Bel Alton, Maryland, has no shortage of big bucks to his name. Vexilar FL-Series Flashers/Fish Finders: Which one is for me? On the last day of the season, he saw the deer in range, and bagged the buck with his bow, the largest deer in his career. Big Buck Bow Kill - Southern Maryland (TrueShot TV) 11,307 views Oct 10, 2017 87 Dislike Share Save TrueShot TV 157 subscribers Big Buck down in St.Mary's County Maryland! Jackson decided to give the deer some time, but as he walked back to his truck, he noticed a white object just off the trail. Stealth presentations for up-close encounters with bass hiding in cover. Another record that's held on for a very long time, the Buck Ashe buck was taken in Monroe County, Georgia, 60 years ago. Sorry! Dustin Prievo. In the early 1900s, they were introduced to Maryland by Clement Henry, who released 5 to 6 deer on James Island. Memories I won't ever forget.. Things changed on Sept. 16. As it got light enough to see, I saw the doe first and then he popped out. These deer live the good life, said Ken Schrader, owner of Schraders Hunting, which is one of the oldest guiding operations on the Eastern Shore. "I had hunted in a different spot that morning, and it was miserable cold and raining," he says. The proud father shares three children, Adam (13), Wade (12) and Claire (8) with his wife, Jamie. This buck was seen over the past several years on trail cameras, and Amanda and her family havehad a long history with the deer. It was a nice deer then, but blossomed into a giant 5 1/2-year-old this year. After he squeezed the trigger and the smoke cleared, there lied this mature whitetail buck. possible that you made a small typo when Barrera ranged the buck at 27 yards, but a large truck then drove past, pushing the buck even closer, to within 15 yards. The deer is an estimated 5.5-year-old and rough scores 194 inches. The deer walked directly toward a white oak tree that had been dropping acorns all evening.