The big velvet buck ran a few steps, tangled its antlers in a tree, and collapsed. He was a disabled veteran who served the country in the Army and was commended by Kentucky Senator Robert Mills for making many lasting contributions to his friends, family, community, and nation before his passing on March 25, 2021. Terry was never able to join Settle in the field when he was alive because of his disability. Hiking, biking, fishing and small game hunting are all very popular. A total of 159,962 deer were harvested. Six weeks before the opener, he fell from a 12-foot ladder stand, and broke or fractured his wrists, ribs, and ankles. His rack was just the icing on the cakeitll never happen again to me.. I felt like my dad was with me like an angel on my shoulder, he says. Hes so much bigger in person. Just $1 per month , The full story of how Derek Settle put it all together to take this buck of a lifetime on a D.I.Y. When the deer ranch contacted me, they asked about the deer I shot and wondered where I shot it, Keating said in an interview with MeatEater. The bulk of Hermans core area was located on a large tract of land owned by a farmer who doesnt allow hunting. The buck was bedded down. Kentucky Giant Buck, 226 Inches! - Big Deer That isnt the area of Ohio thats best known for big deerthe southern third of the state is more often recognized as monster buck countrybut dont tell that to Kline who recently picked up Hermans 233 7/8-inch rack. Jacob, his brother and father pose proudly with Sasquatch. They waited a few hours before blood trailing and didn't find any blood or the arrow within the first 15 minutes of the search. But Settle says he felt his presence this September. They knew theyd target the giant 12-pointer this year, and they did just that on the Kentucky opener. Speaking of city deer is that fort Mitchell deer still kickin. Deer. The large soybean field was surrounded by hardwoods, and he was hunting on a peninsula of timber that protruded out into the field. Settle, 41, grew up in the Bluegrass State and is a long-time local of Henderson County. "I slowly looked right below our stand and there he was," Kirkpatrick recalled. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. CNN . Then, after seven or eight bucks walked through, he spotted giant antlers moving through the timber. He was still in early velvet, but I could just tell he had a lot going on under all that fuzz., The deer returned to the mineral plot at different parts of the day for nearly six weeks. Moore got there about 5:45 p.m. in knee-high boots, basketball shorts and a camo top. His treestand was positioned on the ridge, with bedding cover at the end of the point. Huge buck killed in town | Kentucky Hunting He decided it was worth checking out and that he still had plenty of time for a stalk. All Rights Reserved. Strutter. Ken Vitale with Buck Knives chats with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller about two new hunting knives for 2023the purpose-built Alpha and PakLite series. He was real broken up last year, but we knew if he could make it through the winter that he would be something special. This page is designed to showcase bucks from the Bluegrass State. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) is reporting an unusual harvest of large whitetail bucks as this season came to a close Feb. 10, with some true giants showing up on social media and. A creek rippled along behind the blind. The Latest on the Derek Settle Buck | Field & Stream Read Next: 10 Amazing Photos of a Buck Shedding Velvet. Needless to say, LBL is not for the faint of heart. At each spot, I tied a small piece of orange surveyor's tape to the tops of soybean plants so they would be visible from my stand and make it easy to know my yardage. Reed had in-person encounters with this giant deer in 2019 and 2020. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. I was hoping Id maybe see him again. Learn more in the video above, with Remington's Joel Hodgdon and Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. An intensive, four-year pursuit of an elusive buck dubbed "Sasquatch" at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) ended in celebratory tears, hugs, and shared joy between father and son. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. Imagine hunting a buck for four years without ever seeing him in person. He asked where I wanted to hunt, and I told him the same place as yesterday, because I had a good feeling about that spot. He was very visible. Shortly after, some young bucks walked through. Its a moment that will be very hard to top and a memory that will last a lifetime. Later that night, Lacefield recovered the deerhis biggest ever. LBL is also home to a wide variety of recreational activities. The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. Then, they spotted a trace of blood on the top of a beanstalk. I wasnt really getting many pictures of him, though, and my only good chance to kill this deer was during the rut, Kline says. I tried to post the video but it didn't work. Clark's huge buck carried 23. Features quick-change barrel system. Features quick-change barrel system. We know he traveled further than that, but he spent most of his time in this area. To have the opportunity to take a buck like this is a dream come true.". Before daylight, Standard slowly eased along a low-impact entry route and slipped into his treestand undetected. June 28th, 2013 | Big Deer Stories, BigDeer | 2 Comments Dustin Finley tells me his dad, Larry, killed this deer in Pendleton Co, KY on 11-11-12; they measured him at 226 7/8. I worked nearly six years at Mossy Oak Productions filming hunts all over the country. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Back before the construction went full bore that is. But almost immediately, skeptical hunters started asking what everyone was thinking: Was it a high fence deer?. This buck was killed yesterday in Richmond in front of Krogers. I drive down the bypass all the time and me and my cousin once counted 10 in that grew up ditch at one time. I owe a lot of this to him., Read Next: Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. The buck slowly walked into bow range. "I never thought in a million years I would shoot a deer that big," said Zach Meadows, who shot the buck with his bow on Nov. 3 in Logan County. We thank God for giving us the perseverance and dedication to always press on no matter how frustrating it got. When I saw him on the ground, Ive never really acted like that in my adult life, says Settle. Robert Koch, 58, faces multiple charges after he was accused of lying about. Access. Jamison Standard started getting trail-camera photos of a huge buck just a week before deer season and started scouting diligently to try and determine a pattern. At SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. He was an impressive 160-inch 12-pointer. Thats the time Id [historically] get the most pictures of him.. Dad ran to me and we hugged and thanked God again for an unforgettable hunt that we got to experience together. Some were saying 230 or 240 pts. I looked around a little bit and something caught my eye. 02:00. 3,757 likes. Hunter charged after lying about killing deer, officials say (High fence deer in Kentucky do not have to be checked in.) Photos: Is this 50-Point Buck the New World Record Whitetail? - MeatEater Look below you," Moore told him. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Reed has owned the farm he hunts for eight years and has spent a lot of time developing it into what it is. What is the biggest deer ever killed in Kentucky? - Vidque.com Guner Womack, a teen out of Oklahoma, arrowed this incredible 88 buck last night while hunting over a wheat field. His second shot struck true. Right after Deckard settled in, he spotted the buck in the corn running away from his fathers blind and down into a ravine. It isnt every day you tag a giant 179-inch deer, and its even rarer to do so with traditional archery equipment. Then when a game farm reached out and said the antlers looked familiar, Keating knew the whitetail was an escapee. He hadnt heard of any other hunters tagging him, and news of such a giant buck would certainly spread quickly. Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is a 170,000-acre peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with 110,000 of those acres being in Kentucky. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. I heard the same story as you. We didnt want anyone to know about him. One of the things Kentucky deer hunters look forward to is hunting velvet bucks. However, that isnt always the case. It was cloudy and cool on Sept. 5. 6 of the Biggest Kentucky Velvet Bucks from This Fall He didnt disappoint On November 4 at 6:40 p.m., Dustin Huff of Greensburg, Indiana, shot a caliber of whitetail that normally only occupies a hunter's dreams. The internet celebrity, who is a member of Officials say that increasing the moose harvest is Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. However, after now reading Facebook comments and seeing photos of his deer that were posted on the page of an Indiana deer preserve, one thing is clear: Someone is not telling the truth. Hope that's not the case cause I would like to see some better pics of it. He shot nice bucks each of the past three seasons, including a nice 13-pointer last year. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Each year the buck packed on more antler growth, but Lacefield couldnt get within range for a shot. The buck had a huge body, and we guessed him to be 4 or 5 years old. I came in on his left rear flank.. The Model 336 is expected to be launched soon; the Model 1894 should launch this spring. At 200+ inches, Huffman's deer becomes the new Kentucky state record for typical bucks taken with a crossbow. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Marlin is back in the game with the re-introduction of the classic 336 and 1894 lever-action hunting rifles. I figured he took off. I just wanted to see what it was like in that stand a few hours before dark.". Sasquatch continued to pass by our trail cameras until he lost his velvet, and then he disappeared. Though Settle didnt post the buck on social media, he immediately sent the photos of his trophy to his stepdad. Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries law enforcement officers say this is the biggest deer theyve seen all season. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. He is truly special. That was, until the 2021 Kentucky deer quota hunt at LBL. After giving the deer plenty of time, the Arkenaus took up the blood trail, and found the buck. It worked out, though. He just popped up out of nowhere, Settle says. Hope that's not the case cause I would like to see some better pics of it. Buckmasters Whitetail Trophy Records (BTR) scorer Hunter Schmittou measured the beast of a buck and gave Huffman the final tally. He hit the woods on Sept. 25 in hopes of arrowing the big buck he had on camera. When the buck reached 35 yards, Mattingly released his arrow. He turned his head in my direction and turned it back straight. "As soon as I made the shot, we heard the thud and the deer took off into the beans," he said. Everything in my body at that moment wanted to give up, he says. Harvest Results - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife I mean, these guys are so tricky and sneaky.. I turned to Dad and threw my hands in the air, and I promise you have never seen a man climb out of a tree faster than Dad did that day. In the video above, Leopold's Shawn Skipper highlights the features of the exciting new optics with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Read Next: How to Tag a Velvet Whitetail Buck (and the Best States to Make It Happen). It got real intense from 50 to 12 yards, he says. in early November. None of them fully spooked, but they didnt like what they saw, either. The problem? 10 Giant Bucks from the 2021-2022 Deer Season "All I did was get lucky," the Kansas bowhunter told The Topeka Capital-Journal this past week . Kansas bowhunter Brian Butcher couldnt believe his eyes when a monster whitetail snuck into sight in the eastern part of the state on October 10, 2019. While checking one of the cameras, Dad saw a mature deer cross a saddle. Ever since we started hunting Sasquatch, my dad would say, If we ever kill him, we are getting a picture in front of that sign.. "I killed him at five paces," he said, from a portable stand about 25 feet high in a tree. It takes an equal mixture of intelligence and luck for a buck to reach that age, especially on public land. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. That summer, Dad ordered a topo map of Sasquatchs core area, which was about 3,000 acres. After that season, he decided to focus all his energy on hunting that deer. Whenever pictures of dead megabucks circulate social media, commenters are always quick to ask: Was it a high fence deer? It happened when Guner Womack killed one of the most perfectly symmetrical whitetails in Oklahomas history, and again when Jason Kline found the deadhead of one of the biggest non-typicals in Ohios history. We put out cameras that summer covering the best spots over a 1000-acre area. Read Next: Shed Hunting: Secrets of the Shed Masters. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. By mid-October, he was gone. He hung around on the side near camp catalpa last year. My dad and Jason talked daily about Sasquatch, diving into different topo maps, aerial views and theories of what the deer might do next. Reed took it and the arrow flew true. Or, do I go hunt a deer thatd be the biggest deer Ive ever killed?, I ended up shooting the 162-inch deer, Kline says. It was on Sept. 4 when Jamison Standard and Casey Reed tagged two of the biggest deer from opening day. Kline had never killed a deer that big. Mississippi hunter takes massive 170-inch buck on public land Eastons first deer 2021 Posted: 3/19/2022. Of the elk harvested, 21,000 were bulls. Fortunately, Kline has permission to hunt a 7-acre parcel that borders the sanctuary. A food plot and lots of edge habitat stretched out in front of them. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Dad always says, Hunt harder, go deeper, stay longer and when you want to quit, youre almost there. LBL does offer a three-day rifle quota hunt in November that you must apply for and draw a permit. With shaky hands, Standard called his father and asked for help recovering the buck. "The farm hasn't been bowhunted for five-plus years. ELD Match, and 175 gr. It may not display this or other websites correctly. All thanks to the good Lord above.". KENTON CO., Ky. (FOX19) - An illegal killing of a trophy deer in early November has led to a hunter's arrest for wildlife-related charges and drug charges. TOP 3 BIGGEST BUCKS KILLED IN OHIO (compilation) - YouTube He shared the good news with them, and then met them at his house nearby. "I remember catching a glimpse of the top of his rack coming through the woods," Reed said. If he had hadnt broken a couple kickers and tines, he would have gone over 200. Casey Reed had photos of one particular buck on his farm from the past three seasons, and this year he hoped to tag the 5 -year-old giant. I was thinking, Do I keep hunting this giant? Kline says. In the above video, NWTF's Jason Burckhalter talks about the group's accomplishments and future plans with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Fortunately for Kirkpatrick, a cold front had recently passed through, spurring deer movement. You know, I was getting excited. On the third day, the buck didnt show at all. He taught me all the rights and wrongs, dos and donts, and how to be safe in the field, Settle says. Womack's buck will certainly be close, but he'll have to wait another 59 days to get an official Boone & Crockett measurement. ( Photo: Fort Campbell Fish and Wildlife) There are very few thickets, which makes it challenging to figure out where deer bed. He climbed down to look for blood and his arrow but couldnt find any sign that the buck had been hit. This year, while Saturday's number of 20,263 was lower, hunters made up for that on Sunday with 12,126 deer harvested, for a total of 32,389. An Edmond hunter has killed a deer that likely will be a state archery record and is possibly the highest scoring typical whitetail buck ever taken in the state. Gentry Roof first deer ever. When the wind is blowing toward his home, he knows that its a good time to hunt from the blindlike it was on Saturday, September 11, 2021, when Settle decided to go hunting around 2:30 p.m. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Huff made a 40-yard shot with a Stryker crossbow in an area hes hunted since he was 12 years old. Many deer end up bedding on the end of big ridges, which are everywhere, and this makes it difficult to pattern them. DEC Announces 2020-21 Deer Harvest Estimates There has been a group of does hanging out across from Kroger for a couple years but I figured they had moved on since all the construction started. To be so close, and to not be able to pull the trigger, that was difficult to deal with.. Taylor knew it to be a great staging area before deer head out to feed in the soybeans. Hornady's Seth Swerczek goes in depth about the new cartridge with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Settles biological father, Terry, passed away earlier this year. When he stood up, he had nothing but his rump facing me. If you took you vacation every year Nov. 9-12, youre in best window for big bucks moving in day. I then heard Dad say, That was Sasquatch. We were devastated knowing that could be the only time we would ever see him, and we didnt get a shot. The deer frequented a food plot theyd planted specifically for him, and his movements became very predictable. They use the clearing to get back and forth between the ag-fields and the hardwoods., Settle got to work setting up mineral and food plots and installing several permanent stands. We hunted and ran cameras all fall and never saw him. Derek Settle solo hunted a monster buck thats sure to make the record books and is quite possibly the biggest buck ever taken in Kentuckya state that is known for its booners. Updated: 8:51 PM EST November 17, 2021 DECATUR COUNTY, Ind. Copyright 2019 WAFF. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. My dad, Luke, family friend Jason Divita and I covered miles almost every day, and we found one of his sheds in late January. The timber dropped off into a drainage about 60 yards away. I made a little compilation of some big Ohio brutes. We hunted the area every chance we could, trying not to bump him. Browning's Rafę Nielsen shares details on the new X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan hunting rifle with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Eventually, the buck he was hoping to see walked into the clearing, and Beach took the shot. ), It took me a long time to get over to the deer, he says. Currently, I'm filming for Kentucky Afield TV and have been since 2016. The giant buck hit and killed by a vehicle at Fort Campbell, located in western Kentucky, on July 27 was still putting on bone as evidence by these huge antlers covered in velvet. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Spin to Win: Panfish Secrets for Catching Limits on Spinners, Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Backyard Ready: Grilling the Perfect Steak, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection, Classic Marlin: 336 and 1894 Lever-Action Hunting Rifles, NWTF's Passion for Wild Turkey Conservation Still Burns After 50 Years, First Look: Leupold's BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binos, Browning's Max Point, Silver Series Rifle Ammunition, New Hunting Ammo from Remington: 360 Buckhammer, New from Browning: X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan, Hornady's Hot New 7mm PRC Cartridge: SHOT 2023, Hawke Optics' Frontier LRF Laser Range Finding Binoculars, New from LaRue Tactical: Siete Chassis Rifle. note the day it was shot, Nov. 11. In the beginning, the deer was mostly typical, but that changed with time. In the video above, Leopold's Shawn Skipper highlights the features of the exciting new optics with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The arrow struck true, and the deer ran for cover. Kirkpatrick scrambled to get ready for deer season. He saw only two deer that evening: A 3-year-old buck traveling with the big 4.5-year-old he was hoping to see. I couldn't control myself.". He eased toward a stand on top of a ridge that tapers down to a soybean field. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. On Sunday, January 24, he eased into the property. This year he decided to Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. Kentucky Big Bucks - Facebook In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. But the average age of deer, especially bucks, depends a lot on the choices hunters make. Location: Calhoun County, S.C. ELD-X Precision Hunter). It stretched the tape to 179 inches. We even had a friend drive three hours to come see Sasquatch in person. According to Justin Spring, director of big game records for Boone and Crockett, the answer is simple. I knew that if I would get the opportunity, I didnt want to be all out of breath and shaky., He stopped for a longer break around 55 yards from the buck. The broadhead struck true, and the giant bolted for cover. He suspected the deer was dead somewhere on the sanctuary property. But he never got the chance. When a deer of this magnitude is killed, especially when I immediately have calls coming to be conflict, the red flags do go up and we do investigate when big deer are killed, senior conservation law enforcement officer Joe Lindsey said. 2019-2020 Total Harvest Summary 148,395 deer were harvested during the 2019-20 deer season, which is the second highest harvest on record. That was also when we finally had a daylight picture of him, making us think this could be the year. Tag already filled; Kline couldnt help but wonder what had happened to Herman. Figuring the deer was around 8 years old in the fall of 2020, Kline had been hunting Herman since he was 4 or 5. He decided crossbowhunting was the only option to hunt this giant deer this fall. It had 5-inch bases and carried between 5 inches and 4. That's crazy! Full story on this beast coming soon from Dean Weimer, more I look at that rack, what a buck. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. Harvest Comparison by Month. Each photo should be accompanied by the county, date, and approximate time of kill. That looks like a wood pile on his head! But the left side boasted an Social media is abuzz this morning as deer hunters fawn over what might be the new world record whitetail. In December of 2019, it happened while Kline was there. The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. I used that to stay in the bucks blind spot. Several oaks were already dropping acorns, and there was heavy deer sign. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. It was kind of dumb for a deer this big, but people would see him every day, either morning or evening.. | Oklahoma hunter kills possible state record deer in Logan County Biggest bucks Ive ever seen were in the middle of Louisville. Warren County, Mississippi Turns out the area around Vicksburg, Mississippi, is more than just an attraction for Civil War history buffs. 5 Biggest Whitetail Bucks Found (Not Killed) - Wide Open Spaces 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Big, heavy, long-beamed bucks are the stuff of dreams, but Logan Beach experienced the real thing on opening day this year. The 360 Buckhammer cartridge is designed for lever-action rifles and will be available in two Remington Core-Lokt loads. He grew again and was a 200-incher with some serious mass. I was telling myself, Its OK. Nobody would blame you to give up right now and not try to shoot because of how crazy this deer is. "This involves stand location, cellular trail cameras, making sure your hunting clothes are as scent-free as possible, not contaminating the area around your stand and, most importantly, always hunting the wind.". I got out of the tree and slowly walked over to Sasquatch. That was four years ago. Published Sep 15, 2021 6:00 PM EDT. Total Harvest Results. Andy Beshear told . "Deer hunting means the world to me. "I was very excited about opening day," Standard said. The next morning, Sept. 4, brought cool weather and light southerly winds. We finally found the other side in mid-March. As Herman got older, he turned into a bona fide giant. Deciding on a particular area, he settled into the stand on a 50-acre soybean field surrounded by woods, with a food plot located between the crops and timber. Huff is just fine with the slow pace of life in the country. Most of those acres are open hardwoods, with many hills, hollows and some crop fields scattered around. Lacefield slowly drew back. Stephens County hunter kills perhaps the biggest buck of bow season I debated. Enter the 2019 season. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Ultimately, Jacob scored with a rifle during a quota hunt in November. A photo of a dead deer prompted an . Record-Class Fort Campbell Buck Killed by Vehicle - Deer And Deer Hunting His sons took some good deer as well. Lance Hill's South Carolina Stud. That is one of the best-looking racks Ive seen from last season,beautiful color and all those stickers! The buck was spending most of his time on 20 of their 200-plus acres. It turned out the deer was on a steady evening routine.". The morning started out peacefully, with a small buck feeding around. I have a video of it after it was hit and it looks to be moving good but there's other pics of it dead but the pics still are blurry. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.