biggest deer killed in kentucky 2021

I had an incredible year in 2021, from my dad and I taking trophy-class mule deer on a DIY public land hunt in Wyoming, to killing a buck of a lifetime near home. Settle immediately felt confident about his shot placement. It all happened within three minutes. After that season, he decided to focus all his energy on hunting that deer. 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. Whether you hunt or not, you take notice of an animal like that, Lindsey continued. "The sun was starting to sink but there was still plenty of daylight left.". About 300 yards away, in the corner of a soybean field south of me, the light shined on his rack right when I was looking that way. "I still can't believe that I was blessed enough to harvest this mature buck," Reed continued. You must log in or register to reply here. It isnt every day you tag a giant 179-inch deer, and its even rarer to do so with traditional archery equipment. This buck was killed yesterday in Richmond in front of Krogers. They next day, it showed up in front of another treestand, but both the Deckards were sitting in the blind. During the summer of 2019 we started getting pictures of him, but we never received pictures in the daylight. Harvest Comparison by Year. All thanks to the good Lord above.". I want that to be a rack but must be brush or a pile of sticks, or something., Settle got out his Bushnell Powerview 7-1525 binoculars for a better look. So, on the fourth day of season, Deckard and his dad decided to split up. That looks like a wood pile on his head! (Photos courtesy of Jamison Standard and Casey Reed). "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. LaRue's Ethan Alexander talks about the Siete's features with Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. We have big deer here in north Alabama, that is a big deer anywhere in the country, Lindsey said. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. It was cloudy and cool on Sept. 5. Many deer end up bedding on the end of big ridges, which are everywhere, and this makes it difficult to pattern them. 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. A total of 159,962 deer were harvested. Skis are easily the most efficient way to cover snowy ground on foot in winter. My stand was in the top of a tall cedar tree with a good view of the soybean field.". "He never knew I was anywhere around. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The problem? If we dont hear about it from the public, then we dont know that theres a case to be made, Gray explained. This big buck had historically spent the early and late seasons on the Arkenaus property, and spent the rut elsewhere. His rack was just the icing on the cakeitll never happen again to me.. After the mandatory drying period, the rack scored an incredible 312-0/8. 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. It started with a friend of ours getting one trail camera picture of him in December 2017. He hoped the buck might return in camera photos, but he knew in his gut that wasnt likely to happen. Below, you can see the total number of deer harvested by county and by weapon, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife's numbers. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. But he never got the chance. He would make a great first buck with my bow.". 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. It was also the opening of dove season, and after climbing into the stand, he heard gunshots everywhere. How Many Whitetail Bucks Do Hunters Kill Across America. 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. He just disappeared, Settle says. Its a natural corridor. All of those four are among the top 15 in the state in their respective category. So, just from knowing the property, I thought that there would be one particular place where a big deer might go to die. His second shot struck true. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. "It became a yearly tradition for me," he said. 5 Common Deer Abnormalities Caught on Camera, Oklahoma Hunter Shoots Target Buck That's Locked Up with Another Giant, Potential Kentucky State Record Crossbow Typical Shot in Hemp Field, A Look Back at No. 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. A food plot and lots of edge habitat stretched out in front of them. Access. The broadhead struck true, and the giant bolted for cover. Gov. The number of times I thought Dad was going crazy over this deer was countless. The NWTF is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. They recently built a new high fence and they think the deer had gotten out when they were moving deer into the pen.. As Herman got older, he turned into a bona fide giant. CWP collects hunters' voluntary harvest reports, and estimated 84,000 hunters killed 38,000 deer. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. "I slowly looked right below our stand and there he was," Kirkpatrick recalled. Right after he got into the blind, he saw something that stirred [his] curiosity., I was getting situated, he says. Strutter. And there are several roads throughout the area, so many areas are easily accessible. #1 - Wisconsin Wisconsin is the #1 ranked state with 1,822 total entries and six counties in the top 20 U.S. counties with the most records produced. AL man illegally kills record-setting buck. There was a wild sapling pushed right up against the trees on the weed line. ( Photo: Fort Campbell Fish and Wildlife) The genetic potential is there, the nutrition is there, and hunters have been practicing Quality Deer Management. Then when a game farm reached out and said the antlers looked familiar, Keating knew the whitetail was an escapee. Dad tried grunting to stop him, but he was not stopping. Few states offer a good shot at a velvet buck, but Kentucky is one of them. Around 5:30 p.m., he decided to call his friend, Kyle Moore, to see if he wanted to come sit the remainder of the evening with him. People in Limestone County noticed, and so did law enforcement. He decided crossbowhunting was the only option to hunt this giant deer this fall. Everything in my body at that moment wanted to give up, he says. 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. He had never seen an animal quite like this one beforeand neither had the rest of the world. But the average age of deer, especially bucks, depends a lot on the choices hunters make. 4 pointer killed in butler co while hunting with pappy Posted: 11/26/2022. The rack is still in the drying phase before it can be officially scored B&C. | Location: Calhoun County, S.C. He just popped up out of nowhere, Settle says. Most of those acres are open hardwoods, with many hills, hollows and some crop fields scattered around. 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. The sun came up and we finally saw a deer around 7:00 a.m. Three does passed through, and then I heard Dad say, Big buck, big buck.. Hes a union carpenter and lived a couple of miles from his current property. He left everything in the blind except for his crossbow, a brand-new Raven R26, and one arrow. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for 20 years or more. Wish someone had some better pics. So, now that you have a brief history of LBL, here is the story of the buck we named Sasquatch.. Its a thick, secluded creek bottom.. The buck ran a short distance and tipped over. Its a moment that will be very hard to top and a memory that will last a lifetime. The illegal killing of a trophy deer in Northern Kentucky led to the arrest of a hunter, Kentucky officials said. This man pleaded guilty to hunting without permission and hunting by aid of bait, which are both class C misdemeanors. My dad, Luke, family friend Jason Divita and I covered miles almost every day, and we found one of his sheds in late January. That number includes about 12,000 bowhunters who registered 3,000 deer. This year he decided to Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. Skis are easily the most efficient way to cover snowy ground on foot in winter. It was a wise decision, because soon he noticed deer started moving. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. We had kept Sasquatch a secret from almost everyone; even our closest friends had no idea we were hunting this buck. In the beginning, the deer was mostly typical, but that changed with time. The whole crew was there to celebrate their collective accomplishment, and one that was years in the making. Deer hunting in Tennessee started strong during the summer and finished strong in January with the harvest almost 20% larger than the previous season. EDITORS NOTE: When the photos of this deer were first sent to us by the hunter, Derek Settle, our immediate gut check was: This is a high-fence deer. Another field and drain stretched out behind him. They watched it feed along as the sun began to dip lower behind the trees. I had no shot whatsoever.. Lance Hill's South Carolina Stud. From seeing him to when I shot him it was a three-minute thrill ride, Huff told MeatEater. Dad ran to me and we hugged and thanked God again for an unforgettable hunt that we got to experience together. 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. It got real intense from 50 to 12 yards, he says. "You must take the time to do all the preseason scouting," Reed said. After she passed away, he quickly picked up the 5-acre lot and moved his family into a two-story log home on the property. 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. "When walking to my stand, I crossed through the soybeans to avoid the edge of the woods where they may have been bedded or would cross my path coming out of the woods," Standard said. Big, heavy, long-beamed bucks are the stuff of dreams, but Logan Beach experienced the real thing on opening day this year. Look below you," Moore told him. I got a little concerned, Kline says. Shortly after, some young bucks walked through. 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. 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. Last year, during gun season, I had him in gun range at about 80 yards. It is my girlfriend's family's farm, and her uncle hunted occasionally, but, sadly, he passed away five years ago. We even had a friend drive three hours to come see Sasquatch in person. It was showing up regularly and seemed very huntable. I knew this would mean a lot to him. His desk-mate was a mounted warthog. Much to his surprise, the deer returned this summer. Harvest Comparison by Month. "It came out into the soybeans broadside at 20 yards right in front of me," Standard said. Currently, I'm filming for Kentucky Afield TV and have been since 2016. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. I looked around a little bit and something caught my eye. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. Soon after settling into the stand, deer began moving. "I enjoy being in the great outdoors. I was hoping Id maybe see him again. "It was emotional because this was [my girlfriend's] uncle's old stand. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. 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. So, on opening weekend, he moved in and hunted along a promising ridge line. This page has. Subscriber Services. They state this deer garners more attention than any buck on the premise because it almost looks too big to believe. 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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. I've filmed a lot of deer hunts. Still, he and others regularly glassed the giant out in the open on the big farm that wouldnt allow hunting . 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. He decided it was worth checking out and that he still had plenty of time for a stalk. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky coal miner died Saturday in an accident at an underground mine, authorities said. 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 figured he took off. He had 15 scorable points, and he would still score over 200 inches. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. "I ventured away from deer hunting because of my passion for waterfowl hunting, but there's nothing like harvesting a buck with a bow. His window was narrow, too: Shortly after shedding its velvet, the buck always departed Lacefields hunting grounds. I've seen some biggins in the middle of Frankfort. Available in 180- and 200-grain sizes. "My heart about beat out of my chest as I watched him make his way in my direction," Standard said. We began looking for sheds daily again, grid searching the 3000-plus acres. ELD-X Precision Hunter). My dad, Luke (my brother) and I enjoy hunting public land all over the country. Total Harvest Results. At that point, he could tell it was a good deer. Word got out fast, and we had people calling and wanting to come see the deer. We told them to grab all his sheds off the mantle and meet us in LBL to drag him out. Guner Womack killed one of the most perfectly symmetrical whitetails. - Big Deer Previous Next Kentucky Giant Buck, 226 Inches! Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. What is the biggest deer killed in Kentucky? The afternoon before the opener, he glassed a large soybean field and spotted the giant, plus a 150-inch buck and others, as they walked out into the open. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The first couple hours were slow, with only a doe and fawn passing through. Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. Huff is just fine with the slow pace of life in the country. Upon walking up on the deer, Standard raised the buck's head from the soybeans and immediately realized how big it was. He had never seen the buck before that day. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Almost anyone can hunt LBL, all you need is your statewide hunting license, tags and an LBL user permit. ELD Match, and 175 gr. Before we interviewed Settle, we confirmed with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife that the buck had been checked in as being killed and tagged in Kentucky on telecheck. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. None of them fully spooked, but they didnt like what they saw, either. Then he retrieved his gear from the blind returned home to pick up his 16- and 18-year-old boys, who Settle calls his little tracking dogs. They went back to look for the buck. 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. For Release: Friday, April 23, 2021. Although the story didnt end the way Kline had hoped, at least he found closure, and the 233 7/8-inch rack to remember the buck and all the seasons spent chasing it. I looked up at Dad and with tears in our eyes we went crazy, and we said a prayer thanking God for this opportunity. He drew back, anchored, settled the pin and took the 42-yard shot. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Give a Gift The carcass was picked over by scavengers so there was no way to tell what had actually killed the buck. I just wanted to see what it was like in that stand a few hours before dark.". This year, on opening day, Reed got the southwest wind he needed and decided to hunt a hilly ridgetop. Then, around 7 a.m., the big deer walked out, and Ed took the 25-yard shot. Story is that someone cut it;s head off and left before the F&W guys arrived. He even started hearing loud music. Then, after seven or eight bucks walked through, he spotted giant antlers moving through the timber. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. To be so close, and to not be able to pull the trigger, that was difficult to deal with.. "I don't believe I will harvest another one this size," Kirkpatrick said. The window is short, usually lasting only five to 10 days, but those who work hard to pattern deer during the pre-season have a great chance of tagging a good buck. LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - In November, a Limestone County man illegally killed a 25-point deer on private property. Hoping to hunt the buck on the opener, he decided to set his stand on the edge of some woods that sat high on a little knob. Fortunately for Kirkpatrick, a cold front had recently passed through, spurring deer movement. Brian Butcher shot a deer with massive antlers, but he won't let that give him a big head. By summer 2020, we had several more pictures of him, and Sasquatch continued to grow. You know, I was getting excited. Eastons first deer 2021 Posted: 3/19/2022. Nice to see other people from Richmond. A couple hours later, he and his father recovered the buck 90 yards from where Mattingly had shot the big velvet buck. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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. Bowhunting is just one of those things that I used to love when I was growing up, Settle adds. We thank God for giving us the perseverance and dedication to always press on no matter how frustrating it got. But Settle says he felt his presence this September. 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. Thinking his hunt was over, he started to climb down, then decided against it. 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.. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area is about 20 minutes from our hometown of Benton, Kentucky. But the buck took a full step to the right. 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. 2:33. Jason Kline has spent much of his life chasing whitetail deer. The 25-point deer may be impressive, however the way it was killed, is not. How many deer were killed in Kentucky 2019? He is one of the biggest bucks ever taken out of LBL. "My dad raised me to love deer and turkey hunting," Reed said. "I had never taken a buck with my bow before and was strongly considering taking this shot. Im sad that he died and wasnt killed by someone, but I am glad to have him., Read Next: An Elevated Shed Hunting Experience. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Here are a handful of the best velvet bucks to come out of Kentuckys 2021 bowseason. 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. I could tell that a lot of deer were running through here, he says, noting that the neighbors also allow him to hunt their adjoining land. It stretched the tape to 179 inches. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Then, it happened. Like its namesake, glimpses of this 16-point deer were only captured in grainy photos. KY.gov. 0:05. The whitetail had a three-point right side, the size of which wasnt anything special. Read Next: Shed Hunting: Secrets of the Shed Masters. I rarely hunt with a firearm.". Put in his scenario, we would have done the same thing. ELD Match, and 175 gr. It was broadside and slightly quartering away from Settle. DEC Announces 2020-21 Deer Harvest Estimates Hunters in New York Harvested More than 253,000 Deer in 2020-21 . We found one of his sheds in late January and looked for the other side all spring with no luck. Weve had him on camera for several years and watched him grow up, Womack said. According to Keating, the 50-point buck was not killed inside of a high fence. "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. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 3,757 likes. While checking one of the cameras, Dad saw a mature deer cross a saddle. On the third day, the buck didnt show at all. We are still blown away that we killed Sasquatch.