While making the long half-mile walk around to where he had gone, I began to second-guess myself. "You can watch for movement in the alfalfa field while keeping tabs on action in the drainage and on the far slope. It ranks No. Here's the story of the East Coast's highest-scoring typical since 1939! . In total, the deer has 67 points, all but three of which are on the left side. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? http://www.marylandqdma.com/, For more information, please contact: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service Tawes State Office Building, E-1 Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 260-8540 Toll-free in Maryland: 1-877-620-8DNR, Ext. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Gordon Whittington goes home to central Texas armed with a modern flintlock rifle, with a twist. We're available on the following channels. "It was hard to see through all of the limbs of the treetop to tell what was going on," Kevin remembers. Since then, Maryland has continued to rack up impressive entries for the record books. You're the man! | Kevin Miller's 194-inch typical state record was shot near an alfalfa field in this region a little over a decade ago, and many other great whitetails have been harvested there as well. Give a Gift Billy J. Padgett shot the biggest buck in Georgia in Telfair County in 1998. "I knew he had a good set of antlers on his head," Jordan says. I couldn't see him at all when he was bedded and the weather was so miserable that I thought about leaving several times. I was trying not to panic, but my heart was pounding and I couldn't find him because he was already down in the marsh grass. Had I made a good shot? If the other side matched, and giving it a 20-inch spread credit, the buck could be a 184-inch typical: a potential challenger to the current state mark of 185 7/8. '/_layouts/15/Reporting.aspx' The man was sentenced for poaching a 17-point deer that was a potential state-record crossbow kill, based on Boone and Crocket scoring (Image from Maryland Department of Natural Resources press release) Related: The Biggest B&C Record Typical Bucks from Every State. . Probably the most amazing thing about this buck was his main beams: 31 6/8 inches on the left, 33 0/8 on the right. Interestingly, its bases are over 7 inches. However, the inside spread is only 14 2/8 inches. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project is responsible for managing native white-tailed deer and exotic sika deer. Haynes Shelton provides some tips for planning and setting up shooting lanes. 982 overall. "I watched him stagger maybe 75 or 80 yards, and he disappeared over a little knoll in the field," Jordan says. And so, not too many veteran whitetail hunters in the Old Line State were shocked when Jordan DuHamell broke the non-typical archery record with a giant from one of those "other" counties in 2013. And when he did, he immediately saw antler points sprouting in all directions. Males have narrow antlers and a dark, shaggy mane on the neck. Type "Maryland deer hunting" into any search engine on the Internet, and you'll come up with a number of websites that will link you to those services. He's huge! Faced with deer densities approaching (and in some cases exceeding) the habitat's capacity, many Maryland landowners and deer hunters have begun to manage the herd. "The Official Record-Keeper for Maryland Trophy Deer and Bears" February 3, 2022 -- Maryland DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service August 18, 2021 - Maryland Wildlife Advisory Commission GIVING BACK BUCKS-BEARS-STAGS understands that we, as hunters, must be ethical and responsible. Both beams are 22 inches or less and the inside spread is only 15 1/8 inches. 'I've got plenty of daylight and I'm going to wait him out. He couldn't believe it when I told him what had happened. Updated Nov 3, 2022 8:30 AM EDT. 1 in West Virginia and No. But then he would stand up again, give a quick glimpse around and immediately go back down. When required, the field tag must be attached to the head of the deer or leg of the turkey. "'I don't know,' I answered. All Rights Reserved. The Maryland General Assemblys Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. Read Next: The Biggest B&C Record Whitetail Deer from Every State. The biggest Kentucky nontypical whitetail was picked up in 2019. Billy Crutchfield of Bel Alton, Maryland, is no stranger to big bucks. Why was Jordan toting his bow when he could have taken a smokepole instead? With a score of 268 1/8 non-typical, it's the largest buck ever recorded on the entire Eastern Seaboard. Then it began to rain.". ", The spot he chose was "exactly on a creek bottom near an old cattle fence," Jordan says. 1 in the state and No. But what could I do? 150 all-time. Bridgeville, DE 19933. to ensure the present and future well-being of deer and their habitat; maintain deer populations at levels necessary to ensure compatibility with human land uses and natural communities; encourage and promote the recreational use and enjoyment of the deer resource; and inform and educate Maryland citizens concerning deer biology, management options, and the impacts that deer have on landscapes and people. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - Updated Information, Frequently Asked Questions about White-tailed Deer, Deer Hunting: An Effective Management Tool, Deer Hunting - A Valuable Deer Management Tool for Private Landowners, Cornell University Community Deer Adviser. We're available on the following channels. It's always interesting to look back on a successful hunt and try to determine what made the difference the day everything came together. Billy would like to use his newfound fame to take some deserving youngsters on dream hunts. He simply disappeared. The Maryland General Assemblys Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. The Department of Natural Resources leads Maryland in securing a sustainable future for our environment, society, and economy by preserving, protecting, restoring, and enhancing the States natural resources. It also it has only a 16 2/8-inch inside spread. I could see his body and I tried to get a reading, but nothing happened after I pushed the button. of Maryland. Taken in Beaufort County, it has a total of 21 scoreable points. The Wildlife & Heritage Service would like to recognize Bucks Bears Stags as the official record keeper for Maryland trophy deer and bears. This resulted in higher bag limits being set so that hunters would be encouraged to harvest and control the sika deer population. And to think these bucks all came from a state of only 9,838 square miles! The rut generally results in increased movements by stags during the day, which can increase the odds of seeing one during legal hunting hours. The next morning, Kevin and Brad took the deer to Travis Taxidermy in Chestertown. Mike Clerkin is in Pike County Illinois chasing whitetails with his muzzleloader. "As I neared the area where I knew he should be, the bull briars got very nasty. The Maryland General Assemblys Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. Pat Hogan heads to Georgia to do his part to manage the destructive hog population. The buck started quartering away. Hunting The Seneca Creek . He was now a massive, perfect, long-beamed 6x6 with one small sticker. It's his way of giving back. Junior asked. The "bark" they emit when alarmed is most distinct. When I climbed down just after dark, I had no idea if he was still there or if he had gotten up and moved off. Scoring 254 1/8 inches, it sits at No. 1 in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and No. It was tagged in Grafton County. A Kent County man convicted Tuesday of illegally killing a potential state record white-tailed deer was ordered to pay a fine, make restitution to the state and perform community service. Billy's buck became an overnight sensation and Billy became an overnight celebrity. He's a friend of both hunters and a pro staffer for the Blitz TV show. Going into the 2002 gun season, Kevin had taken only one nice buck from his lookout in eight years, but he'd seen a few others out of range. Excellent habitat, fertile soil and science-based wildlife management have given us a world-class White-tailed Deer herd, a robust and expanding American Black Bear population, and a unique "Maryland-only" residency of Sika Deer. For Maryland residents under 16 years of age. "Cecil County is just north of Kent County, where Kevin Miller killed his record buck," points out Charlie Prickett. The 4-pointer appeared to be pushing on the big deer's rack! 71 all-time. 2020-2034 Maryland White-tailed Deer Management PlanThe 2020 2034 Maryland Deer Management Plan provides the foundation for all deer management activities and decisions until 2034. Who doesnt love the club hanging off that right side? One last factor favoring the production of record-book deer in Maryland is that there is a growing trend toward letting younger bucks walk and shooting more does. I knew that deer sightings in this location would be fewer than in other places on the farm, but I was more interested in quality than quantity. Photo by Charlie Prickett. He had only run about 35 to 40 yards from where I had shot him. 3,154 all-time. "Every hour or two, the buck would stand up and shake off the water like a wet dog," Billy remembers. This policy facilitates adequate harvest of does. The McLaughlin buck is a whopper. The happy archer immediately opened his phone and texted Charles a short but memorable message: "I've killed a monster.". I once watched a Maryland doe and her fawn jump into a greenbrier jungle 30 yards in front of my stand just after first light on opening day of the firearms season. A new state record buck was taken by Bill Crutchfield, Jr. of Charles County near his home in Newburg, Maryland. Maryland has a one-day deer youth season, and kids hunting on the farm have taken some huge bucks. Haynes Shelton provides some tips for planning and setting up shooting lanes. Actually, he was now walking away from me. It was him, the buck from last year, the king of the marsh, and he was bedding within 100 yards of the same spot where I had watched him in the rain the season before. Gordon Whittington gets technical with his TenPoint crossbow, specifically relating to space awareness. Despite what some may think, the Boone & Crockett records are not about a name or a score in a bookbecause, in the end, theres so much more to the score. The Garrett buck is the lone Oregon nontypical in the books. An Alford plea allows a defendant in a criminal case to enter a guilty plea without actually admitting to . Stan Potts discusses which archery releases may be best for you. 92 all-time, it scores so well thanks to the 30 points it has. It has heavy mass, with two measurements over 7 inches, two over 6 inches, and four over 5 inches. And then, as I got to the woods on the edge of the marsh, there he was. . A huge whitetail buck with a rack beyond anything I had ever imagined was bedding down in the marsh. He'd previously dropped a Lucky Buck mineral block on the ground within bow range of his ambush site, hoping to draw something close. We're available on the following channels. In Maryland, it is legal to hunt the first Sunday during shotgun season. Sika deer often use phragmites as movement corridors between feeding and bedding areas. 9 all-time, this 45-pointer is a monster. As an official scorer for Pope & Young, Mike "green" scored the buck at a little over 201 inches gross typical, net 193 and change. This deer is pretty freaky, especially on that left side. But big nontypical whitetailssporting racks covered in drop tines, extra main beams, and a dizzying number of pointsare on another level. The biggest buck in Delaware was taken in Sussex County in 2005. Biologists speculate that a general infection, possibly a result of fighting, somehow moves from the initial infection site to the brain through fissures in the skull plate. In business nearly 30 years, owner Don Travis and his brother, Mike, have seen and taken their share of big whitetails, but no typical of this size had ever come through their door. Please let us know if you find one! It even has a whopping 27 6/8-inch inside spread. The stand is near a marsh close to the Potomac River. With 6,000 miles of tidal tributaries and shorelines surrounding Chesapeake Bay, Maryland has abundant wetland sanctuaries. The condition, generally referred to as a brain abscess, is not all that uncommon and seems to show up more in older bucks. TTY users, call through the Maryland Relay. The inside spread is 20 inches. 8 all-time, and sports 35 total points. Coming out of St. Louis County, its a true legend. With 27 points, this deer is truly a spectacle, and has quite a unique rack, even for a nontypical whitetail. In fact, Kevin Miller and the rest of his hunting group now have had a QDM program on the farm they hunt for several years, as have some of their neighbors. Their coat tends to be reddish brown during summer months, and dark brown to black in color during winter. I knew this deer was a 'shooter.' There was reason to believe that not only was this buck a survivor, but that he'd lay claim to the beaver dam drainage and the surrounding high ground as his main stomping grounds. He saw a number of deer but no shooters. During caping, the taxidermist noticed an infection around the skull. Mike Clerkin offers advice for hunting whitetails with a pistol. Deer densities well above 30 per square mile are the norm, and on some private lands they might exceed 100 deer per square mile. With the flooring and side rails in place, a hunter can walk around the entire tree. Pat Hogan discusses the use of an AR rifle as a whitetail hunting option. Bagged in Cheyenne County, it sports 29 points, and ranks No. Fortunately, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been responsive to landowner needs and allows, when conditions warrant, yearlong harvest of antlerless deer via deer management permits. The DNRid number is printed on all hunting licenses. Since 1887, Boone & Crockett has been keeping records of some pretty impressive deer along with other big game species, and with their help, we put together this list of the biggest nontypical whitetail bucks from every stateincluding the biggest hunter-killed buck of all time. Heath heads for Saskatchewan with his bow as he hunts the wilderness in search of the predatory black bear. "I looked at my watch, and it was 3:45 p.m." Jordan figures that from the time he spotted the monster buck until he put an arrow into his lungs, roughly a minute elapsed though it seemed a lot longer. On Target: Are AR Rifles a Good Option for Whitetail Hunting. 16 all-time, much in part due to its 36 points, 22 of which are on the right and 14 on the left. Archery hunters can hunt during any firearms season but must wear adequate fluorescent orange at those times, same as if they were carrying a gun. During this time, males become very vocal by "bugling." "They seemed to have a lot of mass. And the Maryland monarch is quite sensational! 125 overall. The deer was still mobile when taken; however, his health was fading rapidly. Petey Councell's 10-pointer stands as the archery state record, at 183 3/8 typical. He immediately got his scope on the deer. This Warren County whitetail was harvested by James W. Smith, and it sits at No. The area is less intensively farmed than are some of the better-known deer counties farther south, but otherwise it has a lot going for it as whitetail habitat. +'?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'tag') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+ But it really shines in the mass department. Billy watched the big 8-pointer walk toward some woods that bordered the marsh. The nine abnormal points on the right antler account for 39 4/8 inches, including a 10 7/8-inch drop tine underneath the G-3 tine. Heath heads for Saskatchewan with his bow as he hunts the wilderness in search of the predatory black bear. It has heavy mass, with one measurement over 8 inches and two over 6 inches. | I was soaking wet, shivering and hungry. (1) A game field tag, including the hunter's name, DNR ID number, and the deer or turkey's date and county of harvest, serves to identify the hunter who has killed a deer or turkey. Crutchfield watched the buck for approximately two hours mid-day Monday before finding an opportunity to take the massive deer with a single shotgun round. Stags generally have a dark, shaggy mane running down their neck, and their antlers are narrow and sweep backwards rather than forwards like the white-tail's antlers. It even. Nine months after finding the impressive shed antler, Billy couldn't wait to get into the woods during the opening week of Maryland's shotgun season. 8540, National Human Trafficking Hotline - 24/7 Confidential. After the two hunters examined the antler and talked about the trophy buck that had dropped it, Billy made a comment to his partner. "Then he stood up.". It was Junior. Subscriber Services. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The Ritchie whitetail is No. For ease of use, deaf and hard of hearing hunters are encouraged to use the internet check-in site or mobile app. Applicants must comply with the requirements listed above. Interestingly, this deers gross and net scores are less than 10 inches apart. For information about the 1,000-acre This buck is the second largest bow deer taken by a hunter. Sunday is gonna be good. Of course, this assumed the buck would continue to grow and that he'd live to see the 2002 season. In Jordan's case, it all began with the opportunity to hunt. It is possible that malicious software running on your computer is posting spam to the Internet without your knowledge. "I walked over to where he'd been standing when I shot, started looking and found my first arrow," he says. "'No, I don't want to mess this thing up,' I said. No Image Found! 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Current population levels appear to be low enough to ensure crop damage is minimized, while still providing plenty of hunting opportunities for sportsmen and women. "All of a sudden, he stopped at about 120 yards and bedded down in the 6-foot-tall marsh grass. Three tines are over 13 inches, and one is. But these hunters never expected to tag the deer they did, either. Guide to Hunting and Trapping in Maryland. '/_layouts/15/itemexpiration.aspx' Serious deer hunters know Maryland has the soil nutrients and herd genetics to produce magnum whitetails. The top buck in Bama was bagged by Jon G. Moss in Perry County. Males, aka stags, also have a dark shaggy mane running down their neck. While still a heavy turkey, most of Maryland's top 10 turkeys have weighed more than 22 pounds, with some weighing as much as 26 pounds. For information about the 1,000-acre Taylor's Island WMA or the 20,000+-acre Fishing Bay WMA, call the district office at LeCompte WMA: 410-376-3236.