Hi Mike: I shot this deer in Calvert County, Maryland one evening last October. Brandon Butler. The buck's curiosity kept it in place long enough for Ewen to get the gun working. What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Clint Schwach's history with this 6 1/2-year-old whitetail nicknamed "Wide Open" dates back to 2019, when he first started paying attention to the buck. DIY: Earthworms Can't Hide When 'Grunters' Are Hunting, Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, Spin to Win: Panfish Secrets for Catching Limits on Spinners, Bass Crash Course: Topwater Pointers for Buzzbaits, Walking Baits, Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues, Velvet MonstersTwo Giant Kentucky Opening Day Bucks, The Story Behind Brewster's World-Record Buck, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. After he squeezed the trigger and the smoke cleared, there lied this mature whitetail buck. 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. "My partner would have shot him, but he was on the wrong side of the fence. 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. Sorry! Deer in Maryland Deer Management The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project is responsible for managing native white-tailed deer and exotic sika deer. His familiar connections have allowed his boys to get right into the action in Ohio, though. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. It was his buck. This is due to a variety of factors, including habitat loss and changes in the environment. He took off and ran about 100 yards through the woods before he crashed. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? The Maryland monarch is quite stunning as well. 2020 Bow Bucks: Archers share photos of their trophy deer from this 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. "Operation Impact 22 takes disabled veterans on the hunt of a lifetime," Mongrello says. The harvest was a 17% decrease from last year's official harvest of 19,616 deer for the same period. "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." I have heard good things about blogengine.net. 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. entering the address. 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. Since then, several big whitetails have fallen, including these three bucks taken by Philip Blanford, Alex Bittick and Clint Schwach. "I love the feeling of being in the woods without all the daily stresses of life. Subscriber Services. 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. That includes the Missouri Monarch and the Hole in the Horn Buck. After a while, the raccoons drifted off and Blanford heard something right outside the blind. I wanted to try to double with him on both bucks.". |
This buck was seen over the past several years on trail cameras, and Amanda and her family havehad a long history with the deer. Here's the best part. In that time, hes tagged four nice Kansas bucks, with the most recent being a main-frame 9-pointer with two additional scoreable points. The buck ran about 60 yards, stopped, wobbled, and fell. He looked back to investigate what was up in that tree I guess. Once the deer breached 30 yards, Jackson settled his crosshair and squeezed off the shot. Another great place to hunt is Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, geese, and ducks. For more information about the 1,000-acre Taylors Island WMA or the 20,000-acre Fishing Bay WMA, call the LeCompte WMA district office at 410-376-3236. These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. The sika can be hunted in two state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in Dorchester County. Hunt aimed, settled the crosshairs and pulled the trigger. 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. It then proceeded to walk straight toward Bittick and his buddy, directly behind the 9-pointer. ", For Gatlin, it is his best Tennessee buck, his first 10-point and first piebald. While states like Kentucky, Maryland, Montana and Nebraska were first out of the gate, Missouri came on strong when its archery deer season opened in mid-September. Hunting season in Southern Maryland is one of the best in the Mid-Atlantic. I pulled out my phone, zoomed in as far as I could and couldn't believe my eyes. It was a nice deer then, but blossomed into a giant 5 1/2-year-old this year. Maryland Reports Early Deer Hunting Season 2021 Results The Top 40 Typical and Nontypical Whitetails of All Time "If I stopped grunting, he would turn and go back toward the doe. No discussion of illegal activity. At about 5:45 p.m., Wayne heard a twig snap below him in the thicket. Barrera ranged the buck at 27 yards, but a large truck then drove past, pushing the buck even closer, to within 15 yards. He'll be mounting Adam's deer, thus making this experience a total family affair. "I am pumped to have gotten a shot at this buck this early in the season," Schwach said. The page you are looking "Hunting with a trad bow is all about the satisfaction of the challenge," he says. He put his head down, grabbed a few bites of corn and kept moving. Cedar Point WMA has habitats in a variety of habitats, ranging from a tidal mudflat to mature forests. "Fishing is competitive. On Oct. 22, with the wind out of the southeast, warm temperatures and overcast skies, Develle contemplated the right move. At least not for me. 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 Deer Hunting Maryland: Eastern Shore The Best I'll remember this day and hunt forever.". As Wayne's brothers headed to the rear of the property, Wayne made his way into his son's stand for the evening hunt. "I 10-ringed Split G3, but the 9-pointer dropped on [hearing] my shot, and my buddy shot just over his back. When this giant buck stepped out, Ewen was still messing with his rifle. After several tense moments, the buck stopped 15 yards from the blind and Blanford took the quartering-away shot. The 130-class buck is the finest buck Ive ever shot with a muzzleloader, and the biggest Ive taken on Marylands Eastern Shore. predators are critical to the survival of ecosystems, and we must protect them in order to do so. "He introduced me to hunting deer, ducks, squirrels and pretty much everything outdoors. Through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the Eastern Shore was heralded as the goose hunting capital of the world, drawing waterfowlers from all over North America. News, promotions and latest products delivered to you in your inbox. "Five minutes later," he says, "I see a buck working his way towards a scrape and licking branch 40 yards away. The big 9-pointer began pursuing one of them. Maryland's Biggest Typical Buck! - North American Whitetail Her regular haul of impressive lunkers earned her the nickname, "Big Fish." The buck had his eyes set on a doe, and before long they began running around the opposite side of Stephens stand. After running off trespassers who were fishing ponds they weren't supposed to, he settled into his hunting spot located next to the ponds, which were in a cattle field full of native grasses. 01:00 He drew back, settled the pin and took the 13-yard, quartering-away shot. Instead, all he had was a rattling pack, so he gave it a shot. 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. Dustin Prievo. You can unsubscribe at any time. Just me, my thoughts, and the big man upstairs. Deer in Maryland He arrowed the 158 7/8-inch buck on Oct. 28 from a treestand on the edge of a standing bean field. |
There are about 40 public lands on the Eastern Shore where deer hunting is permitted. This deer is one of the biggest that I have ever seen and one that could hold the record for a very long time! "I decided to leave my muzzleloader in the box stand because I had no intentions of shooting another deer," says Ball. The little 8 came right to him, but the big 9 was more interested in the doe. Within seconds, Split G3 and the 9-pointer walked to within 30 yards. There is no definitive answer when it comes to the best deer hunting in Maryland. He went hard-horned on Aug. 26 last year, which Rodes thought was interestingly early. With about 10 minutes of light left, they spotted a big deer walking across the field. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? 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. The Best Deer Hunting States in 2023 - Silencer Central Best Deer Hunting States in the Northeast - Game & Fish The Story Behind the World-Record Whitetail Deer - Field & Stream He is my biggest Missouri whitetail and my second-biggest bow kill. His company, Maximum Exposure Productions, has done work for operations like Midwest Whitetail and Operation Impact 22. 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. RJ watched him stand in one place for a few minutes and believed he saw him tip over. All Rights Reserved. After he got off of her, I shot him, but he went right back to chasing the doe. "The weather has been so dry that no food plots were planted," Develle says. Blanford settled into his blind and scanned his surroundings, which consisted of cedar trees, overgrown fallow fields, scattered oaks, a pond and his food plot. Hunting is not. While some may balk at the notion of relying on traditional archery equipment while pursuing big deer, Gibson has never regretted moving away from his compound bow. This region is relatively sparsely populated, primarily flat, and heavily farmed, or covered with marsh woodlands. 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. "With a dozen sits last year and not seeing any deer, I got discouraged and somewhat abandoned it. To my surprise, I had a picture of a relatively good 10-point but had no idea this buck was in the area.". 9. Four years ago, Justin Gibson decided it was time for a new challenge. Dustin Prievo. Rodes was hunting on private property he was given permission to hunt just last year. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 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. Newburg Man Claims New State Record for Buck - Southern Maryland "It was a very big surprise," Blanford said. He hung up his compound bow and began shooting traditional archery exclusively. The Georgia native makes his living behind a camera filming hunts. When Clement Henry released zebra deer on James Island in the early 1900s, Maryland became the first state in the country to do so. When he shot this buck, there were six does in the field in front of him, but the buck didnt have any interest in them at all. The buck ran 20 yards, tipped over and tumbled down the ridge into the ditch in front of him. He did just that on Nov. 26 in Iowa County when he arrowed a 13-point giant that scored 170 7/8 inches. You should be aware that coyotes are active at night and may be difficult to locate while hunting them. He thinks the chasing is going to begin in earnest this week or next. "Hard work pays offnever give up," Jackson says. Urban and suburban areas produce some of the largest bucks. 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. "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. With a deer license, you can shoot any number of deer, including two-point and three-point bucks. Her list of impressive outdoor accolades has more recently come to include "big-buck hunter." I don't want to say it was easy, but it feels extremely good to get the job done early after hours in the field filming, running cameras, checking weather apps, watching movement and game-planning. "As I was walking up a logging road, I noticed something white that caught my attention. Wayne quickly felt the wind change and knew it wasn't right for this spot. Hunting is also simple, as long as you have a valid hunting license and a firearm. Two bucksa small 8-pointer and the big 9answered by bursting from a small patch of woods on the backside of a pond. They found it within 100 yards of where it was shot. Maryland is in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway, which means it is steeped in duck and goose hunting traditions, as well as some of the best waterfowl hunting on the Eastern Shore. I eased my muzzleloader into position while the deer watched me, trained the crosshairs on the big bucks shoulder and flicked off the safety. White-tail deer are the most commonly harvested animals in Maryland, accounting for one-third of all deer taken statewide. "He was at least 3 1/2 years old then. No abusive comments, threats, or personal attacks. However, many avid hunters believe that the best deer hunting can be found in the western and central parts of the state. Wayne and his brothers joined together over the deer, shared some hugs and backslaps, took a few photos and proceeded to drag the deer up to the trucks. I thought it was the raccoons because they had run out behind me. A Minnesota buck shot by John A. Breen. Everything about the shot felt right. "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. Sept. 15 brought 86 degrees and moderate winds. "There are no sights, and I have to get in closer. There were 40 does in the field and he pinpointed one. The views expressed within the comment section do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of The Sportsman's Guide. The buck was out beyond his comfort zone, so he waited patiently for it to move closer. 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. Tony Zerkle, Fairfield County Wildlife Officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said the county has a good supply of trophy bucks, owing to the large amount of food and cover the. Bittick told his friend to get ready for a shot on the 9-pointer and turned to look at the smoke coming off his ThermaCell to gauge the wind direction. Studs are . To up your odds of success, start by studying the deer population in the area youre interested in hunting. "I never thought I would have an opportunity at a buck of this quality, but having it was genuinely a life-changing experience. I dropped down and slipped back to my blind to grab my gun.". Wisconsin has nearly 6 million acres of public land, making it easily the most open-space state in the country. Getting to see or harvest a deer is a plus." For a fine selection of Big Game Hunting gear,click here. "They hunt for three or four days and get to see what Iowa whitetail hunting is all about. "I'm thankful to God for the blessing of letting me harvest this awesome animal in a heavily hunted area. Nick Gatlin recently hung his tag on a great Tennessee whitetail. When Ball returned, the piebald deer was still in the same spot making a scrape. Then he pretty much disappeared until the 2021 firearms season, when Rodes gave him a pass. Through the thick cloud of smoke that followed my shot, I saw the buck lurch into the woods and crash to the ground. 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. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Marylands Dorchester County has the states highest concentration of wild animals. As he got within 20 yards, I saw the ear tag and knew it was game on.". Maryland is considered a good deer hunting state because it has a diverse landscape that includes forests, farmland, and mountains. "This deer is something I have dreamed of since I was introduced to hunting around the age of 4," Rotarius says. Well, there are a few guide services, such as Schraders. Blanford first spotted this 6- to 7 -year-old buck in July while brush-hogging a spot for a new food plot. (Photo courtesy of Max Mongrello). In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. The Garrett and Montgomery counties combined to harvest 5,349 and 4,783 deer, respectively. Heads of State: All About State-Record Bucks - Realtree Store Brandon Butler. After several mild winters and good mast crops, the herd is in good shape as fall approaches. Early action consisted of two small bucks passing through the area. This is the Maryland state record for a non-typical buck, which was killed with a muzzleloader. Field Dressed Weight: 431-Lbs Estimated Weight On Hoof: 540-Lbs Ontario, 1977 Another cool twist is John's cousin, Ernie Wallace, owns and operates Central Flyway Taxidermy. His story: I had my trail cameras set at three different locations since the middle of June. Legal shooting light was still almost an hour away as 26-year-old Maryland farmer Kevin Miller crossed the 15-acre frost-covered alfalfa field en route to his Kent County stand on Nov. 30, 2002. Several does and fawns grazed through the area, as did a young 4-pointer. He turned slightly behind some cover at . At this moment, the buck raised his head to check the wind and Wayne felt he was going to be busted. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 The Sportsmans Guide, Inc.1-800-882-2962|, Forward-Facing Sonar is Changing Much of Fishing. Bittick spent the preseason making plans and working hard to put himself in the best possible position come deer season. Give a Gift
"I'm pretty certain I bumped him on the way to my stand," Gatlin says. As a cool 16-pointer, the. "I couldn't believe it," Blanford said. From last year to this year, he put on a lot of mass and just got bigger overall.". However, the buck made a mistake when it stopped and offered Bennett a shot. It wasn't until he noticed that the rack was sticking two feet above the ground that he realized this was the deer he'd had on camera the night before. "Last year I spent nearly two entire months chasing two different bucks and ended up shooting them both in December on this same ranch. What an awesome animal.". Male moose have small, branched elk-like antlers. To be eligible, you must be at least 21 years old. He said there was no one in the hunting group that had history with this deer either. "This buck means so much to me; it was the reward for perseverance and patience," Gatlin says. "He came out following a group of four or five does. Maryland is a great place to hunt for both big bucks and for just a few deer to keep in the freezer. 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. Hunting with an outfitter allows you to explore areas that you would not be able to access otherwise. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. Josh Honeycutt. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the majority of the states deer population is found in the western counties, with Garrett and Allegany counties being home to the most deer. He immediately called his son and thanked him for the suggestion and opportunity to sit in his stand. Alex Bittick first started following the buck known as Split-G3 in November of 2019. That afternoon, the rain cleared out and a cold front pushed in. Where Are The Biggest Deer In Maryland? Every deer hunt is different, too. Gatlin ranged the deer then squeezed off the 128-yard shot, which hit the mark. Wayne says hes blessed to have been able to harvest such a beautiful animal but more blessed to share his time in the woods with his family and friends. The Biggest Bucks of the 2021 Deer Season - Field & Stream