Eighteen-year-old Michael Zimmerman shot this great buck on the first day of rifle season (Dec. 1, 2008) in central Pennsylvania while hunting on state forest land. "We live on a farm and on opening day we hurried through our chores," Michael said. "By the time we got to the woods, It was a bit late.

So we hurried up the mountain and got to our area just before the sun came up. I was walking along the mountain trail toward my hunting spot when I heard my brother shoot. Then I heard my dad shoot as well.

"I quickly got to an area with a decent field of vision. Within 15 minutes, I spotted a deer sneaking through the laurel, and I immediately steadied my .30-30 Marlin against a sapling. As the deer got closer, I saw that it was a buck with big antlers. I picked out a small hole in the brush ahead the deer and shot when he moved into it. After I shot, the buck took off running. I shot again. I thought I had missed both times, but after looking I found a blood trail. I waited a while and then started tracking. Only after I found my deer did I realize how big he was. I was very excited!

It was dream come true! My 9-point buck green scored 144 inches with a 24-inch outside spread. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's deer reduction program and the antler restriction program, we are now seeing bigger buck throughout the state!

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