A deer drive in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, with four companions produced the long-tined monster. Pictured from left to right are Eric Ranfos, VJ Ranfos, Vic Ranfos, John Klucky and Ron Lavoie.

John Klucky wasn't just carrying a shotgun when he walked into the woods of Merrimack County, New Hampshire, on Nov. 25 last year. He carried with him many years of deer hunting experience and knowledge. The 45-year-old had been hunting since he was a small boy. At 8 he chased small game with a .22 at the family hunting camp in Vermont. By the 1970s he was deer hunting with his dad, and in 1979 he took his first deer, a doe. A few years later he shot a spike. After that, he was hooked on whitetail hunting for life.

Since then John has hunted a number of states in the U.S., including his home state of New Hampshire, as well as several Canadian provinces. John hunts with bow, muzzleloader, rifle and shotgun. He will never forget some words of wisdom spoken by his dad many years ago -- words that were destined to influence his encounter with the great buck he would shoot in 2006.

"You gotta get out of bed to go deer hunting," his dad had told him.

By that, of course, his dad meant that John had to have the desire to drag himself out of bed no matter what, and to keep at it each season, if he truly wanted to become a good hunter. And John did become a good hunter. In fact, he built a business around his love for hunting -- John Klucky's Outdoor Adventures. John produces videos about deer, bear and moose hunting.

AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY IN THE WOODS
On the morning of Nov. 25, John was supposed to be filming another hunter, but the hunter cancelled. Heeding his father's words, John got himself out of bed anyway and joined his "crew," a group of friends, for a deer drive. Given the tough, thick, nasty cover that most big bucks seek out once gun season begins, this method of hunting is very common throughout New England. John was to meet friends Eric Ranfos, VJ Ranfos, Vic Ranfos and Ron Lavoie.

On his way out, John grabbed his shotgun. This was something that he seldom did, as he generally prefers to hunt with a muzzleloader. The group met for coffee and donuts before first light and then headed out to the woods. Upon reaching the area, they walked for nearly an hour to their favorite spot. It was a long way from the nearest road and thought to be a real haven for big bucks.

Eric organized the first "push." He and John did a slow drive through thick cover, but no deer were sighted. They then moved to a different area, and on the second drive Eric and VJ were the drivers while John, Ron and Vic took stands and waited. Eric pointed John toward a large boulder that would give him a good vantage point, and John crawled up on top and sat waiting patiently as VJ and Eric headed around to the other side of the tract to begin the drive.

It was one of those cool, crisp, clear and quiet mornings that hunters love. Sitting on the huge boulder with his shotgun on his lap, John waited -- but not for long. Within 10 minutes he heard deer coming. John's heart began to pound as he noticed two deer straight ahead of him. Although he could not see them clearly, he sensed that they were a buck and doe. The deer headed in Vic's direction, but no shots were fired.

A BUCK FOR THE AGES
As he sat wondering where the deer had gone, John heard more footsteps. It sounded like they were coming back! The early morning sun blinded him as he tried to look toward the sound. Listening intently and squinting, John noticed the sound getting closer. Then a doe suddenly appeared at about 35 yards. As she was going out of sight, John was shocked to see a monster buck standing about 40 yards away, looking right at him! Because of the sun's glare, John could not see the buck's rack clearly, but he could make out two large main beams and he knew the deer was a shooter.

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