Bob didn’t know that the trophy buck he had shot was the much-acclaimed Field & Stream buck until he recovered the deer. Although there was much speculation about the deer possibly being a world-record typical, it was later scored as a non-typical. Nonetheless, the Buffalo County monarch was declared a new Wisconsin state record by bow!
It seemed like every deer hunter in North America knew about this great buck, and avid bowhunter Bob Decker knew the deer lived in the area where he was hunting. But never in his wildest dreams did Bob think he would actually encounter the buck, much less get a shot at it!
In late August 2008, a friend e-mailed me the link to a video of a huge buck filmed in velvet. Taken in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, the video was posted on Field & Stream magazine’s Web site. Videotaped at over 400 yards away, the buck appeared to be a giant typical (although it looked like he had some non-typical points). The deer soon became known as the “Field & Stream” buck. Within a very short time, much speculation began to circulate that its typical score could surpass that of Milo Hansen’s world record of 213 5/8 typical points.
Since I lease land in Buffalo County, many people who know me were compelled to send me the link to the video. My response to all of them was the same. “Buffalo County is over 600 square miles in size, so don’t expect me to run into him.” Little did I know what was about to happen!
AN INTERNET SENSATION
Thanks to the Internet, the speculation about this buck became big news nationwide.
Local media ran several stories on the deer. In the following weeks, I began to hear rumors that the video had been made in the general area where I hunt. Then, just prior to the start of archery season, my hunting partner Paul Olson was able to pinpoint the exact location based on terrain features, foliage and some power lines in the background. Even though we knew the buck was roaming within a couple of miles of our lease, neither of us seriously thought we had a chance of ever seeing the buck, much less harvesting him.
I was excited about the 2008 Wisconsin archery season long before the video of the Field & Stream buck ever surfaced. Paul and I made numerous trips from Eau Claire to our hunting lease in Buffalo County in January and February 2008 to check trail cameras and to fine-tune stand locations. Trail camera photos revealed that a number of good bucks had survived the hunting season, including one that appeared to be in the 170 class.
Paul and I have leased this same 200-acre parcel since 2003. During that time, we’ve each taken several good bucks. Even though Paul and I have exclusive access to the lease, we allow friends and family members to hunt with us, primarily during gun season.
Going into the 2008 season, Paul and I had set up 20 stands. We use hang-on stands, and each is equipped with a bow rope, a safety rope with a Prussic knot, a bow hook and a pack hook. Of the 20 stands we hung, 10 were in new locations and 10 were in proven spots. The property we lease is approximately 100 acres of woods and 100 acres of pasture. There are no crops or food plots on the property. We do not hunt over bait or do any kind of supplemental feeding.
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