The 120-inch buck started toward the does but stopped abruptly and began bobbing his head. Peering around to see what had disturbed the little buck, Debbie watched a magnum 8-pointer step out from behind some cover as if he owned the woods. The mature male's bristled posture was enough to convince the smaller buck to quickly flee the area.

Debbie glassed the big deer to confirm that he met the outfitter's 130-inch minimum. Her first thought was, He's at least 140 inches!

EPILOGUE
The buck headed toward the feeding does. Debbie calmly tracked the buck in the cross hairs of her scope as it moved closer. At 45 yards, the monster whitetail stopped broadside, offering the perfect shot. She squeezed the trigger and knew immediately that her shot hit home. The buck buckled and ran 50 yards before crashing to the ground.

Debbie quickly called Jeff with the news and then descended the tree. She called Jeff again after approaching the buck and viewing his massive antlers up close. Jeff told her to go back to the truck where she could get better cell service and call Kevin. She refused to leave the buck for fear that someone would steal it. But this time things would be different. This buck was definitely going home with Debbie to Virginia!

Debbie got more attention during the next 24 hours than she had received on her wedding day. The Hancock County brute's green score was 158 4/8 inches gross and 153 2/8 inches net.

Even after the incredible ordeal with the Illinois CPO and his wife in 2006, Debbie and Jeff still contend that they did the right thing by not crossing the property boundary to recover Debbie's 10-pointer, even though Debbie felt certain the buck had gone down very close to the property line. According to Illinois law, the CPO and his wife broke no wildlife regulations or state laws by refusing entry to their farm. It was also no violation to charge a trespass fee onto their property. But did the CPO's actions and those of his wife defy good ethics? Most certainly!

I interviewed the CPO over the phone before I wrote this story. He was extremely arrogant. I asked him how he would have reacted if it had been his wife who was denied her rightful deer. He had no answer to that question. The CPO's last comment before hanging up on me was, "Go ahead and write an article. Who cares, anyway!"

Author's note: Before I learned about Debbie's unfortunate experience, I happened to be watching a hunting show on TV. Upon approaching his downed trophy 10-pointer, an elated whitetail hunter's first words were, "Thank you, God, for putting this buck under me!"

After hearing what the hunter said, my initial thoughts were, Does this guy really think that God has the time on his hands to direct a trophy deer to his tree stand? Surely God has better things to do!

I have to tell you: After hearing Debbie's incredible seven-year hunting saga, I've changed my mind completely. Who cares? I'll tell you who cares, Mr. CPO. God cares, because he measures deer hunters by their hearts, not their antlers. One thing is certain:

The whitetail world is better off with ethical hunters like Debbie and Jeff Cox. And you know what? I believe that all ethical deer hunters are rewarded in the end!

For information about Midwest Extreme Hunting go online to www.midwestextremehunting.net.

page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4