The Hamstra farm has produced a number of big bucks over the years, including this outstanding 10-pointer taken by Kevin Hamstra in 2003. Kevin's muzzleloader giant grossed in the high 170s.

A HUGE SHED SWEETENS THE POT
The buck was not seen again that fall. During the 2007-2008 season, the deer was sighted only twice. Both encounters took place at night, when members of the Hamstra clan were coyote hunting. The second sighting was made in early January by Chuck's grandson, who reported that the buck had already shed one side of his rack.

"I had no doubt that the buck was primarily nocturnal," Chuck said. "Even so, I had planned to bowhunt a good bit in January specifically for him. Weather conditions that time of year can sometimes alter a deer's movement pattern, and I had a hunch where he was located. But my plans were canceled when I heard that the deer had already shed one of his antlers."

Three months later, around the middle of April, Chuck received a welcomed call from Greg Hayen, a good friend who occasionally did a little spring gobbler hunting on the farm. Greg told him that while he was turkey hunting along a wooded ridgetop near the old cemetery, he had found a big non-typical shed antler that might possibly have belonged to the drop-tine whitetail.

"While describing the antler, Greg mentioned that there were nearly as many points sticking one way as the other and he wasn't exactly sure how it had been positioned on the deer's head," Chuck said. "He went on to say that the antler would be lying on the tailgate of his truck and I could come by and pick it up whenever I had a chance. I immediately told him to put the shed antler inside the truck and I would be there in 30 minutes!"

After picking up the shed, Chuck stopped by to see Rudy Morgan, the owner of R&R Sports just across the river in nearby Clinton, Iowa. The two men have been friends for over 20 years and annually travel to Wyoming each fall to bowhunt for elk.

"I saw Chuck come walking in the store, carrying this huge hunk of bone, and asked the obvious question as to where he had found the antler," Rudy said. "He immediately responded that it was the shed from the big drop-tine buck he had been after for two years. I told him he was never going to kill an animal as old and smart as that buck. Why, that deer probably knew where every stand on his farm was located. He just shook his head and gave me one of those 'wait and see' grins."

The shed's measurements provide some perspective as to why the antler might arouse more than merely a passing interest. The main beam measures 26 7/8 inches long and has five typical points, including an 8 1/8-inch brow tine, a 10 7/8-inch G-2 and a 9 1/8-inch G-3. There are 6 additional abnormal points, including a 10 5/8-inch drop tine with a 3 6/8-inch fork, and another 8 2/8-inch drop tine. The shed antler totals 113 4/8 inches.

TIME TO GET SERIOUS
Later that fall, on a warm afternoon during the first week of November, Chuck was settled in his combine, busily picking corn. Around 4:30, he decided to call his wife and check on the whereabouts of his sons. She quickly responded that they had already left for the woods to get in their tree stands.

"My first thought was, 'What's wrong with this picture? The rut is going on and I'm picking corn while both of them are hunting.' I immediately headed the combine toward the house."

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