Mature Ohio Buck Stretches the Tape to 210+ Inches

• Name: Ben Cramer
• Buck Score: 219 1/8 inches (gross) | 210 2/8 inches (net)
• Date of Harvest: October 17, 2024
• Location of Harvest: Ohio
• Weapon of Harvest: Crossbow

Ohio is no big buck secret, and Ben Cramer’s massive deer is proof that the Buckeye State still has much to offer. He sent the teeth off to be analyzed, and the cementum annuli process placed the deer at 8 ½ years old. With the look on the buck’s face and body size, that’s pretty believable. It appears massive, and ancient.

The summer of 2024, Cramer started getting photos of the buck. For months, he kept an eye on the deer. Even though he only knew of the buck for a short time, he’d later come to find out other locals had up to four years of history with it.

Once season opened, Cramer started hunting hard. A few days into the pursuit, on October 17, 2024, he settled into the treestand. As daylight increased, he scanned the surrounding flat river bottom habitat, but for a while, saw no movement.

Given the deer had been so consistent throughout summer, and into deer season, Cramer was confident he’d see the buck again. But for the time being, he saw only raccoons, squirrels, and other critters.

After a while, a four-pointer and some does walked into view. A few minutes passed, and Cramer heard something behind him. He thought it might’ve been the raccoons from earlier, but when he looked over his shoulder, there the big deer stood.

Within moments, the buck was just 25 yards away. With a slight quartering-away shot, Cramer released the arrow. Immediately, the buck took off, ran to the edge of the field, and vanished inside the cover.

Of course, he gave the deer some time. Then, he followed the blood trail. About 75 yards in, he found the buck.

Reflecting on the hunt, he certainly credits the success to putting in the effort and gaining permission to hunt the property. He didn’t know it was there until after securing the land, but still, that first step mattered more than anything else.

“You know, it’s like once-in-a-lifetime,” Cramer said. “You never even think you're going to be on a deer like that. Just seeing it throughout the summer and early fall was great.”

He’s just happy that he and his father could share the moment and enjoy the chase for such a massive whitetail.

“It'll be something that we definitely talk about forever,” he concluded.

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