Skip to main content

Illinois Giant, Matt Lynch

After Matt Lynch was unsuccessful in dropping a mature buck during archery season, he set his sights to accomplishing the mission during Illinois' shotgun season.

He was hunting a patch of land in Peoria County, IL the third week in November in conditions that were anything but ideal. Uncooperative winds were gusting over 30 mph, yet Lynch was surprised to see as much movement as he was.

During his morning hunt, he noticed a corridor deer were using in the northwest corner of the field his stand was positioned in. He decided to set up shop there for that afternoon's hunt to see if he could take advantage of his observation.

Around 3pm, after being in the stand for about an hour, things got interesting.


"I was checking in with my brother to see if he had seen anything yet, and the next thing I knew I had to end the conversation because a doe was sprinting down the hill right at me with this monster buck right behind her," shared Lynch, "he took off away from me but I was able to get the bucks attention...I was able to put a couple of shots in him with my Remington 12 gauge at about 60 yards."

The buck carried great mass and featured 18 points. Lynch had it scored at the Illinois Deer and Turkey Classic where it netted 172 7/8 inches, but it could have been quite a bit bigger.

"I was approached by a man who hunts on a piece of property a couple miles from our land," shared Lynch, "he told me he had pictures of my deer in August while he was still in velvet€¦the deer had a third beam that eventually broke off, but he also had a third drop tine and a sticker at the base that broke off as well."


Congrats on a fantastic buck Matt!





Recommended


GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

First Time's a Charm

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Big Sky, Big Bucks

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Early-Season Archery

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Whitetails & Wheel Guns

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Love & War

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Living the Dream

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Wyoming Whitetail Crossbow Hunt

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Stan Potts' Debut NAW Hunt

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

September Black Hills Whitetail Hunt

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Whitetail

Gordon's First NAW Hunt

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Land Management

The Basics of Trapping

Jeremy Moore and guest Randy Birdsong discuss the value of trapping predators.
Learn

The Basics of Trapping Predators

North American Whitetail Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the North American Whitetail App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now