Skip to main content

Kansas Hunter Perseveres Through Medical Condition to Tag Big Typical

Not even a rare medical disease could keep this deer hunter away from shooting the buck of his dreams.

Kansas Hunter Perseveres Through Medical Condition to Tag Big Typical

The author (left) poses with his father, who shot the big buck pictured. After years of hunting hard and battling a rare disease, the buck represents more than just a successful hunt. (Photo courtesy of Christian Miller)

Breaking News Buck

When I was nine years old, I would watch my father gear-up for the upcoming whitetail season. At such a young age, I had little deer hunting experience. I often hunted with my family during the September dove season and loved every minute of it. Eventually, I’d sit with my dad while he hunted from a tree stand. My father’s influence on me when I was young shaped me into the hunter I am today.

My father loved introducing people to hunting. I often came home from school and had people over to watch the Outdoor Channel. Our house was practically a hunting lodge all year. In the summer, we would have friends and family over to shoot bows nearly every evening while my father grilled. It was a paradise for anyone who loved the outdoors.

My father watched everyone around him (many who he mentored) have major success deer hunting; however, he never did. He would hunt hard and smart, but nothing seemed to go his way. He shot a few respectable deer over the years that made him happy. Some people would give him a hard time about it, but he never let it phase him. He always knew that his moment would come when the time was right. Sure enough, it did.

In 2020, Dad gained permission on a small, 40-acre property. As soon as he saw the property, he knew he could harvest a nice whitetail there.

He also had permission on another piece of property that was closer to town. Because of Dad’s health, it made more sense for him to hunt closer to town. In 2016, my dad was diagnosed with a rare disease called Lupus. Lupus targets your joints, causes pain in your muscles, hair loss and much more. There are times when he can’t get out of bed from being so sore. Despite the pain, he works hard and makes the best of each day.

On November 12, my father was hunting a specific buck on the property closer to town. That evening he decided to leave his gear in the tree stand, so the walk would be easier the next morning.

Right before Dad’s morning alarm went off, he received a picture from his cell camera on the property further from town of a huge deer. He hunted close to town that morning, and he sent me the picture of the huge buck. I immediately called him and said I thought this deer could score 170 inches.

Recommended


The wind was perfect, so Dad headed over early for the evening hunt. At 6:00 p.m., my phone rang, and it was Dad. When I answered, he quietly said, “He’s dead.”

After 20-plus years of archery hunting, it finally happened! I watched Dad struggle hunting for years, then I watched his struggle with Lupus. When you see your role model who struggles every day finally achieve his dream, it is emotional.

We decided to recover the deer together. I will never forget walking up to his deer and seeing it for the first time. Dad slowly kneeled down, took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. Then he held the largest whitetail he has ever shot. He was speechless. It was a long time coming for Dad, and I can’t think of a more deserving hunter to harvest such an amazing animal.

When we got back to the house, friends and family arrived to congratulate the man who introduced many of them to the outdoors. Once the excitement settled, we decided to score the deer. While Dad walked around retelling his story, my cousin Dane and I scored the buck. Everyone had their guesses, the highest being 179. However, I was shocked when I added the numbers.

We green-scored the deer at 183 3/8 inches. It was by far the largest typical any of us had seen. Best of all, the buck belongs to the man who introduced us to hunting: my father.




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

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Team NAW Tests Taurus' Raging Hunter on Texas Axis Bucks!

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Winchester's Continued Legacy: The .400 Legend

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Savage Unveils New Line of Popular Axis Hunting Rifles

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Browning's Brand-New X-bolt 2 Hunting Rifle

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Ripcord Arrow Rests Rejuvenates Lineup with Three New Models

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Don't Sleep on Conventional Trail Cameras

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Browning Trail Cameras Announces Cellular Innovation for 2024

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

ATA 2024 Core SR First Look from Bowtech

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Browning OVIX Camo: Ultimate Concealment for Any Time, Any Place

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Air Venturi Avenge-X Classic PCP Air Rifle Reviewed

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Primos Edge Carbon Fiber Tripod Shooting Sticks

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Bowhunting Aoudad in Texas with Browning OVIX Camo

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.

Get the North American Whitetail App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

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

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

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

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use