Ohio's Nathan Sanders didn't get a shot at this buck in 2023 due to swirling winds. That turned out to be a great thing, as the big 170-class whitetail blossomed into a 190-class buck in 2024.
February 28, 2025
By Clifford Neames
Nathan Sanders’ nephew, Carter, is not the only big buck killer in the family! His story was covered here in November of 2022 , and as unlikely as it may seem, both relatives have now taken 190-class Ohio whitetails.
“One of my neighbors shared a trail camera pic in 2022 of a nice 140-class buck,” Nathan began. “And the next year he had another pic and the buck was for sure a 170!”
That put the deer squarely on Nathan’s radar, and he started hunting him.
The buck was a roamer, moving over several farms in the area. Another neighbor announced he had shot him that season and was out trying to make a recovery. That worked in Nathan’s favor because it pushed the buck onto the 22 acres he was hunting. A video from two days later showed it had been a case of mistaken identity and the monster whitetail looked very healthy on camera.
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On November 11th of that season, Nathan had a quick look at the buck, but shifting winds gave away his position and the big deer evaded him. That ended his hopes for 2023.
Pictues in February showed he had made it through the season, so the hunt continued. Nathan put in an additional food plot, and five new stands as he prepped for the 2024 season. He also vowed to wait until the big deer showed up on camera before stepping onto the property.
“I was determined to let him make the first move,” he continued. “And he showed back up at midnight on November 4th.”
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Nathan checked the wind and headed into the woods at 3 o'clock the next afternoon. He was being entertained by two does as he waited, when they suddenly moved off.
“I looked up and spotted a huge rack coming in from 80 yards out,” he remembered. “Then he walked into a scape at 40. He was way bigger that I thought!”
The giant soon left the scrape and moved closer. At 15 yards, Nathan was still looking for a shot. When it appeared the buck was going to walk right under him, he decided eight yards was close enough and sent the broadhead on its deadly mission!
The enormous buck shot forward 10 feet, then flipped over backwards and buried his long tines into the dirt — dead right there!
“I was looking down at him and telling myself he is over 180,” Nathan explained.
And that was right — exactly 10 6/8ths over 180 to be exact — for a score of 190 6/8 inches.
