(Photo courtesy of James Smith)
July 06, 2024
By Haynes Shelton
Step with me into the Whitetail Time Machine , and let’s travel back to the good ole days of deer hunting! Once a week for the remainder of 2024, the North American Whitetail edit staff is excited to publish a new batch of photos submitted by fans and readers of the magazine throughout the 1980s and 90s, all of which we found stowed away in a huge box that’d been tucked in a corner of our office in Kennesaw, Georgia, prior to its closing.
These photos came to us from hunters across the continent. And trust us when we say they’re “old school” cool. You’ll see everything from vintage camo patterns, classic pickup trucks, retro hairstyles, hunting bows and guns from yesteryear . . . and of course, big whitetail bucks!
The trophies in this week’s roundup have little in common, as they hail from such diverse places as Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin and Ohio. However, each snapshot shares one similarity; they’re printed in black and white. Even into the early 2000s, we occasionally received photo submissions from black and white film cameras, before color film totally took over (prior to it next being replaced by digital photography). Not only are these classic bucks super cool, but so is the good ‘ol B&W “throwback” look.
Wheel Bow Buck (Photo courtesy of William H. Schilling) This photo was mailed into North American Whitetail back in 1990, by William H. Schilling. Because there’s no more information with the photo (none that remains, anyway), we’re left to assume it’s William pictured with this bruiser of a whitetail. On the back of the photo, it’s inscribed: “147 5/8 typical bow kill — Ohio Big Bucks!” Big buck, indeed. William. Personally, I love the deer’s split brow tines and swollen neck. And it’s hard not to tip my hat to the hunter’s old-school “Fred Bear Style” tri-color camo, bowhunter’s cap and retro wheel bow. Good stuff!
28 Points in 1978 (Photo courtesy of James Smith) James Smith and Danny Peebles of Swainsboro, Georgia, shot this unique 28-point non-typical about eight miles north of town back in 1978. The massive rack might not have width, but it’s certainly a trophy.
Not Widely Known (Photo courtesy of Ty Brumfield) Northeast Texas is not widely known for its trophy bucks, but some whitetails in the region reach impressive size. Ty Brumfield of Sulphur Springs bowhunted near Bronte to get this trophy 10-pointer with an 18 6/8-inch spread. The deer went just 75 yards after Ty hit him with the broadhead.
Dandy First Buck (Photo courtesy of Richie Trgovec) Washington Co., Wisconsin is where 12-year-old Richie Trgovec of Sheboygan Falls, shot this beautiful 9-pointer. It was his first hunt, and it took only 20 minutes into the start of the season to gun down his 200-pound buck with his 20-gauge shotgun.
Send Us Your Photo! Have a vintage whitetail picture you’d like to see featured in Whitetail Time Machine? Email us a clear scan of the image and information about the deer, at: whitetail@outdoorsg.com