Friday, December 23, 2011

Michigan Hunter Kills Full Drop Rack Buck

A Michigan hunter has taken what is probably one of the most unique racks of all time.

Scott Maddox, 42, of Wellston, Mich., shot this whitetail that possibly could have scored at least 120 inches.

So why didn’t it? It’s all in the rack. Rather than pointing upward, the buck’s antlers wrapped around its head.

“I’ve been hunting since I was 12 years old, this buck is unbelievable,” Maddox told Woods-N-Water News. “… I talked with a retired DNR Officer and he told me he has never seen anything like it before in all his years.”

Maddox first spotted the buck last fall, at first believing it to be just a doe with something hanging off the side of its head. Instead, he watched as the deer developed into an eight-point buck.

After setting up a stand near the trail camera on public land that had first spotted the buck.

It didn’t take long for the bizarre trophy to show up. On the opening day of bow season, Maddox waited in his stand until the buck predictably showed up in late afternoon. At about 15 yards, the buck was an easy target for Maddox, who fired his crossbow with solid placement on the animal, which ran for about 35 yards before collapsing.

Maddox isn’t sure what could have caused the abnormal antlers — which can be caused by injuries, genetics or age — and although the buck appeared to be in good health, he doesn’t think the deer could have made it past winter — the bizarre pattern almost certainly made eating a challenge.

“It made me feel good to take him out of the herd. It’s not the kind of rack you think of when you set out to go hunting,” Maddox said.

by Dylan Polk

1 comment:

  1. Wow! That's definatley an oddity. Poor thing musta had a hellish time feeding. Humane kill. Not to mention the possibility of genetics that need to be eliminated from the herd. Good job! I think id have a hard time eating him though lol and I am a venison addict!

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