The entire rack is massive, especially the main beams. All eight circumference measurements average over 4 3/8 inches.

In regard to scoring, the antlers gross a tremendous total of 178 7/8. After deductions for asymmetry between the right and left antlers, plus two small abnormal points, the buck’s final typical Pope and Young (P&Y) score is 167 1/8. The impressive whitetail also qualifies for the Boone and Crockett Club’s (B&C’s) Awards record book.

In addition to being one of the state’s top archery bucks of 2006, the deer ranks as the biggest bow kill ever recorded for Mason County.

RANDY GREEN’S AMAZING TRIGG COUNTY 12-POINTER
Randy Green and his brother have been hunting the rolling farmland of southern Trigg County since they were kids. There, the diverse habitat of the western Pennyroyal Region is ideally suited for whitetails, with scattered woodlots interspersed with various acreages of hay fields and row crop agriculture.

Over the years, the two men have seen and taken a number of trophy-class bucks. But last summer they spotted a deer that was particularly impressive.

“We began noticing the buck in August, feeding with other deer in bean fields on a couple of bordering farms that we hunt,” Green said.

“Although the buck’s rack wasn’t extremely wide, it appeared to be very massive, with numerous points on both antlers. There was certainly no problem picking him out from all the other bucks.”

Green concentrates much of his hunting time in early November as the approaching rut begins to trigger an increase in deer activity. Last fall, through the end of October, he had yet to see any evidence of bucks trailing does. But on the afternoon of Nov. 1, that changed dramatically.

On this particular day, the hunter was located along a woods line bordering one of the bean fields. Just below his position, a well-used deer trail meandered through the trees and brushy understory.

Because Green chooses to hunt with a recurve bow rather than a compound, he is quite selective with regard to stand placement.

“Compared to a compound bow, a recurve is a little more limited in regard to shot distance and penetration,” he noted. “This can vary somewhat between individual shooters, but there are still limitations.

“Because of this, I always position my stands where there is plenty of cover, knowing that my shot opportunities will be at relatively short distances. Over the years, most bucks I’ve taken were at less than 10 yards.

“Height is another important consideration,” he continued. “For me, moderate elevation is best because it allows for good side-angle shot placement and excellent arrow penetration. Getting this same degree of penetration from a high stand location is much more difficult, since the shot would be angling down through the deer’s thick shoulders and back.”