The rack's official measurements are about as remarkable as its discovery. There are 34 scorable points, 12 of which comprise the 6x6 typical frame. While tine length is impressive, it is the unusual antler growth pattern that gives the rack such a striking appearance. There are drop tines originating from the burr and beam, plus several long horizontal drops growing straight backward from the burr, beam and G-2 tine. Additionally, the left beam hooks out and then downward, resembling another drop tine. Antler spread is also impressive, with an outside measurement of 22 6/8 inches, and an inside figure of 19 2/8 inches.

The typical frame grosses 172 1/8 and nets after asymmetry deductions 156 6/8. However, the 22 abnormal points total a whopping 64 4/8 inches, which when added to the net figure, brings the final non-typical Boone and Crockett (B&C) score to 221 2/8. This qualifies the rack for B&C's Awards and All-Time record books. (Note: Found racks are eligible for record book entry; they are listed as "pickup" racks alongside the trophy owner's name). In regard to all-time records of whitetails taken on the Kentucky portion of Ft. Campbell, the rack comes in a close second to Bill McWhirter's giant 26-pointer taken during the 1982 season; the buck scored 221 7/8.

THE JOEY ROBERTS FIND
Amazingly, in late July of last year, just weeks before the discovery of the Ft. Campbell rack, another huge set of antlers was found in northern Kentucky's Bracken County. Much like Weatherford's situation, luck was also the major factor concerning how this rack was discovered.

Last summer, during a countywide alert for a missing girl, one of the agencies that responded was the Augusta Volunteer Fire Department. Joey Roberts, a member of that unit, was involved in a night search of wooded terrain near state Route 9, also known as the Double AA highway.

"We were using flashlights to search out several of the wooded ravines and creek drainages," Roberts noted. "During that process, I was walking through a thick creek bottom when I came across the antlers and skull of a large buck. It was obvious the deer had been there for some time as the rack, skull, and other scattered bones had already begun turning white. Luckily, the rack hadn't been damaged at all."

A couple of weeks later, Roberts carried the antlers to taxidermist Lyle Fryman in Cynthiana. Although Fryman normally sees upwards of 300 or more deer a year, the rack's huge size immediately captured his attention. He assured Roberts that he would contact John Phillips, a retired deer project coordinator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, to have the antlers officially scored.

The results of that taping session revealed several outstanding antler measurements. The rack's long 25-inch main beams sweep outward, creating an impressive inside spread of 21 4/8 inches. Tine length is exceptional, with brows (G-1s) that tape 9 6/8 and 6 4/8 inches, paired G-2s of 12 2/8 and 11 7/8 inches, followed by G-3s that measure over 11 inches.

Concerning scoring, the rack grosses 184 4/8, and nets a final B&C typical score of 176 1/8. In addition to qualifying for both B&C record books, the deer stands as the biggest typical whitetail ever recorded for Bracken County.