The basic typical 8-point frame nets an impressive 164 4/8. After adding in the 15 abnormal points, totaling 50 6/8 inches, the rack's final non-typical Boone and Crockett (B&C) score is 215 2/8. This qualifies the buck for B&C's Awards and All-Time record books, and ranks it as the state's No. 2 (hunter-taken) non-typical of the 2004 season. Within Grayson County it stands as the biggest whitetail ever recorded.

Later, during the winter, while running some beagles on his farm, Edrington noticed one of his young dogs stumble over an object in the leaves. When the dog went back to investigate, he walked over and discovered a shed antler from the giant whitetail.

Considering the shed had been lying there for approximately a year, the antler was in amazingly good condition with only minor rodent damage. The shed, which was the previous rack's right side, matches the buck's right antler extremely well in regard to growth pattern and size. Both have 13 points, the only difference being the shed had five typical points instead of four.

The shed's typical frame scores 73 5/8, and there are 27 5/8 inches of abnormal points (including four drop tines) for a final total of 101 2/8. Comparatively, the typical frame of the rack's right antler scores 74 5/8, and there are 33 6/8 inches of abnormal points (including four drop tines), for a final total of 108 3/8. Basically, the buck used the same blueprint to grow a slightly larger antler. How well the opposite side matches up is, of course, unknown. Edrington hasn't given up on finding the other shed.

Interestingly, the land where the big whitetail was taken is historically known as the old Boone Farm. Edrington represents the fifth generation of his family to live on the land and their descendents are reportedly linked to Daniel Boone. It certainly makes the well-known phrase, "happy hunting ground," believable.

Ranking just below Edrington's big Grayson County buck is another exceptionally massive non-typical, scoring 207 5/8, taken last season in Barren County by Dale Fancher. (Note: Please see the October 2005 issue of Kentucky Game & Fish for the story and photos of this great buck.)

THE STEVE GOINS BUCK
Owen County produced a great buck last year for Frankfort hunter Stephen Goins. Within a mile of the Kentucky River, Goins was hunting a mixture of wooded creek bottoms and ridges, interspersed with steep pasture-covered hillsides.

"Deer use the drains and ridges as travel corridors and the area is particularly good to hunt during the rut when bucks are on the move," Goins noted. "I had located my ladder stand on a cedar ridge, directly above a large hollow and creek bottom."

During a late afternoon hunt in mid-November, the hunter spotted a doe about 75 yards away moving up one of the drains. Tree limbs and brushy thickets partially obscured his view; however, after standing, he could see a second deer farther down the bottom, following the doe's trail.

"Once the deer got closer, I could see it was a buck with a pretty good rack," Goins said. "But by the time I shouldered my rifle, the deer had crossed over to the opposite side of the drain and was no longer in the open."

Eventually, both deer reached the head of the drain where Goins had a clear shot opportunity. At the report of the rifle, the buck initially began running straight toward the stand, and then cut sharply back down into the drain where it ran head-on into a tree.

"As I began walking down to where the deer was lying, the antlers seemed to get bigger and bigger," Goins said. "Not only was I surprised at the rack's size, I had no idea there were so many points present."

The rack exhibits a unique growth pattern in that the tines slant sharply inward from both beams. There are 18 scorable points, 10 that make up its basic typical frame. The beams are exceptionally long, measuring 28 5/8 and 27 5/8 inches, and the inside spread is 18 3/8 inches. These statistics combined with above-average tine length and great antler mass gives the typical frame a net score of 164 3/8. An additional 29 6/8 inches of abnormal points pushes the final non-typical B&C score to 194 1/8.