Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, typical and non-typical, gross and net are all terms that pepper stories about trophy bucks. Pope and Young is a record-keeping organization that recognizes trophy archery kills and Boone and Crockett is a record-keeping organization that recognizes both archery and gun kills with much higher standards. The “gross” score for an animal is the total number of inches measured and the “net” score is the final tally after deductions for symmetry. Typicals are usually bucks without much abnormal growth or points and non-typicals are bucks with a fair amount of abnormal growth and/or points. The minimum score for a buck to reach the standard for national recognitions as a Boone and Crockett typical is 170 inches.
Tim Woodard of Hillsdale County has spent the last three years pursuing a big typical whose antlers this year could very well place him in the national record books. The reason that this is not a confirmed fact as of yet is due to a 60-day drying period that must take place after the kill.
Tim first saw this buck three years ago and was preparing himself to take a shot when another buck came and ran the trophy off, foiling his only opportunity for that year. During the 2008 season, Woodard saw the wide-racked buck about a ½ dozen times but once again shots were never presented.
The quest for the big buck intensified in 2009 and Tim put a lot of time in during the spring searching for the shed antlers from the trophy. Woodard’s uncle eventually found them and they were as impressive as he thought that they would be.
Summer scouting produced a visual sighting of the mature whitetail in full velvet at a mere 30 yards. If desire was measured with a meter, Tim’s meter would be buried in the red.
The early bow-season produced another ultra-close encounter at 20 yards but once again circumstances kept the archer from getting a shot off. Two weeks before gun season, Tim had the buck 50 yards from his stand. The hunter grunted in an effort to bring the possibly rutting buck closer but the potential Booner wouldn’t budge any closer. Tim then tried a can-call which makes an estrus doe bleat and this proved ineffective as well. Next, he made the aggressive snort-wheeze sound and this immediately got the deer’s attention but he still remained where he was until darkness overtook the area. Early bow season expired once again without a shot taken.
On the evening of the November 15 firearm opener, Tim positioned himself in a ladder-stand that overlooked a swamp. At approximately 5 pm, two loud grunts were heard and then a few minutes later a nervous doe exited the swamp. Another minute later the doe jumped as if startled and then the wide-racked buck that had occupied much of the hunters thoughts appeared 90 yards in front him. Tim stated that he mentally attempted to calm himself by repeating “Take your time, take your time.”
Woodard slowly shouldered his gun and placed the crosshairs on the buck’s shoulder. With the roar of the H&R 12 gauge the buck jumped about three feet into the air and then sprinted away as if not hit.
Tim got down from his stand and he went to where he last saw the deer and found a couple of drops of blood. He elected to back out and enlist some help from two of his best friends, Kent and Trent. The three trackers found an excellent blood-trail that went for 80 yards until they found the wonderfully-wide racked buck.
Tim said that a flood of emotions came over him and he thought to himself, “I can’t believe that I finally got my hands on him.” Completely in awe, Tim and his friends took awhile to just simply admire the magnificent whitetail before they even attempted to move him.
This buck is just a ½ inch shy of the mythical 2-foot wide inside spread. It is a main-frame 10-point with split-brow tines on the right beam making it officially an 11-pointer.
Tim Woodard is no stranger to big bucks. Professionally he is a taxidermist for Jerome County Market located in Hillsdale County. The market is also recognized as a location to register deer for the “Big Buck Pole” deer contest. For those of you familiar with this state-wide contest, they count the number of points and then add in the inside spread, largest circumference and longest tine to get a final score. Tim’s buck scores 56.5 with this scoring system.
The buck’s green Boone and Crockett score is 176 gross points and 172 net typical points. If this score holds up after the mandatory 60 day drying period, then it will make the national books. Whether it does or doesn’t, Tim is obviously quite happy with the trophy. The happy hunter also expressed a great deal of gratitude for his father’s involvement in his hunting development and he is also thankful that his own son Brock is showing an interest in hunting as well. The proud father adds that Brock is only 6 years old but has already shot a wild boar at Ted Nugent’s ranch. With this kind of heritage, maybe we will be reading stories about Brock’s big game adventures in the future.
