This 18-point nontypical whitetail taken by Ohio's Brian Stephens on November 30, 2009 with a muzzleloader scored 232 5/8.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced that another record setting deer has been harvested in southwestern Ohio. On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the 18-point nontypical (nonsymmetrical antlered) deer taken by Brian Stephens on November 30, 2009 with a muzzleloader in Highland County was officially scored.
Brian Stephens with friends and family by his side excitedly awaited the official score Saturday morning in Xenia. The buck was scored by Mike Wendel, David Haney and Ron Perrine; certified scorers with Buckeye Big Bucks Club (BBBC). Gary Trent, BBBC President, announced the score as 232 5/8 certifying it as the new state record. It's the largest non-typical rack ever taken with a muzzleloader in Ohio history beating out the 2004 record of 225. The 35 1/8 inch left main beam is a Boone and Crockett largest ever recorded and the right main bean measured an impressive 34 1/8 inches. Marty Murphy of National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association said the score will be recognized as the largest ever in Ohio according to the Associations Longhunter Big Game Record Book. This magnificent animal will also be a record for World Classics in the mens muzzleloading category according to Dan Stapleton. The World Classics scoring system does not include deductions and the main beam outside spread measurement is added. Under these scoring criteria the Stephens Buck scores 252 0/8.
"Deer hunting in Ohio continues to prove itself as world-class," said Todd Haines, Wildlife District Five Manager. "We are seeing the benefits of a successful whitetail deer management program." Brian Stephens' deer is one more record to add to the books in Ohio. In the last decade southwest Ohio has been the setting for numerous records. The Beatty Buck, harvested in Greene County in the fall of 2000 by Mike Beatty, holds the record for nontypical at 304 6/8 and currently ranks as the number one nontypical buck in Ohio, the largest nontypical whitetail deer ever taken by a bow hunter. A typical white-tailed deer killed Brad Jerman in 2004 in Warren County, known as the Jerman Buck, became an Ohio record with a score of 201 1/8. In 2006 a world-class buck was harvested by Jonathan Schmucker in Adams County. The deer was scored at 34-point nontypical, 291 2/8 Boone and Crockett and 305 7/8 World Classics. Also that year the Metzner Buck, harvested by Justin Metzner scored 196 6/8 which positioned it to be the second largest deer harvest with a compound bow in Ohio; the fifth largest typical deer taken in the world in the Pope and Young record book; and Buckmaster's seventh all time typical white-tailed deer harvested with a compound bow.
"When we are continually in the record books with large nontypical and typical whitetails harvested Ohio, we attract the attention of hunters that might have hunted in another state," said Haines. "The hunters staying and coming into Ohio create a boost in our economy. Each year, hunting has an 859 million dollar economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food and lodging as well as supporting thousands of jobs."
Ohio's first modern day deer-gun season opened in 1943 in three counties, where hunters harvested 168 deer. In 1956, deer hunting was allowed in all 88 counties and hunters killed 3,911 deer during that one-week season.
A detailed listing of deer-hunting rules is contained in the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where licenses are sold. It may also be viewed online at www.wildohio.com . Hunters who wish to share their success can submit a photo of themselves and their deer at this website also.
Media Contacts: Todd Haines, ODNR Division of Wildlife or Kathy Garza-Behr, ODNR Division of Wildlife (937) 372-9261
Official Score Details:
Number of points: 18 total - twelve (12) on the right and six (6) on left.
Greatest spread: 26 2/8
Inside spread: 24 3/8
Total gross: 250 1/8
Longest tine: 17 7/8
Side to side symmetry deductions: 17 4/8
Total of abnormal points: 32 0/8
Net score: 232 5/8