Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. A few minutes later, though, he went back into the woods and I didnt see him again that day. Subscriber Services. | Meeker points out that this seasons increase in hunting licenses might be because of COVID-19 and people finding new ways to spend their time in an outdoor setting, but says the record-breaking year is not solely the result of new hunters joining the ranks. My dad taught me how to deer hunt.. Present-day Miller County dates back to 1874, and was created from land from Lafayette County. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. I think thats why he was staying down in there, down in that draw, because it was remote and couldnt be seen from the road.. The 21st Century Whitetails includes Bradley S. Jermans 2004 typical buck from Warren County that scored 201-1/8 becoming the #1 buck in Ohio history and the #12 on the All-time list and David G. Kopps Stark County non-typical buck from 2016 that scored 258-1/8 and ranks #8 in the state and #63 All-time; Kopps buck was part of the 30th Big Game Awards in 2019. Whispering 'fire in the hole ' while floating the crosshairs on the spot, I gently squeezed the trigger until the recoil removed the buck from my view. //. The buck was honored in 2019 during the 30th Big Game Awards. Finally, Tennessee deserves special notice for Stephen L. Tuckers 315-inch Sumner County non-typical buck, the second largest ever taken by a hunter. I just knew it was a big deer from the shed I had seen.. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. A short while later, the deer hunting chance of a lifetime greeted Lloyd as the giant typical buck popped out into the open again, this time only a bit beyond the 200-yard mark. "Some of those zones have no hunting with modern rifles," Meeker said. He popped out in the nearly the same place I had seen him in earlier (in the season), said the hunter. He asked Meeker whether that is a concern. Browning Ammunition has two big-game hunting loads new for 2023 that are effective on a wide range of species: the Max Point and Silver Series. That's a record, Brents said. Included among Kasass top recent bucks is Gerald E. Rightmyers 272-2/8-inch nontypical taken in 2006 and a 295-inch giant picked up in 2012. On Wednesday, Brents briefed the members of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on controlled burning activities in 2020. Killed in Wisconsin in 1914, the incredible 10-point stood atop the B&C typical whitetail category for more than 70 years and remains one of the most iconic trophies of any species of all time. My dad died in 2016, and I didnt really hunt, he said. The sight of that shed gave Lloyd the boost he needed to dive back into deer hunting. (Poster also available separately). Commissioner Bobby Martin of Little Rock said that the number of deer killed suggests deer are close to the habitat's carrying capacity, or its ability to support them. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. It has four counties in the top 20 and the highest number of top 21st Century whitetails, with eight, including Luke Brewsters incredible 327-inch nontypical, which is the biggest ever taken by a hunter. Trained as a high school English teacher and coach, Scott Bestul left that lucrative field to pursue anotheras a full-time freelance writer in 1990. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. ) This list does not include all of the Arkansas State Archives materials regarding this county, but provides a starting point for research. Being able to maintain sustainable population numbers is one measure of success. The Model 336 is expected to be launched soon; the Model 1894 should launch this spring. "The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses, www.agfc.com/en/hunting/big-game/deer/deer-harvest-reports. Arkansas was so wet, a lot of those beans didnt get cut, said Lloyd. Limit of 5 free uses per day. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Kansas moved up in rank to #8 with 867 total entries and Gerald E. Rightmyers 2006 non-typical buck from Morris County was part of the 21st Century Whitetails section. 6 and is another up-and-comer, with five of the states top 10 typicals and nine of the best 10 non-typicals being from in the 2000s. In an instant, the shaft had passed through him. The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. Regular price, $60 or pay only $48 for the book with JOIN. This project is produced (in part) by a grant from the Arkansas Natural and Thats more deer than any season since the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began keeping harvest records in 1938. Home About AGFC Press Room RFP and Bid Notices Surveys Calendar Contact AGFC Employment Enforcement Transparency.arkansas.gov Accessibility Privacy | Security Acceptable Use Login Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 833-345-0325 In 1938, the first year harvest data was kept, the tally was 208 deer. Because when it comes to typical whitetails, a massive buck taken in December 2018 by 49-year old homebuilder William Lloyd of Wynne, Ark. Trophies that meet the All-Time minimum of 170+ typical or 195+ non-typical will belisted in both the Awards book and the "Records of North American Big Game." Records of North American Whitetail Deer includes: At nearly 700 pages, this amazing hard-cover volume is a true delight for whitetail hunters throughout North America. The buck, taken last November by Jacob Ayecock of Tillar, debuted at the Big Buck Classic in January, at the Arkansas State . Kevin released an arrow, hitting the buck slightly high, and the giant dropped. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. On top of that, flooding during the peak of the gun season closed hunting in some parts of the state. Its also poised to become the largest typical buck ever tagged by a hunter anywhere in the Deep South, topping the Ayecock buck from Arkansas for those honors as well as the 191 4/8-inch Buck Ashe buck from Georgia in 1962. On my Ranger side-by-side, I didnt know if I could get to him because it was bad muddy, said Lloyd. According to B&C records, most of our best bucks since 2013 were killed in the lower drainages of our major rivers, specifically the Arkansas, White, Cache and St. Francis rivers. But when I shouldered the rifle, the sight of the crosshairs oriented at a 10-4 o'clock angle was definitely a different look from the normal 12-6 position we all practice from. Meeker says deer that normally would have been harvested last year may have also added to this years total. The state also has three counties in the top 20 U.S. counties with the most records produced, including: Allamakee County that ranks #8 with 60 entries, Warren County that ranks #16 with 50 total entries, and Clayton County that is tied for #19 with 47 entries. The previous record harvest was 213,487deer, set in the 2012-13 season. But sometimes, things are just meant to be, and that was the case on this gray December afternoon in eastern Arkansas as Lloyd quickly got another shell in the chamber of his rifle. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. ), Miller County Records: Index to Deeds, Books "J-L", Miller County Records: Index to Marriage Records, Books "A-B", Miller County Records: Probate Records: Wills, Books "B-C", Miller County Records: Miller County Birth Records, Miller County Records: Index to Deeds, Books "G-I", Miller County Records: Clerical Credentials, Books "A-D", Miller County Records: Marriage Records, Books "Y-Z", Miller County Records: Marriage Records, Books "W-X", Miller County Records: Clerical Credentials, Books "A-C", Miller County Records: Probate Records: Administrator's Records, Book "A", Miller County Records: Probate Records: Executor's Record, Book "A", Miller County Records: Probate Records: Guardians Record, Book "A", Miller County Records: Marriage Records, Books "U-V", Miller County Records: Marriage Records, Books "S-T", Miller County Records: Index to Deeds, Books "D-F", Giles family marriage licenses, 1897-1912. With such success behind him, Jon felt all of his hunting dreams already had come true. Home About AGFC Press Room RFP and Bid Notices Surveys Calendar Contact AGFC Employment Enforcement Transparency.arkansas.gov Accessibility Privacy | Security Acceptable Use Login Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 833-345-0325 Ryan Sullivan was only 19 when, during the 2013 season, he arrowed an Arkansas buck of gigantic proportions. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Spring and summer flooding in 2018 and 2019 contributed to lower fawn recruitment in certain parts of the state. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Hawkeye State ranks third, with 1,330 total entries. 8 spot. "If dust is kicking up behind a truck or if ditches are getting dry, we think about burning," Brents said. The Boone and Crockett Club has released its sixth edition of the Records of North American Whitetail Deer, and at 700 pages, it promises untold hours of geeking out for deer nuts like you and me, who cant get enough of giant whitetails. Arkansas. Let'sget Arkansas the credit it deserves and start registering the 160+ & 185+ deer. . Of particular note, all of the new typical records in the states top 10 and six of the 10 non-typical state records were taken in the 2000s this shows that current state management is producing consistently large bucks. 1820-- Miller County was created 1 April 1820 from Lafayette County. There was really nothing out of the ordinary about that evening, it seemed the same as the rest of them, said Lloyd, who said he got into place that day about 4:45 p.m. The place I was hunting, about 80 acres of it was in beans and the other 80 acres was grown up into weeds. Death . The Smith buck, the top typical in the Southeast region, scored a whopping 204 2/8 inches. It was only 160 acres that I was hunting and there were no woods only beans and grass, said Lloyd. Click here to read more Ground Zero: California's Record Bucks Name a place to tag a record-book white-tailed deer. If youre wondering about which state to book a hunt in next year, you might consider that all of the new typical records in the states top 10 and six of the 10 non-typical state records were taken in the 2000s. Updated: Sep 15, 2021 / 03:01 PM CDT. Hunting To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Additionally, hunters killed 15% more deer in nine deer management zones than they killed in 2019-20. If you call the Boone and Crockett headquarters and ask, "Which Southern state leadsin the number of B&C record book entries?" Kentucky deer hunting has come on strong in the last 20 years. This includes Chase R. Coopers 2017 buck from Henry County that scored 197-2/8 inches and is the new #4 typical whitetail in the state and #45 on the All-time list, as well as William T. Duncans 2016 typical buck from Macon County that scored 194-6/8 and is #5 in the state and #63 All-time. Arkansas' record deer harvest was in 2012-2013 when 213,487 deer were checked by hunters. Trophies that meet the All-Time minimum of 170+ typical or 195+ non-typical will belisted in both the Awards book and the "Records of North American Big Game." Accessibility Statement Kansas moved up since the books last edition to the No. The #1 county overall is Buffalo County with 150 entries in the record book, Crawford County ranks #9 with 58 entries, Trempealeau County ranks #11 with 55 entries, Vernon County ranks #14 with 54 entries, Richland County ranks #18 with 48 entries, and Sauk County ranks #19 with 47 entries. In fact, it kind of went viral in the area that I live in. the answer will be, "Georgia is first, andArkansas is second." Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Deer Harvest Reports and Strategic Management Plan, Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. Besides, Lloyd had an ace up his sleeve the rut. More than 4,000 deer have been harvested in Columbia County this season. Hunters 36-45 killed 16.7%, and hunters 26-35 killed 16%. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. The Delta region in general has better genetics, habitat and soil. Top State Stats from B&C's newest book - Records of North American Whitetail Deer, Sixth Edition. It was last published in 2011. I dont think he knew what had happened or where the bullet had come from, said Lloyd. At the time, I thought I was hunting a big 10-point, he said. With current annual harvests consistently exceeding 200,000 deer, is there still room for growth? As usual, hunters in Union County led the state with 7,039 deer, followed by Clark County with 5,915 deer, Bradley County with 5,274 deer and Dallas County with 4,903. However, ARKANSAS actually has more entries in the all timerecord book! This is another one where the number of state-record bucks is on a recent surge. If conditions look good for a burn, Brents said he organizes a fire crew. William Lloyds 2018 Arkansas typical white-tailed buck was scored 200-plus points by Boone & Crockett. According to Meeker, the current deer harvest and limits fit the factors that influence the states deer herd well and are likely where they need to be for a healthy deer population. Kevin owns three acres on the outskirts of town and he had placed a low-hanging two-man ladder stand for his brother, who is handicapped, to hunt from on the corner of the property. | Crossbow hunters killed 15,477 deer (7%), and muzzleloader hunters killed 23,295 deer (11%). | According to B&C records, most of our best bucks since 2013 were killed in the lower drainages of our major rivers, specifically the Arkansas, White, Cache and St. Francis rivers. View property records for 5 addresses located on City Road in Deer, Arkansas, including property ownership, deeds, mortgages, titles & sales history, current & historic tax assessments, legal, parcel & structure description, land use, zoning & more. KELLY STYLES | Arcadelphian For six straight years, Clark County has the second highest whitetail deer catch in the state and is on track to maintain its record for the 2022-2023 deer season ending February 28. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. The social carrying capacity is how many deer people can stand to live with. During the 2019-20 deer hunting season the harvest dipped to 188,151. . I dont really know what happened, said Lloyd. Arkansas County in the southeast is in the heart of the Natural State's big-buck zone, and that's where Joe Schimmel of Stuttgart killed our largest typical with archery equipment last year. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Place: Randolph County, Arkansas. Arkansans have not been listing deer scoring 160+ and 185+ as much as Georgia. Notably, however, the states top five typical bucks ever taken did not come from these high producing counties, instead coming from Burnett, Kenosha, Wood, Columbia, and Dodge counties. Hunting most days over the next couple of weeks, Lloyd was beginning to lose hope that he might tag the buck. The county was named for Arkansas Territorys first governor, James Miller. Harvest "On my way home from work, I saw a doe feeding by the stand," Kevin recalled. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. County Antlered Button Doe, Columbia 1,941 194 2,167, Ashley 1,745 228 1,827, Bradley 2,268 291 2,673, Calhoun 1,668 250 1,730, Chicot 504 19 314, Clark 2,701 361 2,823, Cleveland 2,048 325 2,490, Dallas 2,152 342 2,391, Desha 1,294 41 1,086, Drew 2,102 263 2,148, Hempstead 1,518 136 1,432, Howard 1,388 144 1,280, Lafayette 879 95 1,009, Little River 1,241 140 1,267, Miller 820 58 631, Nevada 1,669 248 1,796, Ouachita 1,994 261 2,110, Sevier 760 116 1,088, Union 3,109 371 3,502. Updated: 10:22 PM CST January 4, 2013. With current annual harvests consistently exceeding 200,000 deer, is there still room for growth? "When we get burn days, we really need to be burning. Arkansas hunters set record deer harvest at 214,000+, TXKToday.com : Christus-St. Michael Health System to break ground on new emergency center, Mike McNeills Diary for Friday, March 3, 2023: Something of a landmark, Delek US Holdings reports fourth quarter 2022 results, raises quarterly dividend by a penny, Aerojet Rocketdyne passes milestone in PAC-3 rocket motor production, Moving from not enough to plenty with foster care, Southern Nazarene outlasts Southern Arkansas women in GAC quarterfinal, Black delivers as Southern Arkansas survives Oklahoma Baptist to advance to GAC Tournament Semifinals, Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas bill to remove work permit requirement for children under 16 goes to Sanders desk, Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas House approves governors education legislation, sends back to Senate, Application period open for transportation alternatives, recreational trails programs, COVID-19 numbers up slightly in Columbia County, Recent Columbia County jail bookings and releases, Create savings plan, set financial goals during America Saves Week, People learn new skills at Ashdown Homesteading Conference, Grant County wreck takes life of Magnolia man, wife injured, Mike McNeills Diary for Thursday, March 2, 2023: Action South Jackson, Southern Arkansas University Tech releases Chancellor's List, Taylor woman pleas to financial identity fraud, South Arkansas corporation news for week ended Tuesday, February 28. Missouri is another state with more recent big buckssix of the new typical records in the states top 10 and seven of the 10 new non-typical state records were taken in the 2000s. The Awards Book is Published every 3 years. The stories of these bucks, and many others, are included in this most recent release of the B&Cs Records of North American Whitetail Deer, which has more than 17,000 deer listings, 300 color field photos, portraits of all the current state and provincial record deer (17 new state records since the books last edition), and state maps showing trophy distribution for each county. The hunter knew it was certainly the largest buck he had ever shot, or seen, for that matter. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Even more impressive are the facts that the Lloyd buck is the biggest typical whitetail of the decade anywhere in North America, the 17th buck north of 200 inches net typical, and only the fourth such 200+ net typical of the 21st century. Eventually, he got the deer loaded up and headed home. "My leg started to shake," Kevin remembered, "and when I would put pressure on it, my other leg would start to shake!" Our current herd matches up well with the available habitat as well as the social carrying capacity of our state, Meeker said. COVID-19 also may have influenced hunters mindsets toward the number of deer they harvested. They killed 36,146 deer (17%) in October. Hunters must call 800-482-9262 for instructions on checking elk and submitting samples. Records of North America Big Game: ALL TIME BOOK Arkansas. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. A wall plaque and certificate is issued to the owner by B&C. The increases occurred in zones 4 (31%), 4A (36%), 5 (22%), 5A (26%), 7 (33%), 8 (20%), 10 (34%), 11 (30%), 15 (19%) and 16 (16%). The previous record harvest was 213,487 deer, set in the 2012-13 season. Browning's Rafę Nielsen shares details on the new X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan hunting rifle with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The antlers scored 192 and six eighths. As the largest hunter-harvested whitetail of all-time, and the third largest non-typical ever recorded by the Boone and Crockett Club, the Brewster Buck is easily in that Best of Decade story. Meeker said that 135,000 hunters, 80% of the total, checked a deer in 2020-21, and a good portion killed more than one deer. At some point, deer can become a nuisance or safety risk. Billy Dooley set the state record for non-typical racks in 1999 with a Prairie County buck that scored 238 3/8. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. In 2020, Brents said, about 50% of all burns open glade and savanna-type landscapes, which created valuable early successional habitat. 5, with 1,049 total entries. My first impression when I actually saw the rack was that the pictures didnt do it justice, said Latham.