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Ed Daly entered the woods on a cold day in mid-December he

Ed Daly entered the woods on a cold day in mid-December he

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W<strong>he</strong>n <str<strong>on</strong>g>Ed</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Daly</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>entered</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>woods</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> a<br />

<strong>cold</strong> <strong>day</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>mid</strong>-<strong>December</strong><br />

<strong>he</strong> could not<br />

possibly<br />

have known<br />

that his<br />

muzzleloader<br />

hunt<br />

<strong>in</strong> Tolland<br />

County<br />

would produce<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state’s<br />

largest<br />

gross-scor<strong>in</strong>g<br />

buck of<br />

2007.<br />

12<br />

Fall 2008<br />

Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast BIG BUCKS


C<strong>on</strong>necticut’s<br />

Best Bucks<br />

T<strong>he</strong> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> State offers<br />

great trophy opportunities<br />

for New England’s deer hunters.<br />

Extended early and late arc<strong>he</strong>ry<br />

seas<strong>on</strong>s sandwic<strong>he</strong>d around<br />

a peak-rut gun seas<strong>on</strong> and an<br />

early <strong>December</strong> muzzleloader<br />

seas<strong>on</strong> make for some great<br />

hunt<strong>in</strong>g under a variety of<br />

c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. Add to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> mix <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

state’s liberal bag limits and you<br />

have <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> mak<strong>in</strong>gs from some<br />

great trophy hunt<strong>in</strong>g, especially<br />

for those hunters who can atta<strong>in</strong><br />

permissi<strong>on</strong> to hunt private land.<br />

T<strong>he</strong> 2007 seas<strong>on</strong> was def<strong>in</strong>ed by a pair of<br />

absolutely out-stand<strong>in</strong>g bucks for this state<br />

– <strong>on</strong>e taken dur<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> muzzleloader seas<strong>on</strong><br />

and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>r dur<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> firearms seas<strong>on</strong>. In<br />

total, <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state’s hunters took 11,062 deer<br />

<strong>in</strong> 2007, down significantly from recent<br />

seas<strong>on</strong>s. But plenty of trophy-class bucks were<br />

taken. T<strong>he</strong> Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast Big Buck Club – <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

regi<strong>on</strong>’s whitetail scor<strong>in</strong>g and record keep<strong>in</strong>g<br />

organizati<strong>on</strong> – reports that more than 65 bucks<br />

from 2007 have been scored and <str<strong>on</strong>g>entered</str<strong>on</strong>g> to<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> NBBC record books – bucks that score<br />

100” gross Bo<strong>on</strong>e & Crockett or better. For<br />

all harvest categories (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g bow, gun and<br />

muzzleloader) this state’s hunters took 8 bucks<br />

with gross B&C scores of 150” or better! Read<br />

<strong>on</strong> for an <strong>in</strong>-depth look at <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> best bucks that<br />

fell <strong>in</strong> this state <strong>in</strong> 2007.<br />

c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>on</strong> next page<br />

From T<strong>he</strong> 2007 Seas<strong>on</strong>!<br />

by Jeff Brown<br />

www.bigbuckclub.com Fall 2008 13


c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ued from previous page<br />

C<strong>on</strong>necticut’s Best of 2007<br />

It is important to note that at <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> time this article was written (Summer 2008) some<br />

great bucks from <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 seas<strong>on</strong> may not have been officially scored. So what<br />

follows may not be <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> f<strong>in</strong>al tally of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> best bucks from <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 seas<strong>on</strong>s, but it<br />

certa<strong>in</strong>ly gives us a reas<strong>on</strong>able means of assess<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 arc<strong>he</strong>ry, firearms and<br />

muzzleloader seas<strong>on</strong>s. T<strong>he</strong> results were very impressive, with many outstand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

trophies taken from every county <strong>in</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> NBBC, <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> gross<br />

B&C scores for <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> biggest bucks taken <strong>in</strong> C<strong>on</strong>necticut dur<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 seas<strong>on</strong><br />

were:<br />

Rank Score Harvest Cat. Rack County Name<br />

1. 184 5/8 Muzzleloader N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 12-Po<strong>in</strong>t Tolland <str<strong>on</strong>g>Ed</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Daly</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

2. 178 3/8 Gun N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 13-Po<strong>in</strong>t New Haven Mark Page<br />

3. 163 1/8 Muzzleloader N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 14-Po<strong>in</strong>t Hartford Re<strong>in</strong>hart Hermann<br />

4. 162 4/8 Gun N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 11-Po<strong>in</strong>t Tolland Bob Robb<strong>in</strong>s<br />

5. 159 0/8 Gun N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 11-Po<strong>in</strong>t Litchfield Scot Leavitt<br />

6. 158 0/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Hartford John Miller<br />

7. 154 4/8 Gun Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Litchfield Robert Jensen<br />

8. 149 0/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Middlesex Ted Berry<br />

9. 148 2/8 Muzzleloader Typical 9-Po<strong>in</strong>t New Haven Kyle Berggren<br />

10. 148 0/8 Gun Typical 8-Po<strong>in</strong>t Middlesex Joseph Wojtusik<br />

14<br />

Fall 2008<br />

Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast BIG BUCKS


For comparis<strong>on</strong> purposes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> gross B&C scores for <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> biggest bucks<br />

taken <strong>in</strong> C<strong>on</strong>necticut dur<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> previous 2006 seas<strong>on</strong> were:<br />

Rank Score Harvest Cat. Rack County Name<br />

1. 175 5/8 Gun N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 12-Po<strong>in</strong>t New Haven Jeff Savarese<br />

2. 165 4/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 13-Po<strong>in</strong>t Fairfield Ted Reutter<br />

3. 165 1/8 Gun Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t New Haven James Christiano<br />

4. 164 2/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Hartford Tim Hogan<br />

5. 163 6/8 Gun Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Fairfield Alex Rocchi<br />

6. 163 2/8 Gun Typical 9-Po<strong>in</strong>t Hartford Dave Farley<br />

7. 162 0/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry Typical 9-Po<strong>in</strong>t New L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong> Mike Smolicz<br />

8. 156 2/8 Gun Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Litchfield Robert Turt<strong>on</strong><br />

9. 155 5/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 14-Po<strong>in</strong>t Tolland Michael Hevey<br />

10. 155 0/8 Arc<strong>he</strong>ry N<strong>on</strong>-Typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t Middlesex Robert McCarthy<br />

As you can see from <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>se scores, this states’ muzzleloader<br />

hunters took three of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top ten bucks, after not even appear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top ten for 2006. Firearms hunters did well also, but arc<strong>he</strong>ry<br />

hunters posted fewer top end bucks. A strange “reversal of<br />

fortune” for <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state’s hunters, who typically load up <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top ten<br />

with arc<strong>he</strong>ry bucks. Is this <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of a new trend, or just a<br />

<strong>on</strong>e year anomaly? I guess <strong>on</strong>ly time will tell!<br />

Here is a roundup of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> best bucks taken <strong>in</strong> C<strong>on</strong>necticut dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

each of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> separate seas<strong>on</strong>s, plus some detailed <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> about<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> #1 buck from <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state <strong>in</strong> 2007!<br />

CONNECTICUT’S BEST BUCK of<br />

2007:<br />

T<strong>he</strong> 184 5/8” <str<strong>on</strong>g>Daly</str<strong>on</strong>g> Buck – W<strong>he</strong>n <str<strong>on</strong>g>Ed</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Daly</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>entered</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>woods</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> a <strong>cold</strong> <strong>day</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>mid</strong>-<strong>December</strong> <strong>he</strong> could<br />

not possibly have known that his muzzleloader hunt <strong>in</strong><br />

Tolland County would produce <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state’s largest grossscor<strong>in</strong>g<br />

buck of 2007. And for that matter, this impressive<br />

buck is <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> largest gross-scor<strong>in</strong>g whitetail taken anyw<strong>he</strong>re<br />

<strong>in</strong> New England dur<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 seas<strong>on</strong>! This giant buck<br />

has some eye-popp<strong>in</strong>g characteristics. At first blush <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

rack looks very “typical” – <strong>in</strong> fact it has just three abnormal<br />

po<strong>in</strong>ts total<strong>in</strong>g just over 14”. So as a typical 9-Po<strong>in</strong>t it scores<br />

a whopp<strong>in</strong>g 170 3/8”! But <str<strong>on</strong>g>Ed</str<strong>on</strong>g> chose to enter <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> buck to<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast Big Buck Club record book as a n<strong>on</strong>-typical,<br />

giv<strong>in</strong>g it full credit for all twelve of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> rack.<br />

T<strong>he</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al gross n<strong>on</strong>-typical score was 184 5/8”, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> net<br />

B&C score, after asymmetry deducti<strong>on</strong>s, is 171 4/8”. T<strong>he</strong><br />

buck has a great <strong>in</strong>side spread (over 19”!) and ma<strong>in</strong> beams of<br />

26 5/8” each. T<strong>he</strong> l<strong>on</strong>gest t<strong>in</strong>es are 10 5/8” (right) and 12 6/8”<br />

(left) and bases are massive at 5 3/8” and 5 4/8”. It would<br />

be hard to imag<strong>in</strong>e a more impressive frame for this great<br />

animal. T<strong>he</strong> state of C<strong>on</strong>necticut should be proud that such a<br />

magnificent animal came from with<strong>in</strong> its borders, and is <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

largest gross-scor<strong>in</strong>g buck from anyw<strong>he</strong>re <strong>in</strong> New England <strong>in</strong><br />

2007 accord<strong>in</strong>g to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> NBBC records!<br />

BEST MUZZLELOADER BUCKS of 2007<br />

It has been quite some time s<strong>in</strong>ce C<strong>on</strong>necticut hunters<br />

experienced an “<strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g” muzzleloader seas<strong>on</strong> such as<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y did <strong>in</strong> 2007. In fact, you have to reach all <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> way<br />

back till <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2000 seas<strong>on</strong> to f<strong>in</strong>d a muzzleloader buck<br />

am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top five killed <strong>in</strong> a particular seas<strong>on</strong>. And<br />

even more impressive fact – <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Daly</str<strong>on</strong>g> and Hermann<br />

bucks listed <strong>in</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top ten from 2007 are currently<br />

ranked #2 and #3 All-time <strong>in</strong> this state for n<strong>on</strong>-typical<br />

muzzleloader bucks, beh<strong>in</strong>d Henry K<strong>on</strong>ow Jr’s 206<br />

3/8” 19-Po<strong>in</strong>t from <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 2000 seas<strong>on</strong>. This is a very<br />

impressive show<strong>in</strong>g for <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> states smoke-pole hunters.<br />

We menti<strong>on</strong>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Daly</str<strong>on</strong>g> buck above, so we should<br />

give some “props” to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Hermann buck as well. This<br />

wild-look<strong>in</strong>g 14-Po<strong>in</strong>t n<strong>on</strong>-typical has an amaz<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>side spread of 26 6/8”, and sports six abnormal po<strong>in</strong>ts<br />

total<strong>in</strong>g more than 23” of abnormal growth. T<strong>he</strong> buck<br />

is massive with bases over 5”, and has excellent t<strong>in</strong>e<br />

length with two t<strong>in</strong>es that almost reach <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 10” mark. This is truly<br />

a unique trophy. Let’s hope <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>se great muzzleloader bucks from<br />

2007 are <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of trend that will see this state c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to produce some of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast’s best primitive weap<strong>on</strong> bucks!<br />

BEST ARCHERY BUCKS of 2007 – T<strong>he</strong> 2007 seas<strong>on</strong><br />

produced fewer outstand<strong>in</strong>g arc<strong>he</strong>ry bucks for this state than<br />

usual. Typically <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> “top 10” for any seas<strong>on</strong> is dom<strong>in</strong>ated by bow<br />

bruisers, but this was not <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> case last year. As we menti<strong>on</strong>ed<br />

above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> largest bow buck of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> year fell to an arc<strong>he</strong>r John<br />

Miller <strong>in</strong> Hartford county. T<strong>he</strong> massive typical 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t had bases<br />

of over 5” each. It ranks as <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> #16 typical arc<strong>he</strong>ry buck of all<br />

time <strong>in</strong> this state. One o<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>r impressive buck cracked <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top 10,<br />

and just missed <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 150” mark – Ted Berry’s 149” 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t from<br />

Middlesex County. This buck dressed 195 lbs. O<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>r impressive<br />

2007 bucks <strong>in</strong>cluded Thomas Van Leeuwen’s impressive n<strong>on</strong>typical<br />

from Fairfield County scor<strong>in</strong>g 146 4/8”, and sport<strong>in</strong>g<br />

a 6 4/8” drop t<strong>in</strong>e, and Mike Zan<strong>in</strong>ni’s 138 1/8” 9-Po<strong>in</strong>t from<br />

New L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong> County that dressed 190 lbs. Notice also that <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />

m<strong>on</strong>sters came from counties all across <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state!<br />

BEST GUN BUCKS of 2007 – Gun hunters took <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ir share<br />

of bucks <strong>in</strong> 2007 that made <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> NBBC records, with four bucks<br />

that cracked <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 150” mark, and five <strong>in</strong> total that made <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> top<br />

ten list<strong>in</strong>g for <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> year. T<strong>he</strong> best firearms buck of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> year – Mark<br />

Page’s 178 3/8” n<strong>on</strong>-typical 12-po<strong>in</strong>t – ranks #13 all-time for this<br />

state’s firearm n<strong>on</strong>-typicals. Page’s buck was very impressive all<br />

around, with a 17 4/8” <strong>in</strong>side spread, beams over 25”, several t<strong>in</strong>es<br />

<strong>in</strong> excess of 10” each, and bases of about 5” each! T<strong>he</strong> New Haven<br />

county m<strong>on</strong>ster dressed 180 lbs. An<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>r impressive n<strong>on</strong>-typical fell<br />

to Bob Robb<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Tolland county (162 4/8” 11-Po<strong>in</strong>t) and Scott<br />

Leavitt <strong>in</strong> Litchfield Count (159” 11-Po<strong>in</strong>t). Leavitt’s buck dressed<br />

214 lbs as well! T<strong>he</strong> best typical firearm buck of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> year fell to<br />

Robert Jensen <strong>in</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> western porti<strong>on</strong> of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state. His Litchfield<br />

county 10-Po<strong>in</strong>t scored 154 4/8”. Notice that <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>se great bucks<br />

were taken across <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state, from counties east to west, and north<br />

to south. Like <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> arc<strong>he</strong>rs, gun hunters found good success <strong>in</strong> just<br />

about every acre of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state, which c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ues to produce some of<br />

c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>on</strong> page 37<br />

www.bigbuckclub.com Fall 2008 15


Adventures of <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Rough Cuts<br />

c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ued from page 35<br />

Gramp and Harold did <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> dragg<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Back <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>n, any game <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> wardens<br />

salvaged <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y could sell, so <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> way<br />

back to camp Gramp asked if <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y could<br />

buy <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> doe for some camp meat and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

warden said that <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a wait<strong>in</strong>g list.<br />

“But see<strong>in</strong>g you fellows <strong>he</strong>lped and all, I’ll<br />

sell it to you. It will be five dollars for a<br />

doe that size.<br />

Back at camp <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> warden came <strong>in</strong> to do <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

paper work and paid Gramp and Harold<br />

five dollars for <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ir <strong>he</strong>lp.<br />

Will had d<strong>in</strong>ner all ready and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />

<strong>in</strong>vited <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> warden to set. After d<strong>in</strong>ner,<br />

Will brought out a gall<strong>on</strong> of his legendary<br />

hard cider which lit <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> warden’s eyes<br />

up. He was known to like a dr<strong>in</strong>k now<br />

and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>n. It took a while to do <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> paper<br />

work and every time <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> warden’s glass got<br />

empty <strong>he</strong> would smack his lips, say how<br />

good that cider was, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y’d pour him<br />

ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>r. F<strong>in</strong>ally <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> paper work got d<strong>on</strong>e<br />

and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y sat around tell<strong>in</strong>g stories and each<br />

time that warden’s glass got empty <strong>he</strong>’d spy<br />

that jug and smack his lips and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y’d pour<br />

him ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>r. T<strong>he</strong> warden downed about 3<br />

glasses to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ir <strong>on</strong>e, and w<strong>he</strong>n <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> jug was<br />

empty <strong>he</strong> started to leave but his legs no<br />

l<strong>on</strong>ger would support his weight and <strong>he</strong><br />

was <strong>in</strong>troduced to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> floor.<br />

Gramp and Harold <strong>he</strong>lped him up, got<br />

him <strong>in</strong>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ir car, and drove him home.<br />

About <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y got him to <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> door it<br />

opened and his wife, a big woman, grabbed<br />

hold of him, yanked him <strong>in</strong>side, and<br />

slammed <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> door (a “true story.”)<br />

Gramp and Harold got <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ir butts out of<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>re fast, <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>y couldn’t <strong>he</strong>ar what was said<br />

but <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>re was an awful lot of yell<strong>in</strong>g go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> that house.<br />

T<strong>he</strong> next even<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> warden stopped at<br />

camp. “Will, hide <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> cider before <strong>he</strong> gets<br />

<strong>in</strong>side!”<br />

“Did you fellows pay me for that doe<br />

last night? It seems I am five dollars short.<br />

Harold said, “Sure we paid you, I’ve got<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> receipt right <strong>he</strong>re.”<br />

After <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> warden left, Gramp looked at<br />

Harold and said, “We never paid for that<br />

doe.”<br />

Harold said, “I know, but I got <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

receipt that says we did, why <strong>he</strong> drank<br />

more than five dollars worth of cider so that<br />

makes it even. “Will, get that back strap <strong>in</strong><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> skillet!”<br />

C<strong>on</strong>necticut's Best 2007 Bucks<br />

c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ued from page 17<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast’s very best gun bucks.<br />

2007 Summary, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Outlook<br />

for 2008<br />

Several nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>astern states set new state<br />

records dur<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> last several hunt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

seas<strong>on</strong>s. While this state has not establis<strong>he</strong>d<br />

new records, local hunters have taken<br />

many deer that score 170-180” or better<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g that time period. T<strong>he</strong> nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast<br />

is poised to c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ue its’ <strong>in</strong>credible<br />

renaissance as a trophy buck hunt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

dest<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>. In C<strong>on</strong>necticut it is obvious<br />

that we are experienc<strong>in</strong>g str<strong>on</strong>g trophy<br />

buck harvests across <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> state, and <strong>in</strong> all<br />

three hunt<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong> segments (<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> arc<strong>he</strong>ry,<br />

muzzleloader and firearms segments). We<br />

can rema<strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>fident that 2008 will produce<br />

opportunities for hunters <strong>in</strong> all seas<strong>on</strong>s and<br />

all counties.<br />

To learn more about <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> big bucks<br />

taken <strong>in</strong> 2007 throughout New<br />

England, Pennsylvania and New York,<br />

visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast Big Buck Club<br />

<strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e at www.bigbuckclub.com, or<br />

c<strong>on</strong>tact <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>m by mail at 390 Marshall<br />

Street, Paxt<strong>on</strong>, MA 01612; by ph<strong>on</strong>e<br />

at (508) 752-8762; and by email at<br />

<strong>in</strong>fo@bigbuckclub.com.<br />

In T<strong>he</strong><br />

Next Issue<br />

Our Big<br />

Sportsmen's<br />

Show Issue -<br />

Calendar of Shows<br />

Across <str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> Nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>t<strong>he</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ast<br />

Preview Sc<strong>he</strong>dule:<br />

Syracuse NY, Worcester MA,<br />

Hartford CT and more...<br />

Visit our events calendar at<br />

www.bigbuckclub.com<br />

• Preview of Big Bucks<br />

Taken <strong>in</strong> 2008's Early<br />

Seas<strong>on</strong>s <strong>in</strong> New England,<br />

NY and PA!<br />

• Our First-Ever<br />

Outfitter Review for<br />

Bear Hunt<strong>in</strong>g!<br />

www.bigbuckclub.com Fall 2008 37

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