Pennsylvania Game News - February 2009 - 7

taken his shot. I was looking for Ron’s arrow when Dave yelled, “I found the buck! He’s down!” As Ron and I approached we could see the buck was big — huge! We all started laughing in disbelief. None of us had ever killed a buck of that size. It was a good shot, too, right through the center of the heart. At about that time my son, Mike Jr., showed up and we filled him in on what had happened. We were giddy. No one could believe it. I jokingly told Dave that because he had jumped the buck, he would get to name it. He looked at the buck and said it should be called “The Freak.” At first I didn’t think it was fitting, then I thought, he is so big, so typical, and so symmetrical, he was like a freak of nature. The name stuck. Tom and Jim kept looking at the rack, trying to guess what it would score. Both felt it would score about 170 Pope and Young. I had no knowledge about how they score a buck, but I couldn’t believe that it would score that high. I told them I didn’t think I could be lucky enough to make the minimum of 170 for Boone and Crockett. That got all the younger hunters thinking. They asked if I was going to get it scored. I said, “No.” I didn’t believe it would be big enough. Then we took turns dragging the buck up the steep hillside. I was glad to have the help of the younger hunters. It’s an extremely tough climb. After we got it out of the woods we took it to Tom’s son Joe’s house. A few hours later I received a call from Mike Jr. and his nephews Joe and Tom. They had found information on how to score a rack and had done some measurements. They said they had been very conservative and careful in measuring and had come up with 184 gross and 175 net. They felt I needed to have it scored. I thought they were letting their enthusiasm get to them and told them that, while I appreciated their concern, I didn’t think it would score that high. They called three more times that night. Each time insisting that I get it measured. I realized that this was very important to them and so I agreed to have it scored. After the 60 days drying time, my friend John Enterline and I took “The Freak” to Dave Pasky, an official scorer for the Pope and Young Club. Dave was very professional and meticulous in taking measurements. It was interesting to watch him. He explained everything step by step. After Dave tallied the measurements he told me my buck scored 185 1/8 gross with a net score of 178 2/8. Then he added, “Congratulations! You have the official Pope and Young Pennsylvania State Typical Archery Record.” If my son and nephews had not been so persistent I would have never had the buck scored. The most important aspect of this experience was that I was able to enjoy this hunt with my family and friends, people I truly respect and love. I thank them all. I would like to also thank all the friends I shoot 3D with for their instruction and friendship. They taught me how to focus on the shot and not on the rack. I owe them a lot. Typical White-tailed Deer — Archery Rank/Hunter 1 2 3 4 5 Nicola Sr, Michael J * Sankey, Bruce Horosky, Jack Cunningham, George Cisney, Scott Hometown Waterford Jamestown St Peters New Ringgold Hershey County Taken Allegheny Unknown Chester Schuylkill Dauphin Year 2004 2005 2005 2002 2005 Score 178-2 171-6 168-4 166-6 165-5 FEBRUARY 2009 7

Pennsylvania Game News - February 2009

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