In October 2008 I first blogged about a giant whitetail (12×14 with 240” of rack) that was living in the city limits of East Sioux Falls. Somebody posted a you tube video of him (I don’t see it online now) and it caused mild hysteria amongst hunters and non-hunters alike. At the time people figured the buck was the walking state record.
For the last 5-plus years I’ve tracked this amazing deer with the help of Kelly, a hard-core hunter and shedder in the area. Kelly wrote me awhile back with this update:
Mike, I’m running out of room! You should remember the buck mounted on the wall, that’s “you-tube” from east of Sioux Falls. Last year, just before scheduled shedding time, he was even further into town, living near an old closed golf course. I was not able to shed hunt in the area and did not hear of anyone finding his sheds. Here is a picture of him. As you can see it is clearly “you-tube,” but truly on his way down. I think I saw him once this late spring back in the old stomping grounds. He is the elder!
Just how old is this buck? Kelly knows of one of his sheds from 2005, at which time he figured the animal was 3.5. That would make him 11.5 this year! This is one cool buck, I hope he lives forever. Thanks Kelly, and keep us posted.
This story goes to show you that at any given time a true monster could cross your path even if you haven’t seen him before. It only takes one hot doe to pull a monster from his sanctuary. We have had pictures of some very large deer that just disappear, knowing that if any of the local hunters had shot them it would make news. I would prefer to think that those big boys are still out there somewhere and may drop their guard one day.
That is about as cool as it gets for shed hunters! Man, that’s neat. Thanks for the follow up on that buck and it’s sheds…that would make a great segment on your show (hint, hint) !!
I really like that you keep following up on stories like this one Mike. I hope the buck made it through the winter and they get good pics of him this year as well! He looks a little thin in the photo, I’m sure there’s not much left in the way of teeth at 11.5 years old!