Illinois’ New State-Record Bow Kill- Illinois Game & Fish

Chris Kiernan shares the story behind the biggest non-typical whitetail ever killed with a bow in Illinois. The “Big Non-Typical,” as Kiernan had been calling the buck for nearly a year before he shot it, net scored 268 1/8 Pope & Young points.(July 2010)

By Chris Kiernan

It was mid-November 2008 in Kendall County. I was headed into my stand for an afternoon hunt when I caught sight of a big buck chasing a doe out in the field in front of me. I grabbed my binoculars to get a better look. The doe stopped about 30 yards in front of me and the big buck was just 10 yards behind her. He had a great frame – wide with good mass and long points. I also noticed he had a lot of junk on both sides of his antlers. He was an absolute giant!

After getting a good look at a giant non-typical buck in early October, Chris Kiernan determined that he would stay on the outskirts of the area until deer activity increased in order to lessen the risk of bumping the buck. He stayed out of the heart of the area until Nov. 1, when he would end up killing the new Illinois state-record non-typical bow kill.

I ranged him and got ready for the shot. I drew the bow and concentrated on the big buck’s chest. As I settled the pin behind his front leg, I noticed an over-hanging branch. That branch was just too close to what I thought the arrow’s trajectory would be so I let the bow down. The doe bolted and the big buck resumed the chase. From that day on, he was known as the “Big Non-Typical.” This was my first encounter with him and after a few sightings in 2008 — but no shots — he vanished. I hunted through the last day of the season but wasn’t able to get an arrow in the Big Non-Typical.  Click Link Below for Full Story!

via Illinois’ New State-Record Bow Kill.