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Bagging Ohio's second biggest buck not luck
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
XENIA — Jonathan Schmucker, the Adams County deer hunter who recently shot the second biggest buck ever taken in Ohio, said he has been trying to get the large deer for three years.
"I was about 10 feet high in my self-climbing tree stand when the deer walked under it and I shot it with a crossbow," Schmucker said.
Ron Perrine of Xenia looks over the rack of the buck taken by Jonathon Schmucker in Adams County on the first day of bow hunting season on Sept. 30. It is the second largest non-typical buck ever taken by a hunter in Ohio. The rack was on display at the Ohio Division of Wildlife office in Xenia on Saturday.Schmucker described the hunt Saturday at the Division of Wildlife District 5 Headquarters, where the deer antlers were publicly displayed.
Ron E. Perrine Sr. of Xenia, an official scorer of deer for the national Boone and Crockett Club and Ohio Big Bucks Club, explained how the antlers were measured.
The non-typical deer scored 291 2/8 points, second only in Ohio to the world-record Beatty buck (largest taken by bow) that was killed in Greene County in 2000.
"I can't say without reviewing the Boone and Crockett records how this deer rates nationally, but it will be up there," Perrine said.
"A number of outstanding deer have been taken in the southwest district of Ohio," the scorer said.
Todd Haines, district manager for the Division of Wildlife, arranged for the viewing of the deer antlers and provided an opportunity for Schmucker to tell his hunting story.
"We have world-class white-tailed deer in this area, and it's because of three things. There are good genetics, plenty of food with minerals and deer that are older in age," Haines said.
Chris Gilkey, Adams County wildlife officer, transported Schmucker to the district headquarters because Schmucker does not have an automobile.
Schmucker, 32, a 5-foot-9 bearded man, is married and the father of four children. He follows the old-world Amish faith and does without a car, electricity and a number of other modern conveniences.
The outgoing and friendly Amish man is proud of his hunting achievement and was glad to share his story.
"I knew the deer was in the area and went to the woods behind my house about 2:30 p.m. on the first day of the bow season (Sept. 30)," Schmucker said.
"I sat in my stand about 2½ hours with my Horton crossbow before seeing anything. Then a small buck appeared, followed later by the big one.
"It came toward me and was about 10 yards from under my stand when I shot it," the hunter explained.
Larry Moore of Jamestown asked Schmucker if he has been bothered by all the attention he has received since shooting the big buck.
"No," Schmucker said with a smile. "I'm kind of enjoying it."
A carpenter by trade, Schmucker also processes deer for hunters in the Adams County area. Besides his own deer, the Amish man has processed about a hundred others this year.
Gary Trent, president of Ohio Big Bucks Club, said Schmucker would be inducted into the Big Bucks at its 50th Anniversary Dinner.
"This will be a big attraction for us," Trent stated.
Dan Stapleton of Camden, president of World Classics, an Internet Service that shows pictures of world-class animals, said that under his scoring system the Schmucker buck scores 305 7/8 points and will be listed as the No. 1 deer taken with a crossbow.
Contact Jim Robey at Dayton Daily News, 45 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH 45402.
