Today's Most Popular Video
Oct 22, 2009 7:01 pm US/Central
Bow Hunter Bags 32-Point Buck, Could Be Record
(WCCO)
-
-
On the first day of the special lottery archery hunt at Camp Ripley, he arrowed a 32-point, non-typical whitetail buck. One perfect arrow from 44 yards away.
Scott O'Konek
Ever since he was a young boy, Scott O'Konek hasn't just talked about bow hunting, he's lived and breathed it.
"It's what I love to do, sit down and talk about hunting," O'Konek said.
Over 300 days a year, and for countless hours, he will spend time practicing his aim by shooting at targets in his backyard. It's all in hopes of that once in a lifetime chance at the deer of his dreams.
The proof of O'Konek's proficiency with a bow and arrow hangs on his walls, but his latest shot will more than likely land him in the record book.
"I was like, that thing is something else, ya know! I've never seen one that big," O'Konek recalled.
On the first day of the special lottery archery hunt at Camp Ripley, he arrowed a 32-point, non-typical whitetail buck. One perfect arrow from 44 yards away.
The initial "green score" of the animal's antlers, registered a score of 228.
If the buck's scoring holds two months from now when the antlers are fully dried, O'Konek's whitetail buck will be the largest non-typical rack ever taken by archery in Minnesota. It would score nearly two points higher than the current record holder.
O'Konek attributed his deadly aim to all that practice, adding that he was calm until after the moment of release.
"At that point I was a puddle, I was shaking I was so excited," he admitted.
Field and Stream magazine, which for decades has been required reading for outdoor enthusiasts, made his story its online cover. Photographs of the hunt taken by his wife were signed over for exclusive use by the magazine.
"I knew this was cool, but not that big a deal," he said modestly.
But it's a very big deal to his wife Susan, who was hunting from a tree stand nearby.
According to Susan, "It was absolutely incredible to be there and watch him get so excited over such a beautiful piece of nature."
O'Konek said the deer's body mount will be done by a local taxidermist, someone who has done previous work for him. As for a suitable location to display the trophy, he said the couple's 4-year-old daughter has already asked if this one could hang in her room.
Wherever it's displayed, the incredible animal will forever rekindle memories of a special hunt that the couple shared together -- a record setting story that will be the lore of deer camps for years to come.
"To me that score is amazing and neat. I don't know why I was blessed to shoot that deer but to me it's more the memory I had in the field," said O'Konek.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Doritos Ad: 'Dog Collar'
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
