Leg•end noun \ˈle-jənd\: "A magnificent story or event handed down for generations and believed to have historical basis."
At Legendary Whitetails, we are driven by a passion for hunting that stems from a deeply rooted desire to harvest a buck of Legendary proportions. We believe each buck represented in this section is forever engrained in hunting folklore and is just that, a “Legendary Whitetail”. Many of these bucks were harvested by experienced, knowledgeable hunters who relentlessly stalked and hunted their monster year after year. Some, on the other hand, were taken by novice hunters, proving once again that luck does play some role in harvesting a world-class trophy. Finally, some of these Legends were not harvested by a hunter at all! Bucks like “Illinois Roadkill”, who met his demise on the bumper of a farmer’s truck, and “Hole-In-The-Horn”, who was found dead near a railroad track, are prime examples. One thing these bucks have in common is, they all share an equally Legendary story.
It was the founder of Legendary Whitetails’ dream to someday assemble these deer in a public museum as an educational exhibit for the hunter and non-hunter alike. Unfortunately, Larry L. Huffman, founder of Legendary Whitetails, passed away in 2007, but his dream will never fade. In honor of Larry, we have assembled photos of the bucks he deemed as “Legendary” along with their individual, remarkable stories for all to enjoy.
Jim Jordan
In 1914, Jim Jordan killed an enormous white-tailed deer which eventually became the “World Record” typical white-tailed deer. In an interesting chain of events, Jordan lost possession of the head for 50 years.
Even though the deer surfaced in 1964, it wasn’t until 1978 that the Boone & Crockett record’s committee officially credited James Jordan as the hunter. Ironically, Mr. Jordan died in October of 1978 before he could be informed of the Club’s decision.
The Jordan buck has stood as the world record typical whitetail deer for over 80 years. Most whitetail enthusiasts today would argue that there is no trophy more notorious than the “Jordan Buck”.
Hole In The Horn
The unbelievable Ohio non-typical got his name from a small hole that pierces through one of the large drop tines on the right main beam. The buck’s antlers score an incredible 328 2/8 non-typical points.
Boone & Crockett officially lists the “Hole in the Horn” buck as the No. 2 Non-Typical of all time. There was however some controversy in during the scoring process and many whitetail experts feel it is the largest set of whitetail deer antlers in history.
The deer was found dead in 1940 and until several years ago there was much speculation on what actual actually caused the hole in the horn. Not until a railroad workers who was there at the deer’s discovery came forward was it learned that the hole was actually from a wire on a fence. The buck hung in the Kent Canadian Club in Kent, Ohio for over 40 years. This deer must simply be seen to be believed.
Del Austin
Few other stories in whitetail-hunting history can equal this one for sheer excitement, disappointment and final glory. Fittingly, the buck that resulted from all this effort is in a class by itself, the one-time world record Non-Typical archery whitetail.
The buck was known as “Old Mossy Horns”. The account of the hunt stretched out over a period of more than five years. The year before he harvested the buck, Del found his matching sheds that scored whopping 281 4/8. The buck was finally aged at 9 years old the following year.
With a Non-Typical Pope & Young score of 279 7/8 it still ranks as number two archery of all-time. This buck is truly fitting as one of the greatest hunter verses whitetail stories ever recorded.
Wayne Bills
Wayne Bills was relatively new to the sport of deer hunting. He had never shot a deer, but agreed to go hunting with some friends in the fall of 1974. It was the old story of being in the right place at the right time. Wayne harvested the buck of a lifetime, not bad for his first deer ever.
Extraordinary tine length is the main feature of the Wayne Bills buck. The official Boone & Crockett score is 201 4/8, continues to be the Iowa state record typical and in the top ten of all time. The antlers have 4 tines over 13” in length with the longest tine being 14 4/8”.
The buck’s left brow tine was broken off and most experts agree that if it had been intact, the buck may have been a new world record. The buck clearly ranks as one of the best 5 x 5’s in the world.
Kent Petry
There are many great 10-point bucks in this world, but very few can match this tremendous buck for size and classic beauty. Mr. Kent Petry harvested this legendary monster on a bitterly cold November morning in 1966 which to this day still ranks in the top 20 Typical of all time.
Flathead County, Montana has produced more than its share of trophy whitetails, but this buck scoring 199 0/8 is truly the leader of the class. Its 24” spread and exceedingly long tines give the rack a very balanced look.
The antlers are truly unique with their sled runner tips on the main beams. It’s this special look that makes this Montana beauty one of the most unique 5 x 5 Typicals ever taken.
Larry Raveling
Known as the “Rag Horn” buck, Larry Raveling’s awesome non-typical is one of the most classic ever taken. This buck scores 282 0/8 and stood for 30 years as the Iowa state record non-typical.
The story is rather amazing in that Larry Raveling had an opportunity at this buck in 1972 when he was 19 years old and a first-time deer hunter. He shot and missed. He got his second change the following year and made good on it. What are the odds of being in the right place at the right time two years in a row?
The buck is recognized as the fourth largest non-typical ever killed by a hunter in the Boone & Crockett record book. To whitetail antler experts, this magnificent buck is one of the most beautiful Non-Typical bucks ever killed.
Brian Bice
The exceptional book has a non-typical Boone & Crockett score of 256 1/8. The antlers have 27 points and an outside spread of 24". The second point on the left main beam is 18 5/8" long, one of the longest ever recorded. The main beams are 30 1/8" and 29 0/8 in length.
Brian killed the buck on November 22, 1992. The weather was cold and rainy. Brian decided to still hunt an area where he felt deer would be bedded on a day like this. He spotted the buck in some tangled underbrush and was able to shoot the buck through a small opening.
Many hunters would have walked right past that buck on that rainy November day. Brian Bices' 9 years of deer hunting experience paid off for him in a big, big way.
James Rath
James Rath grew up on a 350-acre farm in south-central Minnesota. Jim’s dad had seen a monster buck in one particular patch of woods on the farm. The two-day November season arrived, and the hunt began.
The first day was non-eventful. On the second day, James and a friend posted the east end of the woods while his dad and another hunter began a drive. As the drivers came through, the huge buck crashed out toward Jim. Jim shot the buck at 20 yards with his slug loaded 12 ga. Ithaca.
The buck’s rack is overwhelming. It has it all: height, mass, points, spread and beauty. With a Boone & Crockett score of 231 2/8, there are over 200 Non-Typical bucks that score higher, but few if any have the beauty and character of this magnificent buck.
Elburn Kohler
Taken in 1957, the Kohler buck remains Saskatchewan’s largest non-typical whitetail buck ever harvested by a hunter. It is exceptionally massive and scores a very impressive 265 3/8 non-typical Boone & Crockett points.
The big 31 pointer has circumferences that average 7 inches. The antlers have 67 4/8 inches of abnormal points. The antlers alone weigh an incredible 11 ¼ pounds.
The true story of Mr. Kohler’s hunt will probably never be known as he passed away in 1961. His legacy will live on forever for harvesting what many people call “The King” of whitetail bucks.
Mel Johnson
Bowhunting is full of numerous stories about giant whitetails, but no other typical white-tailed deer, harvested by an archer has ever eclipsed this monster taken by Mel Johnson in 1965 from Illinois. Mel shot this magnificent buck using a re-curve bow from a ground blind.
With a typical score of 204 4/8, this buck is the only North American big game animal to ever receive both the Ishi and Sagamore Hill awards, the highest recognition that the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett clubs bestow on big game hunters.
Mel Johnson’s buck has an inside spread of 23 3/8”, while its greatest spread measures 26 1/8”. It ranks as one of the widest typical ever taken by an archer. Its record score has stood for over 45 years and will be extremely difficult to surpass.
Illinois Roadkill
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On a cold November evening in 1965, this monster buck met his death at the front end of an unsuspecting farmer’s automobile on his way home. Conservation warden, Jim Twitchell and other witnesses were amazed at the size of this enormous buck. By all accounts the buck had a staggering live weight of over 400 pound!
This tremendous buck undoubtedly is among the most awesome in history. The main beams are 30” in length and it has an inside spread of 29 0/8”. The bases are 6” and it has super tine length with G2’s over 13’.
The buck ended up being scored as an 8-pointer. Even so, the buck has a gross score of 202, which is unheard of for an 8-point buck. The net score of 176 5/8 typical points does not accurately reflect the impressiveness of this awesome buck.
John Breen
In 1918, Mr. John Breen of Funkley, Minnesota, harvested a tremendous buck which many historians believe is the greatest typical whitetail buck of all time. The monster 5 x 5 has a Boone & Crockett score of 202 0/8, but that is only part of the story.
The exceptional fact about the Breen buck is that its gross typical frame scored 215 0/8. Six small abnormal points kept this buck from being the world record. Without those points the buck would have had a net score of approximately 210.
The main beams measure 31 2/8” and 31” in length with 6” bases. The 26 7/8” wide rack has outstanding tine length and is truly a masterpiece of nature. When compared side by side with similar scoring giants, any hunter would pick this buck as number one!