Where did the Antlers go, Pennsylvania, David Fravel

Where did the Antlers go

Listed by David Fravel

Hunter's Name: David Fravel

Unbelievable Last Day!

Look what I found next to this Bruiser

Not a bad rifle shot for a Bowhunter!


State of Harvest: Pennsylvania Closest City: Laporte County of Harvest: Sullivan Were Deer Calls Used?: No Were Lures Used?: No	Weapon Used: Rifle Number of Points: 9 Point

Year of Harvest: 2003
Time of Harvest: 10
Story and Comments.: The last day of the season and my father-in-law Bob and Uncle Paul decided to do some mini-drives through the toughest clear-cut brush I had ever seen. Most hunters walk the roads around the clear-cut but would never dare get off the road into the thick stuff. Paul will do the first drive because he noticed some fresh tracks heading across the road going up the steep side of the hill. Bob and I will stand.
I knew how the deer moved through the clear-cuts and knew they would never walk the roads with that much hunting pressure. I got off the road so I could just look over the edge of the steep hill bordering the brush.
I was just in position and the wind was at my face when the buck peaked up from the edge through the thick clear-cut brush for a quick look and then dissapeared. I could just tell it was a buck so I pulled my scope up to take a closer look. He raised his head again sniffing the wind and looking right at me. I had a quick neck shot before he disapeared again. BOOM...!
The buck flipped back in its tracks. At first I didnt notice the size of the deer but my Father-in-law worked his way down to me from the brush, looked at the deer and said.."Look at the neck on that deer, its huge" I looked at the Bruiser and noticed somthing was wrong."Where is the antlers?" I said. At that moment we both noticed a nice set of antlers laying neatly in front of the huge deer. It took a few moments for me to piece together what had just happend. When I shot the deer in the neck the impact of the 300 Win Mag blew the antlers off before the deer hit the ground. After looking at the deer it was obvious the deer was 1/2 way through shedding its rack.
The base of each antler was jagged so they both fit back perfectly in place on the buck's head.
Father-in-law Bob (lower right) is straddling the deer removing the drag rope. To put in perspective how big the deer is, Bob's height is 6-foot.
The buck was shot last day of the 2003 Pa. rifle season on State Gamelands in North Central Pa.
The deer's live weight was 220+ lbs
9-points measured 19 3/4" spread.
upper neck measured 23"
lower-mid neck measured 33 1/4"
Taxidermist guessed Age to be 5yrs old.
It is my largest deer.
We all hunted hard and went out of the way into some rough country to find the big deer and this time it really paid off.
This one is definitely going on the wall!

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