You could call Steve Matt of Eureka Springs, Ark., a census taker, even though he doesn't carry a clipboard and knock on doors.
He collects most of his data from trail cameras, even though he can't check them very often.
In order to see how many and what kinds of bucks were roaming his sister's 430 acres in Coffey County, Kan., back in 2009, Steve put out some cameras in July. When he checked them a month later, he was delighted to see several photos of a giant.
The lens hog's rack was tall, and its matching kickers reminded Steve of a motorcycle's handlebars, which is why he began referring to it as the Handlebar Buck.
Steve hunted the buck with a muzzleloader, bow and rifle (as he had a special nonresident's hunt-on-own-land permit).
On the rainy fourth day of the modern firearms season, Steve moved closer to a timbered canyon where he suspected Handlebars was spending his days.
"I had been in the stand for only 10 minutes. I hadn't even gotten everything situated before I spotted two does coming out of a finger of timber 50 yards east of me," he told John Phillips, who's writing the story for Rack magazine. Handlebars was behind them.
The buck had put another 90 yards between them by the time Steve had his rifle in hand and was able to stop it by yelling and whistling. When Handlebars stopped and turned broadside, the deed was done.
The 29-pointer's BTR composite score is 189 4/8 inches.
Braggin’ Board
Send your 2014 big buck photos to mhandley@buckmasters.com. Please include hunter’s name, where the animal was hunted, and its score (if known). Remember: The BTR has no drying period.