Darrell Pennington of Vernon, Ala., hunts his father's 24 acres in Lamar County, a relatively small tract that yields three to five does and at least a couple of bucks each year that'll score between 120 and 140 inches.
In December 2013, Darrell discovered evidence that a much bigger buck might be passing through the property.
"I saw rubs on trees about the size of a man's thigh, big deer tracks and very big droppings," he told John Phillips, who is writing his story for Rack magazine.
One January night, Darrell told his dad, "I'm going to hunt early. Then, about 8:30, I'll come out of the woods and go to Jack's for a hot breakfast that I'll bring back to the house (and share with you)."
In this western Alabama county, not far from the Mississippi line, the peak of the rut usually occurs during the last two weeks of January. So when Darrell decided to go to the shooting house on a gas line, he was hoping to see a shooter buck chasing a doe.
Instead of walking directly to his father's house at the appointed time, Darrell followed a four-wheeler trail to a hillside plateau where he'd planted a green field. The big rubs he'd found were near there.
When he arrived, he saw more than scarred tree trunks.
"I saw something move next to a beech tree just off the green field, in the area where I'd seen the big rubs," he recalled. "I froze like a statue. Then I could see one side of the deer's rack and its hindquarters on the backside of the beech, about 35 yards from me. But the rest of the buck's body was hidden."
Darrell shouldered his .270 and kept his eyes on those big antlers. Expecting the buck to bolt and run away from him, he was somewhat surprised when it stepped clear of the tree and offered a broadside target.
"As soon as I saw the spot I wanted to hit behind the deer's shoulder, I squeezed the trigger," he said.
After the boom, the 11-pointer dropped, down and out of sight. Because the hill was so steep, Darrell couldn't see above the crest.
Darrell didn't hear the buck get up, thrash in the leaves or make any type of sound in the silent woods. Still, he chambered another cartridge and brought his rifle to bear, just in case.
After waiting for as long as he could stand not knowing, he walked to the crest and peered over at the fallen animal. He was open-mouthed when he put his hands on the rack.
The antlers' BTR composite score is 178 2/8 inches.