Mike Handley posted on January 03, 2012 06:37
By Mike Handley
You're more apt to see Brad and Angelina shopping the toy section of your local Wal-Mart than a 200-inch whitetail in southwest Louisiana's Calcasieu Parish, which explains why Jacey Broussard's deer got so much attention, not all of it desired.
Jacey first saw the buck while riding her horse in early November. Fully aware that nobody would believe how big it was, she dismounted, pulled out her camera and photographed it.
That was the first of many photos, the rest pulled from trail cameras scattered about the Broussards' 480-acre lease near Moss Bluff. Jacey was smitten with the deer, and she finally sealed the deal on Nov. 26.
Turns out, the deer had escaped from River Road Whitetails, a high-fenced ranch about four miles and a river away from the Broussards' hunting club. The owner didn't realize the Pennsylvania-born buck was missing until he saw photos. It had apparently escaped through a faulty gate.
While the hunt was completely fair-chase and the harvest legal, the buck isn't eligible for our record book because it is a known pen-raised deer. But Jacey's still smiling.
I would be, too.
The full story is posted on Bayoubucks.com, one of my favorite websites.
Meanwhile, Farther North...
Bucks of this caliber aren't uncommon in northern Louisiana, however, as another woman will testify.
Several television stations near Shreveport have reported that Pamela Cardwell Mashburn, 41, of Stonewall, La., shot a 21-pointer in DeSoto Parish that grosses 195 3/8 inches.
Her first pull of the trigger resulted in a snap; the .30-30 hadn't been loaded. But she was able to slip in a cartridge and try again before the buck left, dropping her second deer ever (the first was a doe a few weeks earlier).
The deer would lead the women's division in Simmons Sporting Goods' big buck contest in Bastrop, but it wasn't on that list as of Dec. 28. If anyone knows Pamela, please tell her I'd like to talk to her.
Dates to Remember
Jan. 28-29: If you live in northern Indiana, Illinois or Michigan and would like to have your buck measured for the BTR, you can avoid the $25 entry fee by bringing your deer to the 28th annual Hammond, Ind., Outdoor Sports Show inside the Jean Shepherd Community Center.
March 16-18: If you're interested in becoming a Buckmasters scorer, the next measuring class will be held during Circle M Auctions' 11th Annual Whitetail Classic Sport Show and Antler Auction in Dubuque, Iowa's Grand River Center. You'll have to pre-register for the class. This rare opportunity aside, the show attracts serious antlers and collectors. E-mail me for details about becoming a BTR measurer.
