Falls man bags possible record buck
by Steve Ottman Falls News Correspondent
Michael Gregoire of Sheboygan Falls was bow hunting on his brother’s 160-acre farm west of Sheboygan Falls Thursday, Nov. 5, when he bagged a monster, possibly record-setting 12-point, 240-pound buck.
An unofficial scorer taped the buck out at just over 217 5/8 inches last Friday Nov. 6.
If the rack were judged to be typical, it would set a new state and world record. The rack must dry for 60 days, before it can be officially scored as non-typical or typical.
Gregoire, 38, has bow-hunted for 14 years, including the past six at this brother’s farm on the western outskirts of Sheboygan Falls.
About two weeks ago, he spotted the gigantic deer. At the time, he had no idea how big it was.
Gregoire saw the huge buck cross a field behind his brother’s barn twice on Thursday, Nov. 5, before the fateful final encounter later in the day.
As Gregoire dressed and proceeded to his ground stand, he made sure that he wouldn’t disturb anything around him. The field where he had seen some does earlier was quiet.
At approximately 4 p.m., Gregoire noticed the buck chasing some of the does in the area.
Eventually some of the does passed about 30 yards away. At first, the buck didn’t come in. After a grunt, Gregorie persuaded the buck within 20 yards.
Gregoire knew he stuck the deer well, as it traveled about 75 yards into high grass. He waited until 7 p.m. to search for the buck.
After an hour of searching, Gregorie and his brothers found the prize deer.
“I was very excited,” said Gregoire. “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Everyone wants to see it.”
The world record is a 213 5/8-inch buck, which was shot with a rifle in Saskatchewan, Canada. The state record is a 206 1/8-inch buck taken in Burnett County in 1914.
The record hinges on whether the G2 point on the bucks right side is declared typical.
Gregoire said there are many factors hinging on whether the rack is determined to be typical or nontypical.
For now, he has to wait out the 60-day drying period and have the deer scored by three licensed, random scorers.
Meanwhile, Gregoire’s monster buck has drawn plenty of media attention from state and national newspapers, magazines and TV stations.
“It’s hard to believe the interest the buck has generated,” Gregoire remarked. “I’ll definitely enjoy this for a while.”
Gregoire has collected a few other big deer, but he said this one is truly a deer of lifetime.
