2016-17 Deer of the Year

Potential state-record buck highlights season

It’s been a strange year, in terms of big bucks. Sure, there have been a number of really nice deer killed.

But the 2016-17 deer season didn’t seem to live up to the hight standards set the past couple of seasons.

Maybe it has something to do with Mother Nature, who seemingly has gone bipolar, never figuring out if she what she wanted to do.

Perhaps it’s just the fact that it takes time to grow monster bucks, and the last few years of whacking on the population of mature deer has had some effect.

We’ll probably never know.

However, there have been some fine deer killed — and they were still falling as this magazine went to press.

Leading this year’s pack of bruisers is a massive, possible state-record buck that proved once again that our public lands are deer-hunting treasures.

That deer, which you’ll read more about on the next page, was killed on Canemount Wildlife Management Area.

There were also a number of 160- and 170-inch deer bagged this year, so it wasn’t a complete bust.

Here’s a look at the latest trophy kills — including the Canemount potential state-record. Click here to read other big-buck stories from the 2016-17 season.

Possible record at Canmount

Stalking success

First time’s the charm

Beginner’s luck