Widest Buck You've Ever Seen? And Taken?

Founder · May 18, 2023

This thread is not just a Poll, but also a photo sharing thread. First of all, of all the bucks you've seen in the wild, what's the widest you think you've ever seen?

Secondly, let's see photos of the widest buck(s) you've taken. Short stories behind the bucks are fun too! Or even pics of the widest you've seen but not been able to take.

In a month or so I'll randomly pick a couple winners from the photos shared. Each 10 likes your post gets will give you an extra entry as well.

The prizes will be a Phone Skope Kit for 1st drawn and Pyro Putty and an Arch Lighter for 2nd drawn. Thanks to the folks at Phone Skope for the gear! If you don't already own the a Phone Skope, then get over to their site and get one......that is if you don't win one here! It's a valuable piece of gear to have with you for helping to preserve your hunting and scouting adventures.

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MrShane · May 18, 2023

I’ll start.
Saw this Utah feller hanging around an area I take disabled hunters out to kill a doe.

SDBugler · May 18, 2023

I assume we are talking "outside" width? (kickers off the sides can make a marginal buck REALLY wide)

Widest typical taken is 29.5"
Widest typical I have ever seen are a couple that were probably 32".
I saw a giant non-typical with some outside trash many many years ago that was probably 36+ but it was a loooong ways off and optics weren't very good back then (at least none that I could afford after getting out of college and just getting married - lol)
I've posted pics of the 29.5" WY buck a few times already.

PRCnut · May 18, 2023

Touch over 33” 2022 season.

buckspotter7 · May 18, 2023

Tough going away with ears tucked back, but figured 32” plus 6” of matching cheaters. Put him about 38” outside

SureShot · May 18, 2023

Not sure on the widest I've ever seen, but it might be the same as the widest I've taken. 33" 4x6 on opening morning of last year's Utah muzzy hunt.

oilcan · May 18, 2023

Widest I’ve taken is 31”.
In the last couple years guys in our group have shot a 33 3/“4 and 34”.
Those are main frame no cheaters.

MrShane · May 18, 2023

Here is another Utah buck, two years ago.

PRCnut · May 18, 2023

Wide buck I passed up with my bow!

DoubleDropMuley · May 18, 2023

I figure the widest seen was 34-35” typ, no height just laid out, Biggest killed is little over 30” MF and almost 34” to outside of cheaters!!

elkassassin · May 18, 2023

I Seen That Buck On The Hoof!

SureShot said:
Not sure on the widest I've ever seen, but it might be the same as the widest I've taken. 33" 4x6 on opening morning of last year's Utah muzzy hunt.

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CowDoc · May 18, 2023

Worked at a lumber yard in HS. We were doing a little remodeling job for two old bachelors in NW Kansas. They had a muley rack mounted over the staircase in their house that was right at 36 wide, clean 4x, no brows. I'm sure he was well over 200. Metal tag on the antler was either 1965 or 66. Can't recall their names or even where the place was, but that rack is still burned in my memories!

HIcountryman · May 18, 2023

This one is 32". Haven't seen any that I think are bigger. A handful about the same, couple out of the car window!

Longun · May 19, 2023

Killed one with a 28in main-frame with 36in kickers...does that count???

ridgetops · May 19, 2023

Longun said:
Killed one with a 28in main-frame with 36in kickers...does that count???

Yes it does! lol
Lets see a picture

ridgetops · May 19, 2023

My biggest buck has happen to be my highest scoring, has the most points and also the widest.
So here's another picture of it. 31" mainframe and 37" outside with cheaters.

ridgetops · May 19, 2023

Here's a video of one of the widest mainframe bucks I've see in person. I was scouting for a friend of a friend and came across this buck. I told him it was probably the widest buck I've ever seen but probably not a great scoring buck. He never did go looking for it and it ended up getting killed on the muzzy hunt. It was 38" wide.

marley · May 19, 2023

I shot this slug on opening day in 2007. Found him scouting the day before. He’s 32” wide.

MTunderRadar · May 19, 2023

mevertsen · May 19, 2023

I've seen a couple I would say are in the 33 to 34 range but no pics. Both of them 20 years ago. One in area 10 in NV, one in 065.

My widest killed is only 26. ML in 2018.

Snuck into 20 yards of this guy last August, stood up to take the shot off a rock pile, but he snuck out on me. I took the pic as he was walking away at about 60 or so yards. I would guess at 26 to 28 but can't say 30. Both of these bucks are in different units of the same area I frequent in NV. I watched him bed down and it took 2 hours to get around and over him.

Then I got a flat tire on the way down and had no jack in the Toyota. Had to get creative and roll the tire up on rocks, place rocks under the axle, drag up on that, take the tire off, replace it, and drove off.

And then got home to discover my bow limb snapped.

A bit long winded post, but stuck in a hospital bed right now so nothing better to do. Lol.

HIcountryman · May 19, 2023

Hope u feel better soon. Sounds like that was quite an adventure

Robiland · May 19, 2023

I have seen a few big bucks in my days. The biggest I have taken was just over 31" but I'd seen bigger in my days. Not many, but a few.

doublelungem · May 19, 2023

A few from years past. Not great pics but at least I have something

nontypical · May 19, 2023

Here's a couple that I believe would push the 40" mark. "Hooks", and "Junior". Both were seen in the same area 6 years apart. Related?

Here's the widest I've taken.

twopointdn · May 19, 2023

My Brother drew a great limit entry archery tag years ago. The five widest bucks I have ever seen was on the unit. Two during scouting trips and three during the hunt. Two 32”-33”, one 36”, two 39” and four were killed during that season that I know off. Not sure if the one 32”-33” buck made it or not but the guides sure cleaned house that years. Four of the bucks had cheaters to get the spread and one was a clean four point. It was a special place and season for sure and I am grateful that I was a part of it with my brother.

Muley_73 · May 19, 2023

My personal widest, in the photo

I have walked up on a few 32"-33". One 36” but not the trigger man.

Watched 3 bucks on the Pauns a lot of years ago, saw them together throughout the summer a few times. We figured the 2 smaller bucks at 33-34" and the "big wide buck" at 38-39". Never dared drop the F word when watching him. Long story short both of the smaller bucks were shot and we measured them at 36.5 and just a hair over 37"....So I would say the big buck was 40-42" fairly confidently. But not confirmed.

mevertsen · May 19, 2023

HIcountryman said:
Hope u feel better soon. Sounds like that was quite an adventure

It was. First treatment done. 4 more to go and 8 days in the inn then I get to go home. Drew the same archery tag this year!

Archbull · May 19, 2023

Longun · May 20, 2023

Here's my buck with kickers..

Letshunt · May 20, 2023

35” from G4 to G4. His ears were 28” from tip to tip.

Letshunt · May 20, 2023

This buck was killed and said to be 37-38” wide. He and the buck earlier were killed in the same canyon.

Brushbuster · May 20, 2023

Threads like this make me feel like less of a man.

ElmerFudd · May 20, 2023

Widest buck I have seen I am sure was over 40" on a Idaho mountain goat hunt. It was a OTC deer tag if I would have bought it earlier, but I didn't buy a deer tag. Kick myself to this day. Widest I have killed is 34".

HIcountryman · May 20, 2023

Great bucks in this thread! Getting me excited to go for the gold this mz season!

chucko · May 23, 2023

34' Wyo Buck

DeerMadness · May 24, 2023

mevertsen said:
I've seen a couple I would say are in the 33 to 34 range but no pics. Both of them 20 years ago. One in area 10 in NV, one in 065.

My widest killed is only 26. ML in 2018.

Snuck into 20 yards of this guy last August, stood up to take the shot off a rock pile, but he snuck out on me. I took the pic as he was walking away at about 60 or so yards. I would guess at 26 to 28 but can't say 30. Both of these bucks are in different units of the same area I frequent in NV. I watched him bed down and it took 2 hours to get around and over him.

Then I got a flat tire on the way down and had no jack in the Toyota. Had to get creative and roll the tire up on rocks, place rocks under the axle, drag up on that, take the tire off, replace it, and drove off.

And then got home to discover my bow limb snapped.

A bit long winded post, but stuck in a hospital bed right now so nothing better to do. Lol.

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Get feeling better. Nice improvisation for repair but the jack would have been easier. ?

DeerMadness · May 24, 2023

A 37" wide buck in a gas station in Utah. He shot it over 20 years ago.

BrowningRage · May 24, 2023

This is probably the widest buck I've ever seen in my life, also, likely the highest scoring. This guy was 40 yards from me... In a very huntable location. I think it was only $305,000 to kill him that year.

liecabucks · May 24, 2023

I clearly need to step it up a couple notches ?

Moe · May 25, 2023

311/4 Comifornia buck.

DonMartin · May 25, 2023

Joe Herrero and his 35+ Unit 13A buck last year

Joe Herrero with his 13A 6X5 buck 11-14-2022.jpg

Joe Herero and Jimmy with 13A 6x6 buck 11-14-2022.jpg

Joe Herrero and his 13A buck, 11-14-2022.jpg

HIcountryman · May 26, 2023

Robiland's buck looks INSANE on the wall dwarfing a pretty good buck

Blackie6 · May 27, 2023

My dad had an archery tag a few years ago. Found this buck scouting. It was killed opening day. The hunter said my dad walk 50yards from the buck while it laid in the sage and never moved. If I remember right, he was between 36-38”

Jeremy2019 · May 27, 2023

My buddy's dad was a buck hunting legend that never bothered to try and gain fame from it. His widest buck was just over 40" typical doesn't score great but is way more rare than any 200" deer, believe it was killed in Idaho I don't have permission to post a pic but it's in a couple of books so with some digging I'm sure it can be found.

Homer · May 27, 2023

Jeremy2019 said:
My buddy's dad was a buck hunting legend that never bothered to try and gain fame from it. His widest buck was just over 40" typical doesn't score great but is way more rare than any 200" deer, believe it was killed in Idaho I don't have permission to post a pic but it's in a couple of books so with some digging I'm sure it can be found.

lol...it's in books but you can't post it?

Jeremy2019 · May 27, 2023

Homer said:
lol...it's in books but you can't post it?

I can ask but figured with the hard core guys here some one would have the book think it was Idahos greatest mule deer vol 2.

Blueoak · May 31, 2023

I killed a 38 inch measured I’m the inside of the frame no cheaters four pointer

Homer · May 31, 2023

Jeremy2019 said:
I can ask but figured with the hard core guys here some one would have the book think it was Idahos greatest mule deer vol 2.

I have the book….how will I know it when I find it?

Homer · May 31, 2023

Blueoak said:
I killed a 38 inch measured I’m the inside of the frame no cheaters four pointer

So….must be at least 40 outside?

CupitBucks · May 31, 2023

Year 2000 my dad had wounded a buck and we were following his blood, I was ahead and it was last day of our hunt. Out of nowhere I heard and saw a buck that looked big running thru the scrub brush about 100 yards away. I shot at the buck and missed then man the buck hit the opening haulin ass runnin straight ahead and i about lost it. Looked like I could drive a truck thru his rack, so nervous and not thinking I thru my gun back up and click! Didn’t put another bullet in, instantly without thinking racked another shell and boom all in a matter of seconds I had this 40” buck down, Holy **** is all I thought. Insane moment in time but thankfully it worked out. And we went to find my dads 28” buck that we thought was wide until the 40 3/8”hit the ground. What a day

Homer · May 31, 2023

lmao....great story

rmanwill · Jun 2, 2023

Found this buck one morning on the Utah general muzzy deer hunt and put it to bed. Went back into the canyon way early in the afternoon and got in position for the wait and it worked out. Only buck I've tags that broke both the 30 inch wide mark and gross scored over 200 inches. It was a great day!!!

ridgetops · Jun 3, 2023

Here's the widest typical I've seen in person. My wife's grandpa shot it in the mid 60s. It measures right now after 60 years at 38.5" wide. I'm sure it's shrank a couple inches over the years and probably was pushing 40" when it hit the ground.

halfassed · Jun 5, 2023

My cousin found this dead head, I had seen him on the hoof. Thought for sure would be 40”,only 38”.

mtntophunter · Jun 14, 2023

CupitBucks said:
Year 2000 my dad had wounded a buck and we were following his blood, I was ahead and it was last day of our hunt. Out of nowhere I heard and saw a buck that looked big running thru the scrub brush about 100 yards away. I shot at the buck and missed then man the buck hit the opening haulin ass runnin straight ahead and i about lost it. Looked like I could drive a truck thru his rack, so nervous and not thinking I thru my gun back up and click! Didn’t put another bullet in, instantly without thinking racked another shell and boom all in a matter of seconds I had this 40” buck down, Holy **** is all I thought. Insane moment in time but thankfully it worked out. And we went to find my dads 28” buck that we thought was wide until the 40 3/8”hit the ground. What a dayView attachment 111774 View attachment 111776 View attachment 111775

That looks like the buck that a Highway Patrolman took a picture of in unit 081 Nevada back in the 90's

llamapacker · Jun 14, 2023

This buck went a hair over 40" when I shot him in Colorado. After drying, the outside spread is "only" 39 7/8". This was before the bad die-off in Colorado about 15 years ago.
Bill

Skidmore · Jun 14, 2023

This buck was found in Idaho by some hunters , I got to check them out , that’s the way they were found in around 2001 .

Skidmore · Jun 14, 2023

Unit 43

Founder · Jun 19, 2023

Winners Drawn!

Time to end this giveaway and draw winners. Thanks to Phone Skope for the prizes. For those of you don't own a Phone Skope adapter, you really should get one. Someday you're going to see the beast of a lifetime and you'll be bummed if you don't have evidence when you tell your buddies.

@Longun wins the Phone Skope Kit
and
@doublelungem wins the Pyro Putty and an Arch Lighter

Thanks to all of you who shared photos and participated in the poll. Some great stuff!!!

Gmumm970 · Jun 29, 2024

2023 UT general

OwnMoreBone · Jun 29, 2024

CupitBucks said:
Year 2000 my dad had wounded a buck and we were following his blood, I was ahead and it was last day of our hunt. Out of nowhere I heard and saw a buck that looked big running thru the scrub brush about 100 yards away. I shot at the buck and missed then man the buck hit the opening haulin ass runnin straight ahead and i about lost it. Looked like I could drive a truck thru his rack, so nervous and not thinking I thru my gun back up and click! Didn’t put another bullet in, instantly without thinking racked another shell and boom all in a matter of seconds I had this 40” buck down, Holy **** is all I thought. Insane moment in time but thankfully it worked out. And we went to find my dads 28” buck that we thought was wide until the 40 3/8”hit the ground. What a dayView attachment 111774 View attachment 111776 View attachment 111775

That's what dreams are made of, awesome buck...