Home International Buzz

The Three Kings: Unpacking The New World Record Whitetail Deer Scores And The Longest-Standing Buck

• minute read
Contents

The quest for a new world record whitetail deer is an annual obsession for hunters across North America, but as of today, December 24, 2025, the most coveted hard-antler records remain unbroken, cementing the legendary status of two colossal bucks. While the ultimate Boone and Crockett (B&C) typical score of 213 5/8 inches has held for over three decades, the world of bowhunting saw a major update in July 2024 with the confirmation of a new Pope and Young (P&Y) record in the specialized velvet category, proving that the record books are always being challenged and rewritten. The distinction between typical and non-typical racks, as well as the rules governing "fair chase" and hard-antler versus velvet entries, creates a fascinating and complex landscape for trophy deer enthusiasts.

The term "new world record" often sparks immediate excitement, but for a trophy to be officially recognized, it must pass a rigorous panel scoring process by organizations like the Boone and Crockett Club for all firearms and bow kills, or the Pope and Young Club specifically for bow-harvested animals. The sheer rarity of a buck surpassing the current titans means that while many impressive deer are harvested each season, the true world records are monuments of wildlife genetics and hunter dedication, often standing for decades.

The Undisputed Kings: Hard-Antler World Records (Hunter-Harvested)

When most people discuss the world record whitetail, they are referring to the hard-antler, hunter-harvested entries, which are divided into two primary categories: Typical and Non-Typical. These two bucks represent the pinnacle of whitetail trophy hunting.

Milo Hanson’s Typical Whitetail: The Longest Reigning King

The Boone and Crockett Typical Whitetail World Record remains the most famous and longest-standing record in big game hunting history. Harvested in 1993, this buck has become a benchmark for all whitetail trophies.

  • Hunter: Milo N. Hanson
  • Official Net Score (B&C): 213 5/8 inches
  • Location: Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Date Harvested: November 23, 1993
  • Weapon: Rifle (.308 Winchester Model 88)
  • Key Features: A stunningly symmetrical 14-point rack with a massive inside spread. The exceptional symmetry is what drives the high net typical score, as B&C scoring heavily penalizes deductions and non-symmetrical points.

Milo Hanson, a grain and cattle farmer, took the buck after a brief chase, solidifying the small town of Biggar, Saskatchewan, on the map of hunting lore. The buck's score surpassed the previous record, the legendary James Jordan buck, which had held the title since 1914. The Hanson Buck's endurance as the world record for over 30 years speaks volumes about the rarity of a whitetail deer achieving this level of antler perfection.

Luke Brewster’s Non-Typical Whitetail: The Modern Bowhunting Marvel

The Non-Typical Whitetail category recognizes bucks with a greater number of abnormal points, drop tines, and overall mass, resulting in a more complex and often higher gross score. The current hunter-harvested world record is a relatively recent addition to the record books.

  • Hunter: Luke Brewster
  • Official Net Score (B&C & P&Y): 320 5/8 inches
  • Location: Edgar County, Illinois, USA
  • Date Harvested: November 2, 2018
  • Weapon: Compound Bow (Archery)
  • Key Features: The massive rack featured an incredible number of scorable points and mass, making it the largest non-typical whitetail ever taken by a hunter using any weapon. The buck’s gross score was over 330 inches.

Brewster’s monster buck, often referred to as the "Brewster Buck," officially dethroned the previous non-typical record, the Stephen Tucker buck from Tennessee. It holds the dual honor of being both the Boone and Crockett and the Pope and Young World Record for a hunter-harvested non-typical whitetail. It is important to note that the overall B&C Non-Typical World Record is the "Missouri Monarch," a buck found dead (a "pick-up") with a score of 333 7/8 inches, but the Brewster Buck remains the hunter-harvested champion.

The Fresh Challenge: New 2024 Velvet World Records

While the hard-antler records stand firm, the Pope and Young Club, the primary organization for bowhunting records, made a significant announcement on July 16, 2024, confirming two new world records in the specialized "Velvet" category. Velvet antlers are those still covered in the soft, vascular skin layer during the summer growth phase, and are scored separately from hardened antlers.

Jack McNaughton’s Typical Velvet Whitetail

The most recent official update to the whitetail record books involves a buck harvested years ago, but only recently confirmed as the new world record after a thorough panel scoring review. This highlights the painstaking process of record verification.

  • Hunter: Jack McNaughton
  • Official Net Score (P&Y): 182 4/8 inches
  • Location: Near the Smokey River, Alberta, Canada
  • Date Harvested: August 31, 2013
  • Significance: Though the hunt took place over a decade ago, the official panel confirmation in July 2024 established this as the new Pope and Young World Record Typical Whitetail Deer in Velvet. This buck demonstrates the world-class whitetail genetics found in the Canadian provinces.

The 182 4/8-inch score sets a new standard for typical antler development during the velvet stage, surpassing previous entries. The pursuit of velvet bucks is a growing sub-niche within bowhunting, requiring specific early-season strategies and a deep understanding of deer summer patterns and mineral intake. The McNaughton record is a testament to the quality of Alberta whitetails.

The Controversy of Record-Breaking Bucks: Fair Chase vs. High Fence

Any discussion of potential "new world record" whitetails must address the critical distinction between fair chase and high-fence operations. The Boone and Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club adhere strictly to the "Fair Chase" ethic, which dictates that the animal must be hunted in a free-ranging environment. This is a crucial element of the record book philosophy, emphasizing conservation and ethical hunting practices.

Periodically, news surfaces about a buck with an astronomical score—sometimes over 1,000 inches gross—taken on a high-fence game farm or ranch. These deer are often genetically engineered and fed for maximum antler growth, and while they may be the "biggest" in terms of sheer antler mass, they are not eligible for official B&C or P&Y World Record status. These massive farmed bucks, while visually impressive, are fundamentally different from the wild, free-ranging trophies that define the official record books. The hunt for the next true world record whitetail buck—one that can unseat Milo Hanson or Luke Brewster—remains open to any ethical hunter in North America.

The Three Kings: Unpacking the New World Record Whitetail Deer Scores and the Longest-Standing Buck
new world record whitetail deer
new world record whitetail deer

Detail Author:

  • Name : Berry McCullough
  • Username : ortiz.dortha
  • Email : rschmidt@bayer.com
  • Birthdate : 1972-08-01
  • Address : 278 Olaf Lane East Melba, OR 41643-3961
  • Phone : 402-719-4257
  • Company : Wintheiser PLC
  • Job : Molding Machine Operator
  • Bio : Ut voluptatem excepturi enim et consequatur error qui. Veritatis saepe enim minus quibusdam. Et hic illo labore laborum qui vel. Voluptatibus ipsa at adipisci maxime eos sed aut animi.

Socials

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/erin_official
  • username : erin_official
  • bio : Autem ut facere eveniet et. In qui corporis culpa beatae consectetur amet accusamus.
  • followers : 5446
  • following : 2558

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@o'conner2025
  • username : o'conner2025
  • bio : Minus quis omnis impedit voluptas velit aspernatur nesciunt.
  • followers : 1050
  • following : 2610

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/eo'conner
  • username : eo'conner
  • bio : Suscipit iusto hic eos dolore ut ab rem. Necessitatibus ea assumenda reiciendis architecto modi. Ad inventore nemo corrupti eius.
  • followers : 6419
  • following : 2109

linkedin:

facebook:

Random Posts