View Gallery
4 Photos
4 Photos
Most Virginia deer hunters consider November the magical month, but December 2018 turned out to be a remarkable big buck harvest month for the state, and Tom Harvey of Campbell County is a shining example, having his Big Buck wish list fulfilled on December 4th.
Tom is an old school hunter spending most of his deer season with a bow in his hand, which includes both Long Bow and Recurve versions. He has also been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt outside of Virginia in such places as New Mexico and the Northwest Territory of Alberta Canada. He has taken some quality elk, bear and deer in these areas.
On Tuesday December 4th Tom was off of work and had plans to burn several brush piles that he had on his Campbell County property, so as the sun rose so did Tom and after a cup of coffee he headed out the door to get his brush burning plan started.
Not long after being outside he saw a few small bucks running through a swag in the mountain above him on his place. He could tell by the way the deer were acting that they had been pushed, and not too long after that he saw an 8 pointer travel the same path, again moving quickly as if being pushed.
This area of Virginia allows for dog led deer hunting and Tom felt this was most likely the reason for the deer movement. The unusual action got him thinking that he should be better prepared since it was deer season, so he went back inside and grabbed his Thompson Center Prohunter 7mm-08 and came back out and again got ready to start his project.
About that time he heard more commotion above him on the mountain, but this time he could tell that it wasn't your average run of the mill deer. Matter of fact Tom remembered getting a bit queasy at the sight of what appeared to be a true giant Virginia mountain whitetail. The buck much like the deer that came before him was moving as if he was being pushed, but this buck was a bit more cautious hanging tight to the laurel thickets. Tom could now hear dogs in the distance and knew he needed to take the first quality shot that presented itself.
Tom grabbed up his rifle that had been resting against an oak tree and pointed it in the bucks direction patiently waiting for it to emerge from the laurels and give him a shot. That chance did indeed come quickly as the mountain monster cleared the thicket at about 100 yards and gave Tom the money shot.
Without hesitation he dismissed a round from his rifle and the big buck fell in it's tracks. I asked Tom what were his immediate feelings after watching the buck drop and he told me "I was in utter shock". Even at 100 yards away he could tell that this was a very special buck!
After making his way up the mountain and to the spot where the buck lay he stood for a moment in amazement of what just took place, and when he got a good look at all the unique features that the buck had on top of it's head he decided to phone the game warden just so everything could be properly documented and witnessed.
Although Tom was unaware of this great Virginia bucks existence, it was only hours after he harvested it that many local folks from the Campbell County area began to come forward in a very positive way to share their trail camera pictures as well as video through the years. This buck had become legendary in those parts. The game warden upon seeing the buck even said "this is the buck that has been causing a ruckus in the local deer hunting community over the past few years"
The key component in this story is very much like most Big Buck harvests, the hunter was at the right place at the right time, but also had the nerve to get the job done!
A number of hunters have also reached out to me personally, hailing Tom as both a humble hunter and a man that has consistently helped others, especially young folks getting involved in our great tradition of hunting. I have to say that Tom was a bit hesitant initially to do a story or share pictures on social media, and I certainly appreciate him entrusting me to share his great story!
This is certainly a once in a lifetime North American Whitetail and it's official Boone and Crockett score is 212 7/8. Let me put this buck into perspective for you, out of 10 million hunters only around 500 will enter a whitetail buck into the Boone and Crockett record books each year and this buck made the all-time book, clearing the 195" non-typical requirement by a long shot. You would be quicker to find a needle in a haystack then you would finding a buck like this in Virginia. Tom Harvey's name will forever be etched into the Holy Grail book of big bucks!
Congratulations Tom!
Jeff Phillips 12/18/18
Most Virginia deer hunters consider November the magical month, but December 2018 turned out to be a remarkable big buck harvest month for the state, and Tom Harvey of Campbell County is a shining example, having his Big Buck wish list fulfilled on December 4th.
Tom is an old school hunter spending most of his deer season with a bow in his hand, which includes both Long Bow and Recurve versions. He has also been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt outside of Virginia in such places as New Mexico and the Northwest Territory of Alberta Canada. He has taken some quality elk, bear and deer in these areas.
On Tuesday December 4th Tom was off of work and had plans to burn several brush piles that he had on his Campbell County property, so as the sun rose so did Tom and after a cup of coffee he headed out the door to get his brush burning plan started.
Not long after being outside he saw a few small bucks running through a swag in the mountain above him on his place. He could tell by the way the deer were acting that they had been pushed, and not too long after that he saw an 8 pointer travel the same path, again moving quickly as if being pushed.
This area of Virginia allows for dog led deer hunting and Tom felt this was most likely the reason for the deer movement. The unusual action got him thinking that he should be better prepared since it was deer season, so he went back inside and grabbed his Thompson Center Prohunter 7mm-08 and came back out and again got ready to start his project.
About that time he heard more commotion above him on the mountain, but this time he could tell that it wasn't your average run of the mill deer. Matter of fact Tom remembered getting a bit queasy at the sight of what appeared to be a true giant Virginia mountain whitetail. The buck much like the deer that came before him was moving as if he was being pushed, but this buck was a bit more cautious hanging tight to the laurel thickets. Tom could now hear dogs in the distance and knew he needed to take the first quality shot that presented itself.
Tom grabbed up his rifle that had been resting against an oak tree and pointed it in the bucks direction patiently waiting for it to emerge from the laurels and give him a shot. That chance did indeed come quickly as the mountain monster cleared the thicket at about 100 yards and gave Tom the money shot.
Without hesitation he dismissed a round from his rifle and the big buck fell in it's tracks. I asked Tom what were his immediate feelings after watching the buck drop and he told me "I was in utter shock". Even at 100 yards away he could tell that this was a very special buck!
After making his way up the mountain and to the spot where the buck lay he stood for a moment in amazement of what just took place, and when he got a good look at all the unique features that the buck had on top of it's head he decided to phone the game warden just so everything could be properly documented and witnessed.
Although Tom was unaware of this great Virginia bucks existence, it was only hours after he harvested it that many local folks from the Campbell County area began to come forward in a very positive way to share their trail camera pictures as well as video through the years. This buck had become legendary in those parts. The game warden upon seeing the buck even said "this is the buck that has been causing a ruckus in the local deer hunting community over the past few years"
The key component in this story is very much like most Big Buck harvests, the hunter was at the right place at the right time, but also had the nerve to get the job done!
A number of hunters have also reached out to me personally, hailing Tom as both a humble hunter and a man that has consistently helped others, especially young folks getting involved in our great tradition of hunting. I have to say that Tom was a bit hesitant initially to do a story or share pictures on social media, and I certainly appreciate him entrusting me to share his great story!
This is certainly a once in a lifetime North American Whitetail and it's official Boone and Crockett score is 212 7/8. Let me put this buck into perspective for you, out of 10 million hunters only around 500 will enter a whitetail buck into the Boone and Crockett record books each year and this buck made the all-time book, clearing the 195" non-typical requirement by a long shot. You would be quicker to find a needle in a haystack then you would finding a buck like this in Virginia. Tom Harvey's name will forever be etched into the Holy Grail book of big bucks!
Congratulations Tom!
Jeff Phillips 12/18/18
Most Virginia deer hunters consider November the magical month, but December 2018 turned out to be a remarkable big buck harvest month for the state, and Tom Harvey of Campbell County is a shining example, having his Big Buck wish list fulfilled on December 4th.
Tom is an old school hunter spending most of his deer season with a bow in his hand, which includes both Long Bow and Recurve versions. He has also been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt outside of Virginia in such places as New Mexico and the Northwest Territory of Alberta Canada. He has taken some quality elk, bear and deer in these areas.
On Tuesday December 4th Tom was off of work and had plans to burn several brush piles that he had on his Campbell County property, so as the sun rose so did Tom and after a cup of coffee he headed out the door to get his brush burning plan started.
Not long after being outside he saw a few small bucks running through a swag in the mountain above him on his place. He could tell by the way the deer were acting that they had been pushed, and not too long after that he saw an 8 pointer travel the same path, again moving quickly as if being pushed.
This area of Virginia allows for dog led deer hunting and Tom felt this was most likely the reason for the deer movement. The unusual action got him thinking that he should be better prepared since it was deer season, so he went back inside and grabbed his Thompson Center Prohunter 7mm-08 and came back out and again got ready to start his project.
About that time he heard more commotion above him on the mountain, but this time he could tell that it wasn't your average run of the mill deer. Matter of fact Tom remembered getting a bit queasy at the sight of what appeared to be a true giant Virginia mountain whitetail. The buck much like the deer that came before him was moving as if he was being pushed, but this buck was a bit more cautious hanging tight to the laurel thickets. Tom could now hear dogs in the distance and knew he needed to take the first quality shot that presented itself.
Tom grabbed up his rifle that had been resting against an oak tree and pointed it in the bucks direction patiently waiting for it to emerge from the laurels and give him a shot. That chance did indeed come quickly as the mountain monster cleared the thicket at about 100 yards and gave Tom the money shot.
Without hesitation he dismissed a round from his rifle and the big buck fell in it's tracks. I asked Tom what were his immediate feelings after watching the buck drop and he told me "I was in utter shock". Even at 100 yards away he could tell that this was a very special buck!
After making his way up the mountain and to the spot where the buck lay he stood for a moment in amazement of what just took place, and when he got a good look at all the unique features that the buck had on top of it's head he decided to phone the game warden just so everything could be properly documented and witnessed.
Although Tom was unaware of this great Virginia bucks existence, it was only hours after he harvested it that many local folks from the Campbell County area began to come forward in a very positive way to share their trail camera pictures as well as video through the years. This buck had become legendary in those parts. The game warden upon seeing the buck even said "this is the buck that has been causing a ruckus in the local deer hunting community over the past few years"
The key component in this story is very much like most Big Buck harvests, the hunter was at the right place at the right time, but also had the nerve to get the job done!
A number of hunters have also reached out to me personally, hailing Tom as both a humble hunter and a man that has consistently helped others, especially young folks getting involved in our great tradition of hunting. I have to say that Tom was a bit hesitant initially to do a story or share pictures on social media, and I certainly appreciate him entrusting me to share his great story!
This is certainly a once in a lifetime North American Whitetail and it's official Boone and Crockett score is 212 7/8. Let me put this buck into perspective for you, out of 10 million hunters only around 500 will enter a whitetail buck into the Boone and Crockett record books each year and this buck made the all-time book, clearing the 195" non-typical requirement by a long shot. You would be quicker to find a needle in a haystack then you would finding a buck like this in Virginia. Tom Harvey's name will forever be etched into the Holy Grail book of big bucks!
Congratulations Tom!
Jeff Phillips 12/18/18
Most Virginia deer hunters consider November the magical month, but December 2018 turned out to be a remarkable big buck harvest month for the state, and Tom Harvey of Campbell County is a shining example, having his Big Buck wish list fulfilled on December 4th.
Tom is an old school hunter spending most of his deer season with a bow in his hand, which includes both Long Bow and Recurve versions. He has also been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt outside of Virginia in such places as New Mexico and the Northwest Territory of Alberta Canada. He has taken some quality elk, bear and deer in these areas.
On Tuesday December 4th Tom was off of work and had plans to burn several brush piles that he had on his Campbell County property, so as the sun rose so did Tom and after a cup of coffee he headed out the door to get his brush burning plan started.
Not long after being outside he saw a few small bucks running through a swag in the mountain above him on his place. He could tell by the way the deer were acting that they had been pushed, and not too long after that he saw an 8 pointer travel the same path, again moving quickly as if being pushed.
This area of Virginia allows for dog led deer hunting and Tom felt this was most likely the reason for the deer movement. The unusual action got him thinking that he should be better prepared since it was deer season, so he went back inside and grabbed his Thompson Center Prohunter 7mm-08 and came back out and again got ready to start his project.
About that time he heard more commotion above him on the mountain, but this time he could tell that it wasn't your average run of the mill deer. Matter of fact Tom remembered getting a bit queasy at the sight of what appeared to be a true giant Virginia mountain whitetail. The buck much like the deer that came before him was moving as if he was being pushed, but this buck was a bit more cautious hanging tight to the laurel thickets. Tom could now hear dogs in the distance and knew he needed to take the first quality shot that presented itself.
Tom grabbed up his rifle that had been resting against an oak tree and pointed it in the bucks direction patiently waiting for it to emerge from the laurels and give him a shot. That chance did indeed come quickly as the mountain monster cleared the thicket at about 100 yards and gave Tom the money shot.
Without hesitation he dismissed a round from his rifle and the big buck fell in it's tracks. I asked Tom what were his immediate feelings after watching the buck drop and he told me "I was in utter shock". Even at 100 yards away he could tell that this was a very special buck!
After making his way up the mountain and to the spot where the buck lay he stood for a moment in amazement of what just took place, and when he got a good look at all the unique features that the buck had on top of it's head he decided to phone the game warden just so everything could be properly documented and witnessed.
Although Tom was unaware of this great Virginia bucks existence, it was only hours after he harvested it that many local folks from the Campbell County area began to come forward in a very positive way to share their trail camera pictures as well as video through the years. This buck had become legendary in those parts. The game warden upon seeing the buck even said "this is the buck that has been causing a ruckus in the local deer hunting community over the past few years"
The key component in this story is very much like most Big Buck harvests, the hunter was at the right place at the right time, but also had the nerve to get the job done!
A number of hunters have also reached out to me personally, hailing Tom as both a humble hunter and a man that has consistently helped others, especially young folks getting involved in our great tradition of hunting. I have to say that Tom was a bit hesitant initially to do a story or share pictures on social media, and I certainly appreciate him entrusting me to share his great story!
This is certainly a once in a lifetime North American Whitetail and it's official Boone and Crockett score is 212 7/8. Let me put this buck into perspective for you, out of 10 million hunters only around 500 will enter a whitetail buck into the Boone and Crockett record books each year and this buck made the all-time book, clearing the 195" non-typical requirement by a long shot. You would be quicker to find a needle in a haystack then you would finding a buck like this in Virginia. Tom Harvey's name will forever be etched into the Holy Grail book of big bucks!
Congratulations Tom!
Jeff Phillips 12/18/18
Most Virginia deer hunters consider November the magical month, but December 2018 turned out to be a remarkable big buck harvest month for the state, and Tom Harvey of Campbell County is a shining example, having his Big Buck wish list fulfilled on December 4th.
Tom is an old school hunter spending most of his deer season with a bow in his hand, which includes both Long Bow and Recurve versions. He has also been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt outside of Virginia in such places as New Mexico and the Northwest Territory of Alberta Canada. He has taken some quality elk, bear and deer in these areas.
On Tuesday December 4th Tom was off of work and had plans to burn several brush piles that he had on his Campbell County property, so as the sun rose so did Tom and after a cup of coffee he headed out the door to get his brush burning plan started.
Not long after being outside he saw a few small bucks running through a swag in the mountain above him on his place. He could tell by the way the deer were acting that they had been pushed, and not too long after that he saw an 8 pointer travel the same path, again moving quickly as if being pushed.
This area of Virginia allows for dog led deer hunting and Tom felt this was most likely the reason for the deer movement. The unusual action got him thinking that he should be better prepared since it was deer season, so he went back inside and grabbed his Thompson Center Prohunter 7mm-08 and came back out and again got ready to start his project.
About that time he heard more commotion above him on the mountain, but this time he could tell that it wasn't your average run of the mill deer. Matter of fact Tom remembered getting a bit queasy at the sight of what appeared to be a true giant Virginia mountain whitetail. The buck much like the deer that came before him was moving as if he was being pushed, but this buck was a bit more cautious hanging tight to the laurel thickets. Tom could now hear dogs in the distance and knew he needed to take the first quality shot that presented itself.
Tom grabbed up his rifle that had been resting against an oak tree and pointed it in the bucks direction patiently waiting for it to emerge from the laurels and give him a shot. That chance did indeed come quickly as the mountain monster cleared the thicket at about 100 yards and gave Tom the money shot.
Without hesitation he dismissed a round from his rifle and the big buck fell in it's tracks. I asked Tom what were his immediate feelings after watching the buck drop and he told me "I was in utter shock". Even at 100 yards away he could tell that this was a very special buck!
After making his way up the mountain and to the spot where the buck lay he stood for a moment in amazement of what just took place, and when he got a good look at all the unique features that the buck had on top of it's head he decided to phone the game warden just so everything could be properly documented and witnessed.
Although Tom was unaware of this great Virginia bucks existence, it was only hours after he harvested it that many local folks from the Campbell County area began to come forward in a very positive way to share their trail camera pictures as well as video through the years. This buck had become legendary in those parts. The game warden upon seeing the buck even said "this is the buck that has been causing a ruckus in the local deer hunting community over the past few years"
The key component in this story is very much like most Big Buck harvests, the hunter was at the right place at the right time, but also had the nerve to get the job done!
A number of hunters have also reached out to me personally, hailing Tom as both a humble hunter and a man that has consistently helped others, especially young folks getting involved in our great tradition of hunting. I have to say that Tom was a bit hesitant initially to do a story or share pictures on social media, and I certainly appreciate him entrusting me to share his great story!
This is certainly a once in a lifetime North American Whitetail and it's official Boone and Crockett score is 212 7/8. Let me put this buck into perspective for you, out of 10 million hunters only around 500 will enter a whitetail buck into the Boone and Crockett record books each year and this buck made the all-time book, clearing the 195" non-typical requirement by a long shot. You would be quicker to find a needle in a haystack then you would finding a buck like this in Virginia. Tom Harvey's name will forever be etched into the Holy Grail book of big bucks!
Congratulations Tom!
Jeff Phillips 12/18/18
