Deer Stories — They can be as Difficult to Get as a Good Buck

The business generated by whitetail deer is bigger than I had imagined. I’m aware of exclusive story rights, the value of exceptional antlers, the overnight celebrity status that comes with the taking of a world-class deer, and the market for replica antlers. I didn’t realize just how big this whitetail business was until this past fall. Some world-class whitetails were taken in South Dakota this past season, and when their stories get out, there will be a new respect for South Dakota as a deer hunt destination.

While attending a high school volleyball game last fall, a fellow fan showed me some deer photos on his cell phone. It looked to me like at least one of the deer had possible world record potential, and I wondered whether or not the photo(s) were real. I decided to investigate. A town was supposedly linked to at least one of the photos, and I jumped in my pickup the following day and set out to find a story. I didn’t have the money to pay for exclusive story rights, and I didn’t care about being first with the story. I simply wanted a good story for my weekly column.

I went to some businesses where I thought that I might be able to talk with someone who could at least verify the existence of such a deer. I learned that yes, the deer was for real. I was also able to get a name. I was eventually able to meet face to face with the lucky hunter who supposedly took the trophy whitetail. After I introduced myself and stated my humble intentions, I asked some questions.

“Did you recently take a trophy whitetail?” I asked.

“I’m not at liberty to answer your questions. I’ve been told by three different entities not to speak with anyone until I decide who I am going to go with,” he answered.

“Tell me this. Did you know that the big guy was out there?” I questioned.

“I’m not at liberty to talk with you,” he replied.

When we parted soon thereafter, I promised him I would not use the photo that had somehow gone viral, and that I would not attempt to piece together a story. I told him that once royalties had been paid and the story had been published, I would like to sit down with him and do my version of the story. He said that we would do that. I will wait patiently.

I found the interview somewhat frustrating, and I still wanted a good South Dakota deer story for my column. What I wanted had been right under my nose the entire time. The Kocer brothers came to mind.

Unlike many hunters, Alex was not looking for a particular deer. November 15th was the peak of the rut, and on this particular morning, Alex had chosen a stand because of the nice 4X4 whitetail buck he had seen while pheasant hunting a few days earlier.

Two miles away a neighbor’s trail camera had recorded an impressive 5X7 whitetail. Alex was aware of the buck, but because of the distance from his stand, he had given it little thought. Alex also possessed a West River rifle tag for Gregory County. That season would open the following morning, and he would have a decision to make.

His decision problem took care of itself ten minutes after sunrise when the buck from his neighbor’s trail cam was spotted working toward him. From a distance Alex knew that it was the biggest buck he had ever encountered. When the now almost broadside buck stopped at 35 yards, Alex released his Blazer Maxima arrow. His shot penetrated both lungs, and the buck went down almost immediately. The buck green scored 162 inches, and its shoulder mount will go on his wall.

The Kocer brothers, Ryan, Alex, and David, are perhaps most noted or their prowess on a wrestling mat, but these guys can hunt. More important, they are humble young men who are willing to give me a story. We’ll get to Ryan’s and David’s deer in a future column.

See you next week.