The Pope and Young Club recently convened a special panel of judges in Regina, Saskatchewan, to consider a potential P&Y World Record non-typical mule deer. Dennis Bennett’s enormous buck has a 5x5 typical frame with 15 abnormal points on each side. The buck was shot near the Arm River in south-central Saskatchewan on Oct. 1, 2018.
The special panel concluded that the rack has a gross score of 303 inches, and net final score of 291 1/8 inches, making Bennett’s buck the new P&Y non-typical world record mule deer. This buck tops the previous P&Y world record non-typical mule deer (274 7/8 inches) shot in Colorado by Kenneth Plank in 1987 by more than 16 inches.
“It was a pleasure to be part of the panel recognizing this beautiful non-typical mule deer from Saskatchewan as a new world record,” said Eli Randall, records director for the Pope and Young Club. “The pictures of this deer do not do it justice. This 291 1/8-inch giant will be a must see at our convention in Omaha, Nebraska, April 10 - 13, 2019.”
Spot and Stalking a World Record
According to Dennis, he started early on the morning of October 1 in search of the big non-typical. He got to within 44 yards when the world-class muley was startled by another smaller buck bedded nearby. Dennis wasn’t ready for a shot and watched as the two bucks bounded away up the hill into some trees.
Dennis returned later in the afternoon, giving the big buck time to settle down. Soon Dennis spotted him close to where he had left him that morning. The buck was bedded in a small depression in buck brush near the top of the hill. The stalk was close to 300 yards, and the wind had changed, which allowed Dennis to follow a fence line along the top of the hill and get within 37 yards.
When the buck finally stood broadside, Dennis ranged as the deer browsed with his head down. The shot was on a steep angle, and the arrow hit high, striking the buck in the spine. The muley dropped in his tracks and then rolled down the hill 50 yards. While such a tumble isn't likely to harm the venison, Dennis is lucky the buck's rack wasn't broken.
Congrats to Dennis Bennett on a tremendous mule deer.
