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Being in the right place at the right time has a whole new meaning for two Oklahoma deer hunters who both harvested record-breaking whitetail bucks in 2007. Both state record bucks were officially scored July 9 by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation officials with Boone and Crockett scoring certification.
On Nov. 18, 2007, Jason Boyett of Glenpool harvested a buck in Pushmataha Co. while on his way to a friend's deer stand after a morning hunt. The buck officially scored an impressive 192 5/8, nearly seven inches higher than the previous typical record of 185 6/8, harvested by Larry Luman of Atoka in 1998 in Bryan Co. But Boyett's buck didn’t hold the record for long.
Just 10 days later, on Nov. 28, John Ehmer of Tuskahoma harvested what he thought to be a "nice sized" buck in Pushmataha Co. But after having the rack initially measured, he found out just how important his shot actually was. With a total score of 194 inches, the deer edged Boyett's buck by a slim margin of 1 3/8 inches.
"I knew he was big when I saw him," Ehmer said. "I was on my way to look at a place that I wanted to hang my stand for the next morning. All of a sudden he came running past me and he just stopped and turned around. I was simply in the right place at the right time."
According to Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Wildlife Department, there has never been two bucks taken in the same year that could be state records.
"Since this was the first time I've ever seen this happen, our panel of scorers was very excited to see both deer together," Shaw said. "It is simply amazing that both deer were taken in the same county only 10 days apart."
The deer will be included in the 2008 Cy Curtis Awards Program Deer Record Book. The Cy Curtis Awards Program acknowledges sportsmen that have harvested a deer that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set for typical and non-typical bucks.
For more information about record deer in Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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