“Lifetime Buck” Stolen From Amish Hunters
It’s still deer hunting season – and that means in many Amish communities, the men (and some women) are taking full advantage of the chance to go after a prize buck.
And in Perry County, Pennsylvania, one group of hunters managed to get that trophy – only to have it swiped away by a thief. The report from CBS 21:
PERRY COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Tuscarora State Forest Rangers and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are investigating an alleged big game theft after a “lifetime” buck went missing from the area where a group of hunters was storing it.
Officials said the hunting party stashed, harvested, tagged, and field dressed a buck and then left it behind a tree off of Wolf Road in Toboyne Township to be picked up later in the day.
However, when they returned, the buck was gone.
Officials said they believe someone entered the pipeline from the View Trail area and dragged the buck to a parking spot off of Wolf Road before loading and removing it from the area.
The buck was apparently very highly rated, having “an estimated buck score of 150/160.” Authorities are looking for the person who swiped the deer, and have an idea how they might find him:
Officials are asking locals to look through their trail cameras and keep a watch out for any sent or posted photos, as they believe it is highly likely the individual who took the buck would do so.
As a related aside, I’m actually in Lancaster County right now, and this is apparently the last day of rifle hunting season. I’m not a hunter, but I know a few who are.
In fact, this morning I gave a friend a ride to pick up deer meat processed from Martin’s, a local custom butchering shop, which happened to be bustling with activity, as they sent processed deer out the door.
We left with a box full of meat, including venison burgers and scrapple, most of which will be frozen and enjoyed over the winter (I had some venison scrapple for breakfast today as it happens, from someone else’s deer. It was good). He also left with a set of antlers, but nothing like what these Perry County hunters apparently lost:
Rangers clarify initial report: The Amish hunters didn’t do anything wrong
Back to the stolen buck story. Forest rangers have issued a clarification following the initial report. Sounds like they got some comments criticizing the hunters for leaving the deer behind. But, that was perfectly alright, as they explained:
CBS 21 spoke with PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Forest Ranger Steven Shaffer, saying he wanted to clarify some “misinformation” that spread since the post about the theft was made.
“I think everyone can agree that the theft itself was wrong,” Shaffer said.
“There’s a lot of individuals that are pointing the finger at the hunter himself for leaving the deer in the woods.”
Shaffer explained however, that doing so is common practice among hunters.
“Most people have vehicles with them and they’ll put them in the vehicle or secure them in the bed of a truck. In this case, the individuals didn’t have a vehicle available,” Shaffer explained. “They had no place else to put it.”
Shaffer also clarified there is no law against leaving game where you shot it, so long as you follow the proper protocols.
This group of Amish hunters very well may have been dropped off, and for obvious reasons – assuming there’s not a non-Amish driver/hunter with them (possible) – wouldn’t have their own truck to put the deer in. And in fact, that’s what happened:
“They normally would pay a driver to drive them to the location, so, somebody would drive them in a pickup truck, drop them off, and they usually spend the day hunting.”
“When they get dropped off they have a predetermined time and place where they’re going to be picked up,” Shaffer explained.
“The person that they have hired to transport them will come in, pick them up, and then they will load the animals at the end of the day and take them back home.”
So sounds like they’ve probably been hearing from people with a) too much time on their hands, or b) a grudge against the Amish or c) both. Here’s the official release from the Tuscarora Forest District:
Shaffer said there are currently no leads on who stole the buck, but it sounds like they’re taking it pretty seriously. The antlers are important, as they say an antlerless deer would be nearly impossible to locate.
Anyone with information should call Tuscarora State Forest at 717-543-1550 or the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief at 1- 888-742-8001.
Buck Stolen From Amish
Hi, all . . . Forgive me, but as a woman (who doesn’t hunt) what IS a “Lifetime Buck”?? Thanks for clarifying it for me. Sure hope the Amish hunters get it back, but I have the feeling some idiot has probably cut it up and put it in his own freezer right about now & laughing to himself.
There are two hunting organizations that have charts that score the antlers on the width and height and other things. One is Boone and Crockett, founded by Theodore Roosevelt, I think that one is for bucks taken with a firearm, and if memory serves me, Pope and Young is for those taken with a bow. So this buck was an extreme trophy buck and it’s sad it was stolen, and I do hope they find it. But i have two questions: was it dragged away to a parking lot? That would indicate a human took it. And also, I hope these hunters are testing their venison for the wasting disease, just to be safe. I don’t hunt personally, but I do have a moose, bison, two pronghorns ad two bucks hanging in my house. And yes, I’m a big fan of TR. And yes, for a woman, I am an anomaly, oh well,..lol.
Lowest of creatures
Stealing a tagged deer is bad, stealing a tagged buck is the actions of scum. I would be ashamed to claim to have ahot a deer I did not actually shoot, but I guess some folk don’t have the morals or the intelligence to have any honour. I don’t even think I could continue to associate with anyone I knew capable of this kind of behavior….then y’all wonder why hunters get a bad name. True scum of the earth.
Hi, Dolores
Couldn’t agree with you more. SHAME on the person(s) who did this. “Thou shalt not steal.” Seems easy enough to understand to me.
Just plain wrong
The Amish are minimalists. They don’t need much.
I’ve stayed in many Amish homes, and something I’ve noticed on their walls, besides oil lamps, towel drying racks, and other organizers, is antlers. They prize their antlers, whether they came off a buck they shot themselves or found them while hunting during shed season. Bucks typically shed their antlers between late December and May.
Those antlers likely mean more to the Amish than they would to most people simply because there are so few worldly possessions that they collect and value.
Great story, Erik – praying they recover the buck for the Amish hunters.
Comment
Yes, the bishop I will be staying with has them all along the wall in one of the shops and their son has a deer on the wall in his bedroom. It is huge here in Ohio.
I Understand Now . . .
Hi, All . . . Oh, okay. So it’s a 9-point deer. I get it now. Read what Mr. Shaffer said and it does seem like the Amish did what was legally required, so they really are the victims in this case. Praying (by some miracle) someone knowledgeable about the case does the right thing by coming forward, but I doubt it’ll happen. I hope the Amish hunting party had better luck the following day/weekend and didn’t have to go home empty handed. Taking a tagged deer from someone like the Amish is the same as taking candy from a baby. Tsk!!
Yeah. Pretty simple. The person or persons who did this is/are losers.
Seriously. You have to be a pathetic person to do this.
And YES! It is normal to leave the deer behind and return for it later. This happens often and there is a protocol for doing so.
So the people complaining about leaving the deer behind literally don’t know what they are talking about. They too, fall into the losers category.
Reply
HA, pretty harsh! Yes it is very common. If you didn’t know though most or all of the comments are from women they don’t know the difference between a screw driver and a hammer. At least in my case…! So long from Ohio J.O.B and Merry Christmas!
LOL
What women are you around? Careful there
Reply
Uhm….why does your “careful there” make me laugh? I am around women who don’t do anything that would be considered “manly” there bud or gal whatever you are. Sorry if I offended you it was supposed to be taken as a joke that’s why I put “at least in my case” because in my case it is that way. I know nowadays that is considered sexist but I am 17 yrs old and have no problem with women who do things men do. It’s just not that way in my family though. The women cook and clean and do lady stuff and they are fine with it. I was in no way shape or form trying to offend anyone. Have a great day. God Bless!
None taken whatsoever, Daniel M. Ich vah ursht dich un hahtty zeit un geva. ( I was only giving you a hard time:)
Will miss your comments on here.
Very interesting, the barn where I ride, the stalls come from Trail Farm Supply. Wish you Gods blessings in your new life.