ESPN Hunting

It's the perfect recipe to grow gargantuan bucks.

Start with superior genetics, throw in a good supply of protein-rich food, reduce hunting pressure and allow whitetail bucks to grow to be a ripe old age.

Combine those ingredients in the state of Iowa, and you've got the makings for a world-class big buck factory.

That includes the Sept. 29 muzzleloader harvest of the widely photographed "walking world record" whitetail near Albia, Iowa, by 15-year old shooter Tony Lovstuen.

Should the early green numbers of 322 4/8 non-typical inches prove to be accurate, then the Lovstuen buck could end up being the best hunter-harvested buck of all-time.

Such potential for the intense glare from the hunting world spotlight concerns Iowa Department of Natural Resources conservation agent Randy McPherren.

While the game warden enjoyed getting to be one of two official measurers to put the first measuring tape on the historic Albia buck, he also fears that the big whitetail could create more poaching attempts from unscrupulous lawbreakers.

"It will create some pressure, obviously," McPherren said. "I guess we will see. This part of the state has got a lot of attention for big deer."

"Hopefully, it doesn't create more illegal activity, which is a concern of mine. But it does create attention. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out."

Such advanced scientific knowledge isn't required to realize that south-central Iowa is home to some of the North American continent's biggest deer, including the Lovstuen buck from Monroe County.

Monroe County certainly is no stranger to big bucks, including the Pope & Young Club's No. 2 typical of all-time, the 1962 whitetail taken by bowhunter Lloyd Goad that scored 197 6/8 inches net.

Why such big deer in Monroe County and the surrounding area?

"Genetics is one (factor)," McPherren said. "Food is, of course, critical. We're an agricultural state. In fact, we've never seen a browse line in this country with the pick of the crop of corn, beans, and alfalfa growing around. Last, but definitely not least, is age."

The DNR officer also indicates that Iowa's gun season structure appears to help the state's big bucks reach their full genetic potential.

"Here, unlike some states that have the peak of their rifle or gun season in mid-November (during the whitetail rut), our gun season starts the first Saturday in December each year, and it's shotgun or muzzleloader only," McPherren said.

"That's a lack of firearms hunting pressure at a time when deer are the most vulnerable."

Add it all up and it's no surprise that Iowa just might be the whitetail deer crème of the crop in North America. The Hawkeye State's bucks certainly have the potential to reach world-class status.

Unfortunately, that tremendous whitetail potential is sometimes cut short by poachers slipping quietly through the woods.

McPherren is hopeful that the general public and law-abiding hunters will be on the lookout this fall for suspicious activity from would-be wildlife lawbreakers.

"You can spend several lifetimes trying to kill one of these deer," McPherren said. "It's a crying shame that people will not give us a call if they hear of (or see) something."

Want to help protect Iowa's valuable natural resource?

McPherrin said that he can be reached at (641) 777-2164, or call the state's "TIP" (Turn in a Poacher) hotline at (800) 532-2020. Tips can be made anonymously and rewards for tips leading to convictions can range as high as $1,000.

"One of the major factors in the success of our jobs as game wardens is the cooperation from hunters in the field or landowners," McPherren said. "Those tips in the field, it makes a lot of difference and is very important."