It takes a 200 pound buck (dressed) To make Maine's "Biggest Bucks In Maine" club.......and Paul Willette vowed that it would be that or nothing this season ! This is Paul's story.... in his own words.. of how he tagged a big Maine buck with his rifle, then repeated that accomplishment two weeks later with his bow !

"The first weekend of the 2000 gun season found me hunting at our camp on Spectacle Pond in Osborn with my brother Parrie. In the last 3 years my father had taken a 221lb deer, & Parrie had taken one 214lbs.

I was hungry for a 200 lb deer, it was 200 lbs or nothing again this year. Last year it was nothing! During the first hunt I found sign that a big Northern buck had been frequenting an area. I scouted the area & found a perfect spot for a tree stand on the edge of clear-cut. Upon returning to camp at midday on Wednesday, 11/8 the first thing I did was hang the stand. On 11/9 I left the area alone & still-hunted some other areas trying to locate more sign.

By noon on Friday the 10th I was anxious to get to the stand. After about an hour walk in I was in stand & ready by 1:45. At 3:00 I was playing with a deer tick that was trying to find a home for the winter, when I looked up, there, about 80 yards off was a deer feeding through the cut area. "A doe" I thought. Then he lifted his head I it was apparent this was a buck. When I raised my new model 700 the Leupold showed me what I have been looking for... a big racked, heavy bodied white-tail.

At the crack of the shot I lost him. After ejecting my shell & scanning the area, there he was heading down hill directly at me. I had my gun up in an instant... 50 yards, 40 yards, fall damn it! At 30 yards I shot again, he went down in a heap.

After all was said my deer weighed exactly 200 pounds. He has 22" Main beams & a 22" spread."

Paul Willette's 200 Pound Maine Trophy

"It was 11 degrees when I turned on the Weather channel at 4:30 a.m. on 11/25/2000. Since I had taken my first 200lb deer 2 weeks earlier with my gun, the thought of returning to my warm bed more than crossed my mind. However, the fact that I had hunted the entire Expanded Archery season with no deer to my credit was motivation enough, out the door by 5:00.

My plan was clear, I would go to my honey hole in Scarborough. I would be on stand by 5:30. And, if all went well, be dragging my buck out by 7:30. By 8:00 the thought crossed my mind that Mr. Buck may not cooperate. By 9:00 my spirits were low and my fingers & feet were frozen. At 9:15 however everything changed. I heard the unmistakable sound of a deer coming from the direction I expected. "A little late" I thought as the 8 pointer made his way towards me. He had his nose glued to the ground and was heading at me... I mean directly at me.

I drew my bow when the buck went behind a tree 10 yards away. By the time I released my arrow the deer was walking in front of me broadside... 5 feet away. The shot was not perfect(I guess I never practice shooting that close) however after about 1 hour I had harvested my first Bow buck. A great year for me, my first 200 lb deer & my first Bow buck. Since I will have the Phantom Whitetail call by the 2001 season I am hoping to match the 2000 season... only earlier!"

Paul Willette's Maine Bow Buck

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