Illinois hunter uses Google Earth and deflected shot to nab 25-point buck

Joe Graber of Edwardsville, Ill., has himself a trophy buck and a deer-hunting story for the ages.

In fact, he joked to the Belleville News-Democrat: "I told everybody I'm selling all my bow stuff and all my deer-hunting stuff, because I won't be able to top that one."

According to the story, which is being discussed on Internet chat boards, Graber used Google Earth to map and pinpoint probable routes the Madison County buck would take. (The longtime hunter had caught a glimpse of the majestic whitetail previously from his vehicle.)

After a long stakeout near a narrow portion of creek, with a foggy dusk approaching and Graber considering giving up, the deer emerged through the timber and ran across the precise location Graber had mapped.

Darkness approached and Graber experienced trouble placing the animal in his sights, but when it turned broadside, providing a target, he drew his bow and released what he was sure would be a lung shot. But the arrow deflected from a tree or branch and pierced the deer's ear. The animal flipped and careened down a bank, then fell from a 20-foot cliff into the water, where it drowned.

The atypical kill was rough-scored by independent parties: One had the 25-point rack measured at 209 5/8 inches; a second certified scorer measured 217 4/8 inches. If the measurement is 215 inches or more after the 60-day drying period, Graber can claim a Boone and Crockett Club trophy.

Meanwhile, he has been criticized for not being sure of a clean shot. His reply, in the Illinois newspaper: "It's not like I aimed for his head. I shoot my bow all summer and I can keep it in a three-inch circle at 35 yards pretty much with my eyes closed. It wasn't like I didn't know what I was doing or didn't feel comfortable with the shot. It hit something, and I got lucky." 

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Joe Graber and his 25-point buck. Credit: Joe Graber

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Comments

[hunter]

It is humorous to see all the negativity, and the intolerance with which it is hurled. One commenter even mentioned that she wish the hunter had killed himself instead of the deer... makes sense, humans are overrated anyway.

[The Hunting Consultant (Rick)]

Good deer hunting story. Most people don't realize how hard bow hunting is and how smart whitetail deer are. Congratulations, Joe!

[Rob @ antler sheds]

A lot of anti hunting and negative comments here. Perhaps because you are LA based and the reading population more politically correct. Hunting with a bow is great sport. And as others have commented people are happy to sit down to their venison steak as long as they don't think about how it was killed in order to land on their plate.

[david dickinson]

strange thing to say that the deer population is out of control when the human pop. of the world is over" a ridiculous six billion"

[david dickinson]

What a shame that the arrow was not deflected into Joe Graber`s ear and sent him to a watery grave. Drowning must be one of the most horrendous deaths. Remember Karma Joe

[Quench Rise]

"Hunting is one of the few things that keep the population under control"

Actually reintroducing Wolves to America would be a far superior method of population control.

[Brad]

Wow, some people are so ignorant. Sorry but mankind is not here because we ate seaweed for the last 10,000 years. If I was a deer I would take death by hunter every time over the natural alternatives... disease, eaten by predetor (that sounds like a lot of fun), hit by car, and worse. Sorry people but nature is much less humane. I don't expect you to understand, but I don't bother you because of your point of view so show some mutual respect. You have no idea the problems we would have if we just quit hunting for 10 years. I could go on but I won't.

[hunter]

To all the delusional city slickers,
If the deer is at such a disadvantage and hunting is so unfair, why do 93-PERCENT of bow hunters go home empty handed at the end of the season?
And why do 82-PERCENT of rifle hunters also strike out?
You have no idea what you are talking about.
You probably believe the meat at Ralph's dives under the plastic on it's own.

[Lucy]

"the arrow deflected from a tree or branch and pierced the deer's ear. The animal flipped and careened down a bank, then fell from a 20-foot cliff into the water, where it drowned",--so much suffering,--so very cruel. Shame on you, "hot-shot". If you're going to kill a defenseless animal it should be in an instant.

It's certainly no "sport" when an animal is hunted down with weapons, especially with the assistance of Google Earth,--such disadvantage for the deer.

Bow hunting has got to stop!

[Tom]

What happens to animals in the wild, eventually, is that they are either eaten alive by a predator, when they are older and disabled - Or they are hit by an automobile, which occasionally kills the driver, passenger, or all of the above.
A bullet or an arrow is a blessing in contrast to the other end-of-life situations! If only kids nowadays were deer hunting as a natural outlet, instead of participating in drive-bys, home invasions, armed robbery and muggings!

[Barnacle Bob]

Clever use of Google Earth! I doubt that Google's people are doing cartwheels about the kill. But, still, very clever use of the tool.

[Mark]

C'mon people, get a clue. Without natural predators, deer populations are really out of control and overpopulation can severely affect the rest of the forest, hence, allowing deer to be hunted. Also deer, which usually get eaten by their hunters, live a much better life than that of other tasty animals.

[Canadian hunter]

Kind of ironic that a Boone and Crockett would be issued when the animal died of natural causes. But as long as it annoys the non-hunter hypocrites who think that hunting is so terrible it should be banned. Some times i think there right, I'd rather hit them with my truck and have them die of cronic wasting disease.

[Anon]

C'mon...at least he shot it...
if it was the US government choice they would have placed land mines and cluster munitions across the whole mountain range trying to get that deer and everybody would be losing legs for the next hundred years...

BAN LANDMINES NOW.

[mikeohara]

The deer population is pretty much out of check everywhere in North America. Hunting is one of the few things that keep the population under control (car accidents are another).

[Kelly M Bray]

"...But it's not ok for Vick to kill a dog...hmmmmmm...."
Dogs don't taste as good!

[rmh]

...But it's not ok for Vick to kill a dog...hmmmmmm....

[lord, love a buck]

Who wrote the glowing article about the death of this buck? After describing the animal as "majestic" he goes on to tell the ironic way he died....drowning! How can you give credit to the hunter??? If I were the hunter I would be embarrassed rather than proud. I'm sorry, but this sounds like a scene from a Chevy Chase movie (which would have been as hapless but much less harmful). Too bad for the buck and for those of us who would have enjoyed an encounter with the animal in it's natural state....alive!

[Jess]

That's how I wanna go! Get shot in the ear by(by an arrow, no less), fall down a cliff into a lake, and drown.

Or in my sleep. Whatever.

[hunter]

To all the city dwellers who purchase their meat at the supermarket, already magically underneath plastic, or vegetarians/vegans who worship at the altar of self-righteousness; get a clue.
Virtually all deer hunters eat their kill, and the few who may not make sure that it is utilized by somebody else.
Allowing the meat to be wasted is illegal.
And for those who think an armed human has an advantage over a deer, why is the success rate so low?
In California, the success rate for archery deer is only around 7- PERCENT, and for rifle it is only about 18-PERCENT, and you are allowed to hunt every day of the season until you are successful.

[John]

So, what's the point other than his pathetic attempt to prove his manhood; and all for a wall decoration?

Man with weapon vs. unarmed deer - some sport!

Disgusting !!

[PJ]

Technically he did shoot it, but did he really kill it? :)

[anon]

When hunters start using the internet to track prey, it's no longer hunting; it's just killing.

[Makesnosense]

I just don't get the purpose of killing an animal that has not done anything to proke this person to shoot or kill it?