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It's been 62 years........

There were a quite a few monster killed on and around catoosa back in those years. I've often wondered how much effect it had that a large number of deer that were stocked on catoosa had come from Wisconsin not many years before. Obviously deer from the north are naturally larger body wise and rack wise overall. I'm thinking over time in the southern climate and generations and generations of deer have evolved and bread with more native deer in the area that we don't see quite as many monster from that area. I hope that makes sense? Of course I could be totally wrong and that a stupid theory. But it's just a thought I've had through the years. But, there still are some giants in that area. Just few and far between and very hard to hunt.
 
Unbelievable giant I would be in total shock to see that thing walking through the woods wiring on an open shot. Maybe one day lol
 
Yes these large bucks from the 50/60s are a direct result from the recent stocking of large Wisconsin deer in the years before. Catoosa area still cranks our some monster now and then, not everyone scores them. But the good genetics are still there if they live long enough, as in 5 to 8 years not the 3.5 year olds that are "mature". I killed these two bucks in a surrounding county in east tn, one is 6.5 the other 7.5 years give or take a year. Larger one scored 177 5/8 gross BC.
 

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he's alright 😆 that's an awesome deer. Nothing ever compares to a big ole typical wt deer.

seeing a deer that big in the block of woods you're hunting once in your life is something to behold. for most it's a dream for a few it's once in a lifetime. Ive been lucky twice. Once in ms where i took 4 shots at a broadside behemoth of a whitetail deer at 200 yards. I was shaking so bad i had no business pulling a trigger and i'm glad the neighbor got him a week later off the same fence row field dressed at 235 lbs and scored 180and change. would have been top 10 for sure if not top 5 as a typical 9 point. Then once i was lucky to get a close up hands on look recently in Iowa that was scored at 189 as a typical 10. In the 25 years or so that was between the two i've greatly learned to calm my nerves before the shot.
 
Here is one that was killed in the area not much after the record was set. Farmer killed and it was legal . Cut the horns off and ate the rest. This pic don't do it justice but that's the trunk of a full size car and it's almost as wide. He just keeps these horns hung up in his garage like it's nothing.
 

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There were a quite a few monster killed on and around catoosa back in those years. I've often wondered how much effect it had that a large number of deer that were stocked on catoosa had come from Wisconsin not many years before. Obviously deer from the north are naturally larger body wise and rack wise overall. I'm thinking over time in the southern climate and generations and generations of deer have evolved and bread with more native deer in the area that we don't see quite as many monster from that area. I hope that makes sense? Of course I could be totally wrong and that a stupid theory. But it's just a thought I've had through the years. But, there still are some giants in that area. Just few and far between and very hard to hunt.
It's extremely common in southern states, where deer had to be restocked due to extremely low populations, for the State Record buck to have been killed just a few years after the first hunting seasons reopened after years of being closed (or never having had one). And the reason why has nothing to do with the genetics of where the deer were restocked from. These deer populations are still at low densities at the point seasons are opened, and these populations have been unhunted. Hence you have a perfect example of how density dependency works in white-tail populations. You have an advanced buck age structure (no previous hunting to shoot down the age structure), and a deer population WAY below the carrying capacity, meaning every deer has maximized resources. That produces some whopper mature bucks, and quality at a level that won't be seen again as the population increases.
 
Original Stock. The inbreeding has downsized a lot of deer.
Has nothing to do with stocked genetics. In fact, northern deer brought south underperform local southern deer. The genetics of northern deer are designed to maximize performance IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, not the vastly different southern environment.
 
I am tell you how to get to the place. Coming from bi-color checking station toward the devil's breakfast table. Take a right at the four way stop. Down on the left up the hill.
 
I am tell you how to get to the place. Coming from bi-color checking station toward the devil's breakfast table. Take a right at the four way stop. Down on the left up the hill.
Like the 10th person that's told me how to get to the place that deer was killed in ny life lol and they all completely different lol

I am Headed to that exact 4 way stop this evening though.
 
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If that is true and the case, that would be in Morgan County
Then why list it as roane co in the TN deer registry?

You can still look up news paper online that says roane Co. Also.

I've had a dozen people tell me they know the spot for sure 100% over the year as I'm from roane county and they all all different lol
 
Then why list it as roane co in the TN deer registry?

You can still look up news paper online that says roane Co. Also.

I've had a dozen people tell me they know the spot for sure 100% over the year as I'm from roane county and they all all different lol
That's why I did say if it was true then it would be Morgan County. However like you said, only a couple people truly know. It could have been killed in Morgan or Cumberland county but checked in in Roane County? Or could have really been killed in roane county boarders. I don't know what the checking stations were like back then? Morgan, Roane, and Cumberland all come together in that area so who knows.
 
In about 1980, a man that worked with my dad, Sonny and Sonny's boy took me to the ridge where it was supposed to have been shot. We were eating breakfast that morning in Rockwood and Sonny came in and during the breakfast conversation he told Sonny he was taking me up where Pap and he had killed those two big ones. I remember him saying go ahead we haven't killed much there since. I know that is where the big non typical was killed and from that conversation I believe that Sonny killed that one nearby. I could be wrong on the location. Everyone except myself that was with us that morning in the diner has since passed so I can't ask for validation and that has been over 40 years ago.
 
That's why I did say if it was true then it would be Morgan County. However like you said, only a couple people truly know. It could have been killed in Morgan or Cumberland county but checked in in Roane County? Or could have really been killed in roane county boarders. I don't know what the checking stations were like back then? Morgan, Roane, and Cumberland all come together in that area so who knows.

One reason it may have not been accurately listed is the Fosters killed a lot of deer when most people struggled to see deer and they may have not wanted anyone to know where they were hunting. Also they lived in Roane county and may have checked it in Rockwood. His son maybe on here if so maybe he can give some clarity. I haven't seen him in twenty years.
 

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