Pennsylvania has new record book bow buck

Ron Shaulis of West Newton, Pa, holds the antlers from his typical bow buck he arrowed on public land in Westmoreland County, Photo courtesy of the PGC

Pennsylvania has a new record book bow buck. The 13-point typical buck was arrowed on Oct. 24, 2017 by Ron Shaulis of West Newton, Pa., on public land in Westmoreland County. 

The new record buck had a net score of 185-4/8 that surpassed the previous record holder that scored 178-2/8, which was taken in Allegheny County in 2004. 

According to Bob D’Angelo, PGC Big-Game Record Scorer and B&C official scorer, the rack was symmetrical and lost only 7 7/8-inches in side-to-side deductions, which included and inch-and-a-half abnormal points off the right side G-2 point. “That’s not much in deductions on a set of antlers this size,” D’Angelo claims. 

The rack has 25 and 26-inch main beams, more than 11-inch G-2 and G-3 points, a 20-inch inside spread and 4.5-inch or better circumferences at the four locations where the latter is measured. 

Shaulis said he put in considerable amount of time scouting and monitoring trail cameras to get this trophy with a compound bow. 

“I didn’t know what I had until I took the rack to the taxidermist,” said Shaulis. “He told me I should definitely get it scored, as it might be a new record. That’s when I knew I wanted to take it to Harrisburg to get it officially scored.” 

Last year, the PGC said a buck taken in Clearfield County scored 228-6/8 and was the new No. 1 Non-Typical Archery buck category. 

Seems antler restrictions, started by retired Gary Alt, former PGC bear biologist turned deer manager, and for which he was severely criticized by sportsmen for doing so, is now showing results such as Shaulis’ buck and others.
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