An Ohio bowhunter’s months-long search for an elusive whitetail deer culminated in a remarkable harvest in east-central Indiana on October 2. Stephen “Chuck” Crowell, a 35-year-old manufacturing project manager and Lake Erie fishing guide from New Paris, Ohio, successfully arrowed the massive buck after a canceled fishing trip cleared his afternoon schedule.
The Hunt for “Rumor”
Crowell had tracked the heavy-antlered whitetail for months, calling the animal “Rumor.” The chance encounter occurred when schedule changes allowed him to enter the timber on October 2. Using his bow, Crowell made the shot that ended his long pursuit.
Major outdoor publications reported on the buck’s extraordinary non-typical rack. Outdoor Life measured the deer’s gross antler score at 266 4/8 inches. North American Whitetail reported a gross score of 266 3/8 inches and a preliminary green net score of 251 4/8 inches. Tony Wright, Indiana Hoosier Record Book director and official Boone and Crockett measurer, documented these official measurements.
Antler Characteristics and Body Weight
The harvest has drawn significant attention from the hunting community due to the sheer size and mass of the animal’s rack. Official evaluators recorded the following key specifications:
- Gross Antler Score: 266 4/8 inches (Outdoor Life) / 266 3/8 inches (North American Whitetail)
- Preliminary Green Net Score: 251 4/8 inches
- Total Scorable Points: 28 points
- Inside Spread: 21.5 inches
- Field-Dressed Weight: 220 pounds (estimated live weight of 250 pounds)
Buckmaster official scorer Rick Busse recorded the 266 4/8-inch gross score, confirming the exceptional nature of the East-Central Indiana whitetail. The combination of heavy mass, numerous scorable points, and a wide inside spread places the animal among the upper echelon of hunter-harvested bucks taken in the region.
Indiana’s Growing Reputation for Trophy Whitetails
Crowell’s successful hunt highlights the quality of deer management and genetics found across Indiana. State wildlife agencies and organizations like the Boone and Crockett Club consistently rank Indiana as a premier destination for mature bucks. Strict management practices, including county-level regulations and a seasonal one-buck limit established in 2002, allow male deer to reach older age classes. This approach results in exceptional antler growth when paired with rich agricultural and timber habitats.
For Crowell, the harvest marks the successful end of a dedicated campaign to tag a once-in-a-lifetime animal. It cements his place in regional hunting lore and adds another remarkable entry to Indiana’s rich deer-hunting history.
