A story of celebration has since taken a turn for the quite the opposite. A potential record buck was put on the ground in early November, and has since come under scrutiny from both record book scorers and wildlife law enforcement agencies.
The buck was shot while sporting an unbelievable rack that is reported to have scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 206 ⅞” (green score). Given the impressive score, Ohio’s Big Buck Club secretary Mike Rex and others believe the antlers to be the biggest typical ever to come out of Ohio and the third largest in North America.
Ohio hunter Christopher “CJ” Alexander pulled his bow string back and propelled himself into a world of uncertainty after the animal attracted a good deal of attention as rumors swirled around Wilmington, Ohio. While many were initially quick to congratulate the 28-year-old hunter, stories of foul play began to surface.
The party suddenly came to a screeching halt when a release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced an investigation into the possible illegal taking of the deer now known as the ‘Alexander buck’.
The release stated:
Wildlife officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife are investigating a potential record deer taken during the archery hunting season in Clinton County, Ohio. The deer was reported to have allegedly been taken by Christopher J. Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, on Nov. 9, 2023.
An investigation was launched by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources after information was provided alleging that Alexander failed to obtain the lawfully required written permission prior to hunting on private property.
While the investigation continues, Ohio wildlife officers have seized the antlers, cape, and hunting equipment associated with the alleged unlawful taking of the deer.
Alexander maintains that the deer was in fact taken on his sister’s 30-acre property, as allegations about the time of day and the location in which the deer was taken continue to float through the community. He also maintains that he was not aware of the existence of the buck, although many local residents have since made claims that the deer was well known in the Wilmington area.
Whether there was any wrongdoing will ultimately be decided in court, but as Mike Rex told the Columbus Dispatch, he believes that the “chances are good it will only be scored now for restitution to the state. Very disappointing.”
When it comes to restitution for illegally taken trophy whitetails in Ohio, look no further than Section 1531.201 of the Ohio Revised Code, which states that anyone found guilty of taking a deer scoring over 125” is ordered to pay restitution. That amount is calculated using the following formula ((gross score – 100)² x $1.65) which would amount to a little over $30,000 in additional fines if the young man is convicted in court.
Photos: Sierra Smith
