Since D&DH broke the inside story behind the politics surrounding the potential world-record Johnny King Buck, many readers have checked in with their comments on the situation, posting on our forums and blog entries. Some readers have also claimed to have had contact with insiders connected with this story, including veteran Boone-and-Crockett scorer Ron Boucher of Vermont.
Boucher is a highly respected veteran B&C scorer who incidentally served on the B&C panel that scored Milo Hanson’s buck as the new world record nearly 18 years ago. After viewing the King Buck in person and scoring it himself, he said he is convinced it is a clean 6-by-6 typical that meets all of the B&C requirements, as outlined in the official B&C scorer’s manual. Boucher is adamant that he has nothing to gain by standing up for the King Buck. He said, in fact, he has almost everything to lose. But he decided that fighting the good fight was well worth it. After all, these records were originally implemented to honor the animals — not the hunters who killed them.
At least one poster on the D&DH website claimed to have talked with Boucher since the story broke, claiming that he called the deer’s controversial right G-3 "a gray area." Boucher categorically denies such claims.
"There have been some reports that implied that I have either vacillated or changed my mind or wasn’t sure about the G-3 on the right-side of the King Buck. Nothing could be further from the truth. I haven’t changed at all. My position has been firm since Day 1."
In the D&DH exclusive, Boucher said the King Buck, to his knowledge, is the first straight 6-by-6 with no abnormal points ever to gross over 220 inches. B&C, however, has stated that it will not panel-score the buck. The Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club, which has remained silent since this story broke, had previously arranged two panel-scoring sessions. Both sessions were allegedly called off at the last moment after a B&C official was tipped off that they were planning to review the King Buck.
The King buck’s abnormal point was a panel ruling. A panel of high-ranking B&C and P&Y personnel. The reasons for their ruling were stated in the B&C reply of May 10. Thus far no one….not even the scorers who protest the official score have refuted that specific ruling.
No need to establish another scoring system. There are at least two other existing systems (Buckmasters and SCI) that do not have the symmetry requirements of B&C or P&Y. As a matter of fact……..the most recently contested potential record trophies by B&C and/or P&Y…….are now listed as world records in their respective categories by Buckmasters. The Koberstein, Zaft, and King bucks.
If that’s your desire………it’s been done.
Looks like the world needs a new scoring bureau. Someone should start it. No cost, for hunters, by hunters, done as a fair and honest labor of love just as hunting is treated by the rest of us working men and women see it to be. I have yet to shoot a booner, but reading this makes me careless if I ever do. Point out any comments directed to me, and I may have to start a Facebook page to get the ball rolling.
I am an avid deer hunter and bought a deer and deer hunting magazine today and could not believe this story about the king buck!!! Its a shame that Mr. Reneau can not be a big enough man and allow a panel to score this deer. If one person from B&C can make a final ruling on any deer and thats it then it is a flawed system. It makes me ask the question, why would Mr Reneau be so against letting a panel judge the animal. If he is so sure that he is correct then the panel will agree with him. Obviously, he is very concerned that he made the wrong decision and knows that his ruling will be overturned. I would have a lot more respect for him and B&C if they did panel score the animal. Also, in the future all world record potential animals should only be scored by a panel and not one individual so this never happens again.
to whom it may concern in the B&C club: my son shot a HUGE buck this past year- we had it scored and was approached by a scorer to enter the buck in the record book.He thought about it for awhile and decided not to.He remembered a quote I told him W.C FIELDS made "I would not belong to any group,club,or association that would have me as a member!??".Basically reminding us we don’t need to see our name in print to remind us of my son’s trophy–that he photographed it with his trail camera before he shot it & AFTER with the arrow still in it! Too bad he didn’t find it for a couple of days –but my hat goes off to him-he contacted the local warden & he allowed my son to use his tag on it!!
One more comment-Mr. Reneau DOESN’T KNOW JACK!!!! B&C- you’ll never get any more entries for your book (& money)
if you let Reneau keep his job! It takes a big man to do his job-but even a bigger one to admit he made a mistake.
The B&C club: Jack-ass’s backing up Jack-ass’s!!!
It seems to me the arrogance and politics of the British has corrupted our American B&C system. I agree it is time to remove those in control, especially the spinless followers just below Mr.Reneau. Score the rack!
FINAL ANSWER, JUST PANEL SCORE THE BUCK!!!!
PANEL SCORE! PANEL SCORE! PANEL SCORE! PANEL SCORE!!!!!!
As long as this pompous ass Reneau has anything to do with the B&C, no one should have them score their bucks.
I have hunted for 30 years dreaming of an entry into B&C. I do not live in a state that produces alot of "big deer". This situation and B&C’s stance on it has eased my mind. Thank you B&C, I don’t need to be associated in anyway with you or your politically corrupt arrogance. I will be waiting to see a responsible solution to restore respect and honor to a once highly held institution. Until then I will teach honor, and respect to my son when we go a field and not mention B&C at all.
Maybe we can call it The Hunters World Record, or The Peoples World Record. This animal is getting worked over in a bad way.
Jason you are correct! First post.
I agree with everyone. I have ripped the full pic out of this months magazine and put it on my cubical wall at work. Someone needs to recognize this World Record TYPICAL!!!
This buck has been prejudiced from the moment ONE man (Jack Reneau) condemned it from the typical scoring process. The Boone and Crocket Club has formally put all other scorers on notice, that it does not need the services or professional opinions, from any other scorers within or outside of it’s group. If one man has the power to make a decision (based on his subjective interpetation of the rules) concerning an animal and it is deamed final, quite simply and obviously the Boone and Crocket Club program is a one man show. When the vast majority of scorers that have looked at the buck and determined it to be a typical, that tells me that the B&C system is flawed. No one individual should have the latitude to impact, not just the Boone and Crocket organization, but directly impact the state of Wisconsin’s scoring system AND disqualify the animal from there as well. Also, what happened to the professional guide line, that extremely subjective calls (as this apparantly is) were always given to the animal in fairness to the animal. The checks and balances for any scoring systems are all over the country with the many professionally recognized individuals who have scored as many or more animals as Mr. Reneau. His peers have overwhelmingly and continuously said he has made a mistake in his assessment of the King buck. It is time the Boone and Crocket Organization does the same.
Why is there not an appeal process set-up for matters such as this? Every system has an appeals process and/or mediation capabilities. Is the B&C system set-up in a way that one individual can affect the outcome of an incredible animal not getting it’s due? This alone is troubling. Why would an organization such as B&C not have such a system in place or a "pecking order" in cases such as this?! My suggestion is that B&C not focus on new scoring methods until a system is in place for events such as the King Buck’s scenario. Give this magnificent animal it’s day and put it infront of an unbiased panel as it should be.
The animal should stand on its merits. It is a beautiful speciman of a whitetail. Let the scoring begin
Reneau is a total Jerk ! I was scoring Deer for the Maryland Big Buck Program about 15 years ago and Reneau was right next to me scoring also. Fred Dolinger had a buck up there to be entered in the Maryland Book. I had Officially scored the Buck at about 145 + (not sure of actual score without looking it up). Another B&C scorer scored it at about 138. Fred came to me and showed me the sheet. I noticed right away the the 4th circumference measurement was not on the sheet and the space was blank ! I showed it to Reneau and he said Oh it doesn’t have enough points so we don’t add that in ! They didn’t know how to score this Deer !! This was a 6 point buck (No brow tines) so they weren’t going to give credit for those 4th main beam circumferences !! Instructions Clearly state that you must give credit for 4 measurements. The 4th is taken at half the distance between the G-3 and the tip of the beam. In fact Reneau said we don’t have 8 pointers and deer like this in Boone & Crockett ! Bull !! I was an official scorer for P&Y and Maryland for many years ! Because of this incident Reneau didn’t want me to score for Boone and Crockett heads ! I had to show them and read the instructions to them on their own Organizations Score Sheet ! Boone and Crockett is a joke with this guy in charge of any decisions !!
How can we who love this sport and cherish the animals, allow one person to unilaterally not allow this deer to be panel reviewed? Either Reneau has a legitimate position that will be supported by others, or politics and money are in the way.
Panel score the deer. If it is a new world record, wonderful. If it isn’t, it is still an amazing animal we can all be proud of.
D & DH: Anything we can do to help right this wrong?
PANEL SCORE THE BUCK ! One man’s ego should not stand in the way of a possible world record. This is about recognizing the deer not the hunter. I agree with KBW, it’s time we the hunting public demand accountability of B&C and especially Jack Reneau. This is sickening. Reminds me of our current POTUS and the federal government. All knowing and all powerful and we the peasants will be told what to do and think.
i must ask if this hunters name was was let say bill jordan or stan potts or one of to so called pro hunters who have there own private deer herds i’ll bet there would be no question about it this would be in every hunting magazine written. shame on mr reneau , mr king your buck is the world record in most hunters minds ,the hell with these so called experts its all politics. you don not rub elbows with the right people, your just a hard working blue collar type man. so they will screw you , it all politics and jealiosy, you shot it they did not that they can not take away . great buck ,grads to you
The fact that ithe rack was scored at 226 and 6/8 as a typical by a certified top-ten SCI measurer provides substantial compelling evidence that it absolutely should be scored by a B & C panel. To refuse to do so casts considerable suspicion on the motives of the B & C Club.
What would Teddy do? He would shake things up, panel score the buck and fire some of the front office.