Heaven gained a big-buck hunter with the loss of R.G. Bernier of Standish, Maine last year. He was 62 years old at the time of his passing. Dick was a master tracker, hunter, writer, photographer and devout Christian. 

Bernier became the Northeast Field Editor at Deer & Deer Hunting magazine 20 years ago, a new title that was created for him due to his insights into New England whitetails — something we had not had within the pages of our magazine for quite some time. His ability to connect hard-working deer hunters with practical tips and advice was special. 

Bernier was a larger than life character. His trademark hat and flannel attire immediately told those who didn’t know him that he was not only a deer hunter, he was a Northeast deer hunter. He was a tough, no-nonsense guy who said “no, thank you” to the luxuries of tree stands, trail cameras and any other modern-day technology. Give him a pair of rubber boots, a compass, swath of rope and a rifle, and he’d come back with the biggest buck in the woods. Dick Bernier just flat-out knew how to hunt. Over the course of 17 deer seasons starting in 1983, he shot 17 bucks during Maine’s annual gun-hunting season. Fifteen of those bucks weighed more than 200 pounds field-dressed, and seven topped 230 pounds. The largest was a 250-pound (dressed) buck that he shot in 1993. That same year, his dad, R.A. Bernier, shot a buck that weighed 232 pounds.

Dick would recount the numerous 200-plus-pound bucks that he and his dad dragged out of the Maine wilderness. They were public-land hunters cut from the same cloth that we were while growing up and hunting big bucks in Wisconsin’s north woods. The only difference: The Berniers were a heck of a lot better deer hunters than we were.

We will miss you, R.G., but we know Heaven is rejoicing in your presence right now.