By Todd Bigbee

In the fall of 2000 Mitch Henderson and I ventured to Saskatchewan, Canada. It was our fourth season to hunt this frigid land. We had taken several mature bucks all in the 140 to 150 class. We wanted to hold out for a 160 plus whitetail.

My first morning started out really good. I saw several 130 class bucks and one about 140. At 12:00 a deer walked out that was pushing 160. His straight back line and sleek features told me he wasn't 5 1/2 years old. I knew it I let him go he would be a book class whitetail next year. As I studied him I thought he was between 155 and 160. A perfect 10 point with a drop tine. as he left I questioned my sanity for passing him up. With the temperature 5 to 10 degrees below 0° F this can be a very unforgiving place to hunt. I hunted 6 more days daylight to dark and saw a number of great bucks. I had the most enjoyable week ever even though I didn't take a deer. Mitch connected with a beautiful 13 pointer that just made 160 on Thursday.

In 2001 Mitch and I returned in pursuit of a book class whitetail. I returned to the stand I had been on when I saw the drop tine buck last year. Three does appeared just after light & then bedded down. I was scanning through the timber when I first saw him step through an opening. I lost him for about 15 seconds and then I saw him running full tilt at the does. No need to judge him, just shoot him. I fired twice as he ran through an opening and then he was gone. I got down and found sign of a hit. When I found him I could not believe it, it was a book class ten point with a drop tine. There is no way to know for sure if it was the buck from 2000 but I believe it is.

If you want to hunt a wild whitetail in thousands of square miles of thick forest, head to the great Canadian North. Oh Yes Mitch took a giant typical 8 pointer that had a 23 inch spread.