ARKANSAS BIG BUCK CLASSIC

Gift helps Miller snag big prize

Mike Miller of Marion won the Arkansas Big Buck Classic with a rack that netted 215 6/8 Boone and Crockett. Miller killed the buck with a crossbow that he used for the first time.
Mike Miller of Marion won the Arkansas Big Buck Classic with a rack that netted 215 6/8 Boone and Crockett. Miller killed the buck with a crossbow that he used for the first time.

— Mike Miller of Marion won a crossbow in a bass tournament, and he used it to arrow the only buck that won the Arkansas Big Buck Classic.

With a net score of 215 6/8 non-typical, Miller’s rack was the only one that qualified for the Boone and Crockett all-time awards book at this year’s Big Buck Classic. For this distinction, Miller won a prize package that included the traditional silver champion’s cup, a commemorative jacket and a Big Bad Boy buggy from Bradford Marine.

The Ten-Point crossbow that Miller used to kill the deer was also a gift from Bradford Marine. He won a $1,000 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shops in a drawing at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce bass tournament. He bought the crossbow there, and took it afield for its first hunt Oct. 7. The big buck entered a food plot with two big 8-points in tow. They took their sweet time and meandered to within about 25 yards.

“Something happened that caused a distraction,” Miller said. “They turned and looked the other way, and that allowed me to get the crossbow up and shoot the buck.”

One might think Miller is lucky. He calls it “blessed.” Diagnosed with leukemia in 2002, Miller endured an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. He said he relapsed three times. Finally, in 2004, he got a transplant of stem cells from his twin brother, and Miller says he is now cured. He considers deer hunting a celebration of life.

“It’s my passion. It’s always been my passion,” Miller said. “Deer hunting is everything to me.”

A lifelong bow hunter, Miller favored a compound bow before his illness. The ravages of cancer treatment limit him to hunting from box stands and ladder stands, so he switched to a crossbow.

“Through all the chemo and radiation, I lost all the use of my legs,” Miller said. “They told me I would never walk again, but by the grace of God, I am able to walk again, but I had to resort to the crossbow because of leg issues in the stands. And, I’m kind of limited by mobility, so I have to use vehicles to get to my stands.”

Miller estimated the buck to be at least five years old.He said his game cameras took a lot photos of it in 2011, but he never saw the deer in person. It continued to show up in game camera pictures in 2012, so Miller bided his time until he got a day with the right combination of weather and favorable wind. He said a cold front brought rain, and when it cleared, the temperature was 55 degrees and partly cloudy. He arrowed the buck at 6:30 p.m.

Coincidentally, the runner up at the Big Buck Classic belongs to Rhett Butler of Jonesboro, a longtime friend to Miller’s and fellow graduate of Arkansas State University. Butler entered a wide non-typical rack from Desha County that had a gross score of 203. Its net score was 1940/8, missing the Boone & Crockett book by just one point.

Like Miller, Butler had seen this deer on game camera photos for three years. It appeared on camera in 2012 about mid-October, and Butler hunted it unsuccessfully until modern gun season. He finally killed it on Nov. 23 at a range of 58 yards with a Winchester Model 70 chambered in .270.

“That morning started out raining,” Butler said. “It cleared off about lunchtime, when a cold front came through, and I positioned on his bedding area.”

The rack had 15 scorable points. Butler estimated the buck’s age at 5 to 6 1/2 years. Butler said it was one of a kind.

“I think he has some offspring, but in 30 years as an established hunting club, he’s the biggest thing we’ve harvested,” Butler said.

Sports, Pages 13 on 01/28/2013

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