LAST UPDATED: May 1st, 2015
The Giant mule deer buck that was made famous last summer by the good folks at Field & Stream actually lived through the Colorado hunting season. Not only that, he made it through winter, shedding his antlers recently and propelling the shed hunter who found them into the national spotlight.
Noah Wendland holding both sides of the famous Colorado Mule Deer who was called “Goliath” by so many.
Colorado Springs area local wild-land firefighter, Noah Wendland, had plenty of time on his hands during the early spring as work slowed down. So he decided to keep an eye on the buck he was now calling “Double Beam”. After three weeks of searching, he located an area the buck was using, but was discouraged to see that nearly 20 other shed hunters were also honing in on the now famous animal.
During the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, “Double Beam” was spotted by Noah with both sides on. The next day, following a late start, Noah saw the buck nearly a mile away and this time without either side. Kicking himself for his tardiness, Noah began feverishly searching for the missing sides. He searched for 3 long hours without coming up with anything.
Later that evening, while looking over a spot he had never seen the buck frequent – Noah got the surprise of his life actually spotting the first antler from 100 yards away! After hiding the found half in his vehicle, Noah returned back to the same spot and continued down the deer path where he picked up the one side. Three hundred yards later, he found the other one!
North American Shed Hunter’s Club official scorer, Ron Newman, taped the antlers and came up with a gross score of 268 total inches. This score, of course, is without an inside spread measurement. With a spread, “Double Beam” likely comes close to 300 inches gross!
The staff here at the Hunting Network wishes to congratulate fellow shed enthusiast Noah Wendland on this incredible and possibly, not, once in a lifetime find. With this buck still alive the young man has yet another chance to pick up both sides next spring – If he survives the fall. Good luck Noah and congrats!
