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The Rompola Buck
- Thread starter Topdog
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Are you prepared to overnight become a household name and fairly recognizable over a deer? Have people dig through your personal life and past? Sure maybe he wanted it at first. Lots of folks think they want the smoke until it happens. It’s not like he shot a Boone and people local knew him. There’s lots of guys like that. This is another level.
You think that he faked all of his deer? The multiple records and all? Just curious
131north
Well-Known Member
If I had a hunting spot where I killed monster bucks I wouldn't even tell my Father-in-law, let alone the general public 
Cancel culture might erase my record in the future anyway when someone develops a way to tap into a deer's feelings and we're all determined to be savages.
Cancel culture might erase my record in the future anyway when someone develops a way to tap into a deer's feelings and we're all determined to be savages.
That’s my point exactly. He is a household name over a deer.
Maybe we’ll find out when the next generation sells the rack at a yard sale.
Definitely doesn’t impact my life one way or another. I’ve never lived in a region with big deer and can’t really relate.
I do hate (we all should) negative press on the hunting community. This story included.
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a few I believe are real racks. but most I believe are fake. The ultra wide bucks..If big deer are that scarce in that region, and only one person is picking off those type of deer, with the exact same massive gene expressions, then Something is off.
wild deer are just not going to isolate their genes like that, especially, in an area that’s described as heavily hunted, with poor nutrition.
The field pics look wonky. One of the pics, the deer looked like it was starting to decay.
I just see way too many irregularities. To think otherwise.
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Good thread, it honestly has changed my mind. I was a relatively new, adult-onset hunter when this happened. I live in MI. I remember the reaction to the pictures and stories were overwhelmingly negative and suspicious. Everybody new somebody that new somebody that new the real story. Every person with an axe to grind with Mitch aired their beef. All the conspiracy theories and articles on "here's how he could have done it'. As a newish hunter I believed all these experienced hunters and their strong opinions must know something that I did not. Looking back I see how naïve that viewpoint was. For 20 years I believed the deer must be fake on the basis of rumor and speculation and repeated untruths.
From what I can see. there has not been one piece of evidence that proves that the deer is fake in 20 years. People form their beliefs and then look for evidence to confirm those beliefs, even when none exists.
I have also since seen the online reactions (at least on MI sites) to any big buck pics posted. Generally you will see someone mention "high fence" or "deer ranch" within the first 10 posts. This from people with no association to the hunter or the area they shot the deer. Whole lot of haters out there.
From what I can see. there has not been one piece of evidence that proves that the deer is fake in 20 years. People form their beliefs and then look for evidence to confirm those beliefs, even when none exists.
I have also since seen the online reactions (at least on MI sites) to any big buck pics posted. Generally you will see someone mention "high fence" or "deer ranch" within the first 10 posts. This from people with no association to the hunter or the area they shot the deer. Whole lot of haters out there.
Swingin' Free
Well-Known Member
Kinda looks like a deer that sat overnight in the rain to me...
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Yeah, you got me on this one. Anybody that hunts wearing a camouflaged shower cap must be up to something nefarious.
Just curious, what specifically about those pics make it so obvious they are fakes in your eyes? Also, if you think the antlers were made of bondo like you said above. How do you explain the multiple official scorers who scored the deer and say it was legit? They just couldn't tell or are they lying for some reason? I'm not arguing either side, I'm just curious about the basis of your opinion.
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I'll restate that I'm keeping an open mind.
But actually have to disagree with this statement. We have witness testimony of an 18yr veteran conservation officer, and three official scorers.
No evidence has been put forth that the buck was pen raised, taken illegally, or a taxidermy creation.
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Hopefully this isn't too far off track, but it shows how these things can go.
IGFA recognizes the WR Muskellunge as the Cal Johnson fish at 67lb 8oz.
But there are two other bigger fish that held the title:
Art Lawton's 69lb 15oz, from the St. Lawarence, still recognized by NY State DEC as the official state record
Louie Spray 69lb 11oz, from the Chippewa Flowage, still recognized by WI DNR as the official state record
How can this be?
Here are a couple links that only scratch the surface of what happened there. If you are interested, it's good context about records and suspicions and motivations. It is one of, if not the biggest, fishing "mystery" that I know of (though there are some other good ones).
IGFA recognizes the WR Muskellunge as the Cal Johnson fish at 67lb 8oz.
But there are two other bigger fish that held the title:
Art Lawton's 69lb 15oz, from the St. Lawarence, still recognized by NY State DEC as the official state record
Louie Spray 69lb 11oz, from the Chippewa Flowage, still recognized by WI DNR as the official state record
How can this be?
Here are a couple links that only scratch the surface of what happened there. If you are interested, it's good context about records and suspicions and motivations. It is one of, if not the biggest, fishing "mystery" that I know of (though there are some other good ones).
Louie Spray officially was reinstated as the all-tackle world record holder
Louie Spray officially was reinstated as the all-tackle world record holder of the musky with his 69-pound, 11-ounce fish caught out of the Chippewa Flowage
www.chippewaflowage.com
HuntNorthEast
Well-Known Member
This is a Booner that was killed in my area this year and aged at 3.5 years old. Imagine if he hit 5.5... there are deer out there with wacky traits that don't look normal but anythinh is possible. They say he was a man that didn't care what people thought and shrugging them off was more fun for him. I get that, but denying an x-ray to prove you are a man of your word is a different kind of stupid, and that's where I think it's fake. Any logical person would've said go ahead and x-ray it just to shut people up if it was real. My 2 cents.
Swingin' Free
Well-Known Member
Why should he have to go out of his way to prove anything to anyone? Especially a butt hurt manby with more money then brains. X-rays aren't a requirement to get it certified....
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The in place policy is:
Effective January 1 1990, the Boone and Crockett Club’s Records of North American Big Game Committee established specific guidelines to aid in detecting the attempt of an unscrupulous individual to enter a fake set of antlers or horns in the Club’s Awards Programs. Should there be any doubt in a Measurer’s mind about the authenticity of a set of antlers or horns, he/she should first contact the Club’s records office and be prepared to implement the following verification process.
After obtaining the trophy owner’s permission, obtain a material sample by means of drilling a 1/16-inch diameter hole on the backside of the right antler or horn, near the base. The hole should be drilled just deep enough to go through the outer surface and into the under-surface, providing a sample to be examined for proof of natural material. The sample is placed in a plastic bag and submitted along with the completed and signed score chart directly to the Records Office.
If the Records Office determines that the material removed from the antler or horn is artificial, or if the trophy owner denies the Measurer permission to drill the antler or horn, the trophy in question will be disqualified from entry into the Awards Programs. Final acceptability in such a case will be made by the Records Office and will document the existence of the fake set and the individuals’ attempting such deception.
If there should be any doubt about previously measured and/or accepted trophies in this matter, or questions on the part of Measurers regarding procedures and intent, please contact the Records Office at once and before implementing this procedure.
Shed Antlers/Split Skulls
Shed antlers and trophies whose skull plates have been sawn in half are not eligible for entry in the Club’s Awards Programs and/or records books, regardless of how well they have been “restored.” Similarly, trophies with antlers that have been “pegged” for removal and easy transportation cannot be scored for entry in B&C. This is because the inside spread (greatest spread on moose), which is an integral part of the final score of antlered trophies, cannot be accurately determined in either case. If a Measurer suspects that a set of antlers he/she is measuring is comprised of a set of shed antlers or split within the mount, he/she should contact the Club’s headquarters for instructions on x-raying that trophy. A Measurer must be present at the time x-rays are taken to take immediate possession of them and forward them to B&C headquarters. All X-rays are taken and mailed to B&C headquarters at the expense of the trophy owner. This policy applies to trophy specimens of all deer, caribou, moose, and elk, as well as pronghorn.
Trophies with skull plates that have been shattered or split by shooting, dropping, etc., are eligible for entry so long as the pieces fit perfectly back together. Such trophies can only be scored by members of the Club’s Records Committee or its designated representatives.
artificial antlers are hard to pic out, even holding them in your hand. I can see someone scoring a set , thinking they’re legit.
look at the skull / rack angle, vs eye angle. It’s off..
once again the ears
I do taxidermy. As soon as you make a V-cut behind behind the ears, they flop down like. that.
look at the skull / rack angle, vs eye angle. It’s off..
once again the ears
I do taxidermy. As soon as you make a V-cut behind behind the ears, they flop down like. that.
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Disagree. The story is that the people pushing for the X-ray, and those 2 who offered him money to get it done had a long time feud with Mr. Rompola. He even turned one of them in for spotlighting a few years prior if I remember correctly. In short, they hated each other’s guts. I am certain he in no way felt like he wanted to give in to the demands of people he very much disliked just to prove to people he wasn’t lying and possibly destroy his hunting area in the process. Makes sense to me. Guy spends his life obsessed with deer, kills some really big ones wayyyyy before this world record (see the interview on YouTube above), does winter scouting and bed hunting before anyone knew about it, tells people 2 years in advance that he’s hunting a deer with a massive spread. He finally catches up to this deer after a lifetime of achievement and effort in the whitetail wood and all he gets is hate, doubt, and lawsuits. He even has THREE scorers and a conservation office look it over and give it their professional thumbs up. I would be tempted to give everyone the bird and disappear too if I was him.
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