48 Nebraskaland • March 2019
Michael Dickerson had come up empty in past hunts, but
he fi nally got his Nebraska trophy this past September.
Dickerson of Davison, Michigan, now holds the Nebraska
record typical mule deer taken by archery. He stalked and
shot the deer, which scored 197 4/8, Sept. 10, 2018, on private
land in the badlands of northern Sioux County.
"It truly was a privilege to have an opportunity at such a
great animal," said Dickerson, 40.
Dickerson's deer is the second largest typical mule deer
entered into the Nebraska records regardless of method of
take. The top Nebraska mule deer of 200 3/8 was taken with a
muzzleloader by Miles Lemley of Lyman, Nebraska, in Scotts
Bluff County in 2007. The previous archery record was 187 2/8.
The Pope and Young Club said Dickerson's trophy, with
its current score, would rank in the top 25 nationally in the
typical mule deer archery records maintained by the club.
Scoring a trophy is a combination of measurements of antler
tine length and mass.
The morning of the hunt, Dickerson watched the deer for
several hours. Eventually, he noticed it bedding with three
other bucks and the stalk began. The bucks began feeding
their way up a valley and into a bowl, which put a small hill
between them and the hunter. Dickerson crept up behind the
hill and took his broadside shot from 57 yards as the deer fed.
Dickerson's shot hit directly behind the front shoulders
before the buck ran to higher ground, stopped and turned
back toward Dickerson. "He looked back at me almost as if he
didn't know what had happened," he said. "Shortly after he
fell over and it was over."
For more information on the Nebraska Big Game
Records Program, and to browse the record database, visit
Outdoornebraska.org/biggametrophyrecords.
RECORD MULE DEER
By Jerry Kane
MIXED BAG
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
MICHAEL
DICKERSON
