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FAR FROM ORDINARY
By: Cate Cook

It was the last day of hunting season in 2004, and Patti Stegman and her husband Martin had all but given up on bringing home the game. Because of work obligations, their plans to be out in the field much of the season had been modified a bit, and they were forced to hunt the hills closer to home, and both were only half-hearted in their efforts.

With no real expectations on this, the final day, the Stegman’s set out in a little Bronco, glassing the countryside for any sign of deer. Martin spotted a couple Mulies, a little 2-point and his larger cousin; they stayed still while the hunters got closer and closer. With the wind blowing hard straight toward them, the Stegman’s were able to hike on up the steep slope without the big buck ever knowing they were there. Patti got off a good shot at about 200 yards and dropped the monster. Now Martin was pretty excited, knowing this was one magnificent buck, and ran up to check out the prize. His shouts let Patti know she had bagged a Beaut!
  
And he was huge - A 10x13 pointer! There was little time to celebrate, as darkness was fast approaching, and the Stegman’s knew they had to get the deer out that night. Feeling a bit unprepared now, they knew they’d need more vehicle than the small Bronco to load it out, and help. They came back a short time later, with help, a 4-wheeler and a pickup, finally locating their game in the impenetrable darkness.

Patti’s handsome trophy garnered a Non-typical score of 211, not quite enough to make the record-books, but still an awesome prize, which is being mounted by Herron’s Taxidermy. This year, the Stegman’s will both be hunting the same area. But close- to -home hunts seem like a pretty good idea this year, after Patti’s mammoth last-minute buck.