A colossal nontypical deer mount, discovered in a Central Wisconsin cabin, has become the focal point of a captivating historical inquiry. This remarkable antler specimen, which measures an impressive 215 inches, recently claimed the "Best of Show" title at the Open Season Sportsman Expo. Its age and unique features hint at a lineage stretching back nearly a century, with clues pointing to its origins in the northern regions of Wisconsin, possibly along the Lake Superior coastline, an area recognized for its distinct deer populations and environmental influences on antler coloration.
Brian Ruesch, a real estate professional specializing in hunting properties in Central Wisconsin, first encountered this extraordinary deer mount several years ago. While appraising a property, Ruesch, with his keen eye for significant whitetail deer, immediately recognized the exceptional nature of the rack adorning a cabin wall. The property owner revealed that her father-in-law had acquired the antlers at a garage sale in 1960, meaning the mount had been a fixture in the cabin for over six decades before Ruesch's discovery. Without hesitation, Ruesch purchased the unique piece, driven by a desire to unravel its unknown past.
Ruesch's initial step in deciphering the mount's history was to present it at the Open Season Sportsman Expo in Wisconsin Dells. Here, it was officially scored at 215 inches, a measurement that secured its victory as "Best of Show." While this score is substantial, it doesn't quite reach the state record of 253 inches for a nontypical deer, set in 1973. However, given the estimated age of Ruesch's buck, which is believed to predate many of the state's top-scoring deer, it's plausible that it held a more prominent position in the record books if it had been officially measured decades ago.
The journey to uncover the buck's story led Ruesch to a pivotal clue: a stamp on the mount's wooden backing, revealing the name and address of the taxidermist, Karl Kahmann of Aardvark Taxidermy Studio in Hayward, Wisconsin. Further research connected Ruesch with Howard Morgan, Kahmann's 82-year-old grandson, who had worked in his grandfather's shop during his youth. Although Morgan couldn't recall specific details about the mystery buck, he shared vivid anecdotes about his grandfather's taxidermy work and life in Hayward, including a memorable encounter with Cal Johnson's world-record muskie in 1949. These insights painted a picture of the era in which the deer was likely prepared.
Experts who have examined the mount suggest that despite its presence in Central Wisconsin since the 1960s, the buck likely originated from Northern Wisconsin, possibly between the late 1920s and early 1930s. This hypothesis is supported by the mount's unique base and mirror, characteristic of taxidermy from that period, and the historical distribution of deer populations in Wisconsin. The dark, almost chocolate-colored antlers, stained by the tannins from alder and maple trees, further corroborate a northern origin, particularly near the Lake Superior coast where such vegetation is prevalent. The pursuit of this buck's full narrative continues, with hopes that additional information from those familiar with its distinct features might surface.
The saga of this remarkable deer mount continues to unfold, illustrating the enduring allure of the wild and the stories embedded within historical artifacts. It serves as a testament to Wisconsin's rich hunting heritage and the fascination surrounding exceptional whitetail deer. The ongoing investigation not only seeks to fill in the blanks of this particular buck's past but also highlights the broader historical context of deer hunting and taxidermy practices in the early to mid-20th century. The unique characteristics of the antlers and the circumstances of their discovery underscore the potential for hidden treasures and forgotten narratives within local lore and personal collections.