[YooperKenny]

There is a fellow by the name of Craig Calderone who is a whitetail expert here in MI and he called Mitch's bluff on the supposed new worlds record buck...

While Mitch was president of CBM (official Michigan B&C record book) he prevented Calderone's potential record buck from getting into the book because of Calderone's game violation convictions so take his perspective with a grain of salt.

As far as the northern lower not having the capability to produce big bucks, Mitch has accepted numerous invitations from around the state and has killed giant bucks that nobody knew were there as well as known monsters that no one else could kill - usually accomplishing this within a few days

I personally don't care if "The Buck" was real or not - I'd just like to spend a day in the woods with him picking his brain about his buck hunting methods.

Rompola threads are intriquing - if you're really into it and want to dig deeper with insights from some who have met Mitch or know more about him, go to Michigan Sportsman forums and search on "Rompola"

And BTW here's a pic from 1985 of the still Michigan record archery typical whitetail

 

[JustinM]

Some have said that he wrote a couple articles for various magazines prior to his taking of the WR buck or the conspiricy however you see it. Anyways, does anyone have links to such articles? I have done a quick search but didn't find much other than the Rompola Gate sites.

 

[Todd1700]

I'd just like to spend a day in the woods with him picking his brain about his buck hunting methods.

That shouldn't take long. And you wouldn't need to be in the woods. It's a lot easier to fabricate antlers inside at a work bench. No need to carry all the stuff you would need to do it out into the woods. You just take the finished product out there to snap the "Recovery" photo. LOL!!

 

[ponchbuster]

Funny

It is funny that no person on here can prove anything one side or the other. Yet, thgis continues to get more attention in the hunting community than any topic in recent years. Yes, we all want to know the truth about it, but we may never will. If it is real I applaud Mitch for keeping the Archery world in shambles over a but that all no nothing about. But, if it indeed is fake I still applaud him for the same reason. Ethical or not, it sure does bring out the worst in alot of people.

 

[daweasel]

REal or not does nt really matter seems these days evryone is out to prove someone else is lying. Look at the spider elk taken by that guy out west. just my 2 cents. if its real more power to him if not thsats between him and God

 

[CHAMPION2]

Not sure either way on the validity of any of the stories surrounding this deer. I would love to believe this was a legit world record buck!! Everytime I look at that Swampmaster print I paint myself in the picture and dream about having an encounter with a buck of world class proportions. I am like a kid on Christmas Eve night!! You just never know what could appear out of the woods at any given time. I love the unknown!!!

 

[Robin@AimLow]

This is a bogus argument. There are many, many people that have killed big record book bucks, elk, moose, etc, etc, etc, and never suffered any persecution because of it. In fact, despite what some would have you believe, those who have had a major controversy surrounding the harvest of a record buck are the exception and not the norm.

I don't care what you think you "know", but you are wrong about this. Record book animals...yes. World record contenders and upper level state records...no, you are dead wrong.

 

[tsilvers]

While Mitch was president of CBM (official Michigan B&C record book) he prevented Calderone's potential record buck from getting into the book because of Calderone's game violation convictions so take his perspective with a grain of salt.

As far as the northern lower not having the capability to produce big bucks, Mitch has accepted numerous invitations from around the state and has killed giant bucks that nobody knew were there as well as known monsters that no one else could kill - usually accomplishing this within a few days

I personally don't care if "The Buck" was real or not - I'd just like to spend a day in the woods with him picking his brain about his buck hunting methods.

Rompola threads are intriquing - if you're really into it and want to dig deeper with insights from some who have met Mitch or know more about him, go to Michigan Sportsman forums and search on "Rompola"

And BTW here's a pic from 1985 of the still Michigan record archery typical whitetail

yea ok yooper...

 

[Pierre Tessier]

11 years and still going strong....:darkbeer:

 

[Gatorjaw]

I hope one day to know the truth and whole story behind this kill. It intrigues me to this day...

And I hope it's real and legit. I will be sad if it's not. I have faith in folks/bowhunters and consider most to be a cut above.

 

[Schocker]

heres something to chew on how many big bucks were shot before the internet and so forth that the racks were just "horns" and either tossed with the rest of the carcuss or nailed up in a garage somewhere that were record class deer and no one cared. everyone thinks that these deer are thier personal property, like they have a patent on the rack its nature, a sport, and a way of putting food on the table.

 

[staggyd]

While Mitch was president of CBM (official Michigan B&C record book) he prevented Calderone's potential record buck from getting into the book because of Calderone's game violation convictions so take his perspective with a grain of salt.

As far as the northern lower not having the capability to produce big bucks, Mitch has accepted numerous invitations from around the state and has killed giant bucks that nobody knew were there as well as known monsters that no one else could kill - usually accomplishing this within a few days

I personally don't care if "The Buck" was real or not - I'd just like to spend a day in the woods with him picking his brain about his buck hunting methods.

Rompola threads are intriquing - if you're really into it and want to dig deeper with insights from some who have met Mitch or know more about him, go to Michigan Sportsman forums and search on "Rompola"

And BTW here's a pic from 1985 of the still Michigan record archery typical whitetail

I notice he's not too shy about claiming a record here in this pic...hmmmmmm.wonder why he all of the sudden shy'd away from the noteriety .....guys.....listen again....38" outside spred.....c'mon !!!

 

[nomansland]

Everyone knows he's a liar. Even the people who claim to support him, in the back of there mind know he's a liar. Who claims a state record, then backs down from a World Record? Explain that, i'll change my mind...

 

[Robin@AimLow]

Everyone knows he's a liar. Even the people who claim to support him, in the back of there mind know he's a liar.

LOL...this thread is sure worth some laughs if nothing else.

 

[Robin@AimLow]

....listen again....38" outside spred.....c'mon !!!

You saying there has never been a buck with that spread killed?

 

[sunstroked]

I still wonder about it. I lived in MI at the time this happened. Many things make me think it was fake. Some of the stories and testament from those who actually put their hands on the antlers said it was real.
Look at the recent elk world record "spider bull". Although it is a legitimate WR, many have questioned the method in which it was hunted. It was also scored by a special panel this spring and was knocked down quite a few inches then was previously scored. Although it still had enough to claim #1 non typical status. Non hunters (such as my uncle) and hunters such as myself have questioned the method in which the elk was pursued. Should it be considered a WR? Doesn't matter, it stands.
Rompola was a pretty low key guy from the stories of the time. Shady, yes he had some non hunting problems. Does that make him a fraud?
I do know one thing, if any of us do happen to kill a WR deer, elk, bear, etc. Expect to have every part of your life examined. If you have any ghosts in the closest they will surely come out. Yes you may make a more than a few dollars from having #1 status, but will it be worth the scrutiny of your life? I'm not sure it would be. But I'll probably never have that problem.

 

[Todd1700]

I don't care what you think you "know", but you are wrong about this. Record book animals...yes. World record contenders and upper level state records...no, you are dead wrong.

First, this comment is almost incoherent as to what the hell you are trying to say.

Second, if you are trying to say that most people who have killed a record book animal, caught a record book fish, etc, etc, have gone through a major controversy over it which was due to no wrong doing on their part then you are just badly wrong and I would challenge you to back that claim up with hard evidence. A few random exceptional cases do not support such a claim.

Most people who kill a record animal (or catch a record fish) are decent law abiding people who simply follow the rules and procedures for verifying and registering their trophy animal. And the vast majority of them are never subjected to any hardship over it. In fact depending on the popularity of the species it's often at least a minor windfall for them.

On the other hand if you are a criminal that tries to pull a fast one, then yeah, trouble might ensue.

Do I know people that would shun the spotlight even after killing a deer like this? Yep! I know some old backwoods country folks down here in Alabama that still live off the land. They would kill a deer like the Rompola buck; go home and eat the sucker; and then nail the horns to a barn door. BUT, you would also never see their ass at a big buck expo; hawking synthetic hunting scents; selling photos of the deer; submitting hunting stories to magazines; endorsing hunting bows; getting any buck mounted by a taxidermist; or even having any deer they ever killed officially scored.

People trying to act like Mitch Rompola is one of those eat it and nail it to the barn door people either, A. don't know jack s### about his life before this controversy or B. do know but are lying their @$$es off. I'll let them explain which is the case.

 

[LiteSpeed1]

You saying there has never been a buck with that spread killed?

I have a book with pictures of a 33" wide. Got pictures of a legit 38"?

 

[Robin@AimLow]

First, this comment is almost incoherent as to what the hell you are trying to say.

Second, if you are trying to say that most people who have killed a record book animal, caught a record book fish, etc, etc, have gone through a major controversy over it which was due to no wrong doing on their part then you are just badly wrong and I would challenge you to back that claim up with hard evidence. A few random exceptional cases do not support such a claim.

Makes pretty good sense to me. You are right about regular ole record book animals, but wrong about WR and high end state record caliber animals. Hopefully you are smart enough to know the difference in a record book animal and a world class animal, or a state record. And by "high end state record"...I mean let's face it, a state record in IA is a whole lot different than a state record in FL. I am not talking about just any ole record book animal. Book animals are killed every day of the season...who cares?

I guess we can agree to disagree. IMO, there are more than a "few random" cases of people going thru the wringer, accused of poaching, ect over a high end animal period (and other lesser animals as well). I have read accounts of it time and time again, and have experienced it first hand as well. I guess if every article I have read in which the hunter claims hardship and false accusations against him is lying than you are correct, it doesn't happen.

There is a reason that many, "experts" recommend that if you kill anything high end that you imeadiately get your local warden involved, get pix and video, etc. to back yourself up before anything gets started.

To say that anyone that shoots a WR contender these days will not have to deal with rumors and false accusations is simply foolish.

 

[Robin@AimLow]

I do know one thing, if any of us do happen to kill a WR deer, elk, bear, etc. Expect to have every part of your life examined. If you have any ghosts in the closest they will surely come out. Yes you may make a more than a few dollars from having #1 status, but will it be worth the scrutiny of your life? I'm not sure it would be. But I'll probably never have that problem.

Exactly!!!!!!!!

But then again, Todd1700 knows differently, lol.