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Ohio bowhunter and Lake Erie fishing guide Stephen Crowell went deer hunting on an east-central Indiana farm after a client canceled a fishing trip on Oct. 2. The buck he shot was later scored at 266 4/8 inches by an official Buckmasters scorer, according to Outdoor Life.
Stephen Crowell, an Ohio manufacturing project manager and Lake Erie fishing guide, arrowed a whitetail buck on an east-central Indiana farm on Oct. 2 after rain led his scheduled fishing client to cancel. Buckmasters official scorer Rick Busse later calculated the buck’s rack at 266 4/8 inches, according to an Oct. 8 report by Outdoor Life.
Crowell, 35, of New Paris, Ohio, had recently secured permission to hunt the small farm. He had visited only once or twice and had heard reports of a large buck in the area, so he called the deer “Rumor.” In late September, he saw it near a green bean field while placing trail cameras, Outdoor Life reported.
When the fishing trip fell through, Crowell decided the incoming cold weather made the farm worth checking. He carried a lock-on stand to a tree at the edge of the bean field and was settled by about 4:30 p.m. Three does came through around 6 p.m.; a smaller buck appeared later. At about 7 p.m., that deer returned with the larger buck behind it.
Crowell told Outdoor Life he ranged the buck at 51 yards and chose to shoot when it turned broadside rather than risk it moving away. He said the arrow struck high and the deer dropped at the spot. The buck’s dressed weight was reported as 220 pounds, with its live weight estimated at 250 pounds. The rack measured a 21.5-inch inside spread and had 28 scorable points, according to the report.
A Canceled Charter, a Rare Buck
The story links a routine change in plans to a notable deer harvest: without the canceled fishing trip, Crowell might not have hunted that evening. The reported 266 4/8-inch score and 28 scorable points give readers a specific measure of why the buck drew attention beyond the circumstances of the hunt.
It also shows how local access and timing shaped the outcome. Crowell had permission to hunt a small property, knew the deer had been seen near a field, and chose a stand location close to that sighting. Those details describe this particular hunt; they do not establish that similar conditions will produce the same result for other hunters.
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How Crowell Found the Buck
Crowell works as a manufacturing project manager and guides walleye anglers on Lake Erie on the side, according to Outdoor Life. His planned Oct. 2 charter was canceled because of rain. He said he expected cooler weather that afternoon and wanted to check the recently accessible Indiana property.
He had seen the buck near the field about two weeks earlier, but had not encountered it during the hunt until the evening. The green beans were the only green food source in the area, Crowell told the magazine, and he believed deer would visit the field. He set up about 100 yards from his earlier sighting and avoided cutting many branches, which he intended to use as cover.
After the shot, Crowell stayed in the tree for a time before approaching the deer. He used a heavy-duty carry tote to move it to his truck, then took it to his friend Paul Lyles, owner of Wildlife Creations Taxidermy in Indiana. Outdoor Life credited Lyles and the taxidermy business with the photographs accompanying its report.
““With the cold weather coming in that afternoon I figured it would be a good time to check a small farm I’d just secured permission to hunt.””
— Stephen Crowell, as quoted by Outdoor Life
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Details Behind the Score
Outdoor Life reports that Buckmasters official scorer Rick Busse calculated the rack at 266 4/8 inches. The supplied report does not detail the scoring breakdown, say whether the figure is final under any separate record-book process, or identify a record category. It also does not provide independent documentation of the score beyond the stated scorer attribution.
The account says the arrow struck high and the buck went down at the spot, while Crowell speculated that the deer dropped to turn and run as he released. That explanation is his interpretation of the moment, not a separately verified account. The report does not give further details about the shot or a formal examination of the animal.
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Scoring and Taxidermy Follow-Up
The buck was taken to Wildlife Creations Taxidermy, where Crowell’s friend Paul Lyles owns the business. The report does not state when the mount will be completed or whether additional scoring or record-book review is planned. Any later confirmation, measurement details, or taxidermy updates would depend on information from Crowell, the scorer, or the business.
For now, the published account establishes the hunt date, reported measurements, and the scorer’s stated calculation. Readers should treat any further claim about the buck’s ranking or record status as unconfirmed unless a relevant organization or source provides that information.
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Key Questions
Who shot the Indiana buck?
Stephen Crowell, a manufacturing project manager from New Paris, Ohio, and a part-time Lake Erie fishing guide, shot the deer while bowhunting in east-central Indiana.
Why did Crowell go hunting that day?
A client canceled a scheduled fishing trip on Oct. 2 because of rain. Crowell said he used the open afternoon to visit a farm where he had recently received permission to hunt.
How large was the buck’s rack?
Outdoor Life reported that Buckmasters official scorer Rick Busse calculated the rack at 266 4/8 inches. The report also listed 28 scorable points and a 21.5-inch inside spread.
How much did the deer weigh?
The buck’s reported dressed weight was 220 pounds. Its live weight was estimated at 250 pounds, according to Outdoor Life.
Is the buck a record-holder?
The supplied report gives the scorer’s measurement but does not establish a record-book ranking or category. A record claim should not be inferred from the score alone.
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