First Light: Pennsylvania’s New Archery Record Buck

by
posted on March 23, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
archeryrecordbuckpa_lead.jpg

Ron Shaulis of West Newton, Pa., took the new Pennsylvania state typical archery record buck on Oct. 24, 2017, with a compound bow on public land in Westmoreland County.

The record rack had a net score of 1854/8, which beat the previous record of 1782/8 from a buck taken in Allegheny County in 2004.

“The 13-point rack was very symmetrical, and lost only 77/8 inches in side-to-side deductions, which included an inch-and-a-half abnormal point off the right-side G-2 point,” said Bob D’Angelo, Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Big Game Scoring Program coordinator. “That’s not much in deductions on a set of antlers this size,” he explained.

The rack has 25- and 26-inch main beams, G-2 and G-3 points longer than 11 inches, an inside spread of more than 20 inches and 4½ inches or more in circumference at the locations where such measurements are taken on the main beams.

“I didn’t know what I had until I took the rack to the taxidermist,” said Shaulis.

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans also congratulated Shaulis on his state-record buck, and the hunter acknowledges his record wouldn’t have been possible without the PGC’s deer management methods.

“Ron’s enormous buck is the trophy of a lifetime and representative of the amazing quality deer hunting available in Pennsylvania today,” Burhans said. “While Ron’s buck takes the top spot for a typical taken with archery equipment, no record is safe in a state where more than 150 successful buck hunters have their names added to the state’s record book each year.”

For proof of Burhans’ statement, consider the state’s new No. 1 record non-typical archery buck, a whopper scoring 2286/8, which was killed in Pennsylvania’s Clearfield County just last year.

Latest

Cva Xp Muzzleloaders
Cva Xp Muzzleloaders

CVA Expands Optima and Scout Lines for 2026

CVA is rolling out its new XP and XP‑SB Series, bringing updated ergonomics and enhanced adjustability to both its muzzleloader and single‑shot centerfire platforms.

Dead Air Silencers Unveils the Nomad Ti Over-the-Barrel Suppressor

This new .30-caliber suppressor from Dead Air goes over the barrel, to only add 4.6 inches to the end of your rifle.

Hot From SHOT: The Best New Hunting Shotguns of 2026

If you're back with us, fresh off of yesterday's SHOT show coverage, welcome back. If you're just checking in with us for the first time, be sure to go back and check out our roundups of the best rifles, optics and bowhunting gear to come out of the show so far this year. Today, however, read on to see the best shotguns of SHOT 2026, compiled by longtime contributor and diehard hunter, Brad Fitzpatrick. 

Nosler Whitetail Country Line Extensions

For 2026, Nosler has seen fit to extend its Whitetail Country line, and Phil Massaro likes their choices. Read on for more.

Knight & Hale Expands Mouth Call Lineup

Knight & Hale Game Calls has announced several new mouth calls to its lineup, tested in the field by championship level callers. Check them out here.

New for 2026: Savage 110 Trail Blazer

Leading off Savage's line of next-generation Model 110s comes the 110 Trail Blazer, a perfect showcase for the company's new AccuFit 2 stock. Learn more about it in this exclusive video with American Hunter Editor in Chief Scott Olmsted.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.