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

LEDEW H2026 04 Membershunt Angie Buck Barnabas Nov 2025
LEDEW H2026 04 Membershunt Angie Buck Barnabas Nov 2025

Member's Hunt: Patience is Tough When You Shoot a Big Buck

My phone still in my hands, I texted my teenage son, who was hunting along the field not far away. Trying not to move any part of my body but my thumbs, I sent the message, “Got a buck down, but he’s still alive. Help!” Tucker texted back, “What do you want me to do?” I replied: “Come kill the bastard before he kills me!” Intrigued? Read on.

First Look: 2026 Spypoint Trail Camera Lineup

Spypoint's 2026 trail camera line-up features three new models designed to deliver on flexibility and control.

Hardware Review: Christensen Arms Evoke .375 H&H

A .375 H&H Magnum for less than $1,000 is a win for hunters on any continent, especially when it comes packed with features and has the sub-MOA accuracy potential of the American-made Evoke from Christensen Arms.

New for 2026: Avian-X Waterfowl Backpacks

Expanding its assortment to include soft goods in 2026, waterfowl brand Avian-X has announced an all-new lineup of packs specifically designed to keep waterfowl hunters organized, mobile and ready for anything.

Behind the Bullet: The .308 Norma Magnum

Norma’s ballistician Nils Kvale saw the wisdom of having the velocity and horsepower of the .300 H&H Magnum, but in a shorter, more affordable receiver, and used the H&H case to develop his .358 Norma Magnum in 1959 as well as the .308 Norma Magnum one year later. The .308 Norma Magnum closely resembles the wildcat .30-338 cartridge, though the shoulder of the former is located a bit more toward the base than that of the .308 Norma Magnum. Intrigued? Read on about this often unfairly overlooked hunting classic.

New for 2026: Browning Trail Cameras Defender Pro Scout Max HD-DV

The Defender Pro Scout Max HD-DV, from Browning Trail Cameras, promises direct video transmission and streamlined setup without adding complexity.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.