Story WA state record James Cartwright buck; 200 3/8 Typical

[Elkslayer]

Basket Rack,
The sheds were actually both found the same year. I picked up the right side and a farmer picked up the left side. The right side had been stained that is why it is darker. The sheds were found in 1991 and were a year old. As far as I know his set from 1991 was never found. I have had them scored twice. One person scored them at 178 and one at 181 I believe. This buck did put on a lot of growth in two years.

[bearpaw]

Elkslayer, those are some great sheds, I'm just wondering if the sheds are the same buck. I agree they appear similar, but lots of sheds are similar and I notice the eye gaurds on the sheds are quite different from the mounted buck. I am not stating this to argue, but I am suggesting that they are very possibly different deer. As I stated before, I have heard a story about someone else poaching the deer in the past, but I have never heard or seen any proof that it was true. For the record, I can not say you are right or wrong and I have no real interest in this story other than I hate to see someone discredited unless there is solid proof as that happens all too often.

I was going to purchase the rack from Cartwright myself just because it's from our county and I didn't want to see it go back east somewhere. At the time, I couldn't really afford to buy it but now wished I would have found a way as it is a beautiful rack. I hope this deer stays somewhere near Washington and at least it is being credited as being from the country where it grew.

[MtnMuley]

Without a doubt in my opinion thats the same deer.  Base and petical configuration would definately answer that question.......hard though with the one set not being shed.

[daydreamn]

  Interesting thread.   I dont ever post but do check in almost daily.  Since I have a little insight on the non fiction version of the story in question (Sorry DB, ive not read your article) ill take a moment to back up gravestaxidermy and elkslayers comments.  I grew up in Hunters and went to school there with a kid who was a passanger in the truck at the time the buck was killed.  Ive heard from him his first hand account of the situation a couple of times.  I know where the buck was killed and its only about a mile from where elkslayers sheds were found.  Yes its the same buck Bearpaw.  The eyeguards and cheaters are a dead giveaway.  The true story is pretty much as elkslayer says.  I also know "Jim" Cartwright.  Sure, great guy but yes he allowed people to believe that he killed the deer.  Ive never heard him embelish a story of any kind about killing the deer but Ive never heard him bother to set the record straight either.  Even while I sat with an offical Boone and Crockett scorer in his own home measureing antlers.  My Mother always told me to steer clear of little white lies.  "Mother knows best"    A couple of you have stated you need "proof" that Jims story is ficticous.  After eighteen years youll probally not find much "proof" other than a few of the local guys who knew the deer and "THE REST OF THE STORY."

[jnevs23]

Great article,  glad to see Washington state getting some pub for big bucks.  I was surprised to read that #2 in the state is 181, I would have figured bigger.  After reading the accusations that this buck was poached it's kind of ironic that the next article in the magazine is about a poached deer.

[bow4elk]

I know im gonna get flamed for this but this kind of stuff pisses me off. I personally know the whole story on this buck and I also have the sheds to this buck and have posted the pictures on here before. Jim Cartwright did not shoot this buck and I am not the only one that knows this. Yes Jim is great guy, I have worked for him in the past and he has done some truck hauling for me and my brother in law and still does for my brother in law. I have not seen or talked to Jim far about three years know and to find out that he is claiming to have shot this buck disappoints me. This buck was poached by a pot head in mid september of 1992. The guy spotlighted it in an alfalfa field and in a haste to get it loaded backed his truck over it. Thus the broken main beam. Jim Cartwright then purchased the rack from him a few weeks later for $700.00. This buck still had velvet on its tines that had not been completely rubbed off yet. Jim has been a hunter for along time he knew exactly the caliber of this rack that is why he bought it. Funny how he never once told me or anyone else that knew the real story the he killed this buck. Whenever we brought the subject up about the buck he would just quit talking. Just got done reading the story and if he claims to have shot it just down the road from his farm then this buck would have to have traveled 13 miles and over two mountain ranges from where I found his sheds. DBHAWTHORNE and BEARPAW I will glady pm you my phone number and you can call and I will tell you everything I know about this buck. I will even meet you in person and sit down and talk. I agree this buck deserves to be in the record book. BUT JIM CARTWRIGHT DID NOT SHOOT IT! and I would bet my career on it.

If this is true - and I believe you based on your claims of personal knowledge, then this animal is not eligible for B&C's Records Program.  This information should be brought to the attention of the Records Office, and I hope you will do this.  This has nothing to do with my own opinions, rather the strict rules of the B&C Club's Records Program.

[huntnnw]

Theres bigger, people dont care to pay the money to enter them, There is some archery bucks in the 180's now.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

 

Great article,  glad to see Washington state getting some pub for big bucks.  I was surprised to read that #2 in the state is 181, I would have figured bigger.  After reading the accusations that this buck was poached it's kind of ironic that the next article in the magazine is about a poached deer.

181 is just the next biggest entered. I know of more bucks not entered (that qualify) than ones that are entered.

I can almost guarantee a couple of our counties would place amongst the top in the nation for P&Y class whitetail if all of them were entered each year.

[huntnnw]

i have never entered one

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I entered my first P&Y and none since. The part I liked best was the nice certificate that you can hang under the animal. If I killed a booner I might enter it.

[huntnnw]

yeah, thats nice

[bearpaw]

I know im gonna get flamed for this but this kind of stuff pisses me off. I personally know the whole story on this buck and I also have the sheds to this buck and have posted the pictures on here before. Jim Cartwright did not shoot this buck and I am not the only one that knows this. Yes Jim is great guy, I have worked for him in the past and he has done some truck hauling for me and my brother in law and still does for my brother in law. I have not seen or talked to Jim far about three years know and to find out that he is claiming to have shot this buck disappoints me. This buck was poached by a pot head in mid september of 1992. The guy spotlighted it in an alfalfa field and in a haste to get it loaded backed his truck over it. Thus the broken main beam. Jim Cartwright then purchased the rack from him a few weeks later for $700.00. This buck still had velvet on its tines that had not been completely rubbed off yet. Jim has been a hunter for along time he knew exactly the caliber of this rack that is why he bought it. Funny how he never once told me or anyone else that knew the real story the he killed this buck. Whenever we brought the subject up about the buck he would just quit talking. Just got done reading the story and if he claims to have shot it just down the road from his farm then this buck would have to have traveled 13 miles and over two mountain ranges from where I found his sheds. DBHAWTHORNE and BEARPAW I will glady pm you my phone number and you can call and I will tell you everything I know about this buck. I will even meet you in person and sit down and talk. I agree this buck deserves to be in the record book. BUT JIM CARTWRIGHT DID NOT SHOOT IT! and I would bet my career on it.

If this is true - and I believe you based on your claims of personal knowledge, then this animal is not eligible for B&C's Records Program.  This information should be brought to the attention of the Records Office, and I hope you will do this.  This has nothing to do with my own opinions, rather the strict rules of the B&C Club's Records Program.

I think that bow4elk has made a good point, daydreamn and elkslayer should report what they know to the B&C if you they solid first hand information. The B&C has a track record for following up on claims and setting the record straight. 

[jnevs23]

I knows a couple guys that have gotten whiteys in the low 180's.  One guy had one that I believe was 184-185 but te taxidermist shop got robbed apparently and his mount is gone.  He did get the rack tattooed across his chest though lol.

[whacker1]

Wow - quite a saga on this buck.

[hunt4]

I was sitting in the bar in Hunters in 1992 and was shown the (polaroid)picture of this deer.  This is how I remember it, the head was cut off not caped the picture showed bailing twine and duct tape around the one antler to hold it together. Than the story was exactly like Elkslayer stated that the guys backed over and broke it, I will also add that there were a few headless deer found that year in the ditch.  The story also go's on that these pot heads were selling the antlers to support there drug use and what ever.  A guy I was hunting with "Sam" claims he missed this deer the year before. I was there and heard the shot but never really got a good look it was a very foggy day.  This was very close to were these idiots lived (the one in the picture I saw).