A Bleak Missouri Deer Season Yields Giant 25-Point Buck for Father and Son
I’ve written many articles about hunters who have taken trophy bucks across the United States. But the story of this Missouri hunter and his magnificent whitetail buck is extra special because this hunter, Tony Kalna III, is my son.
The 2021 deer season wasn’t promising on our Morgan County farm. Acorns, a staple food for deer, were scarce for the third consecutive year. Buck sign was minimal, and trail camera pictures revealed a few small bucks. Despite the grim outlook, we eagerly awaited deer season.
We missed opening day of firearms season on Nov. 13 but made it to the woods the following day. Tony hunted his favorite stand situated at the intersection of two ridges, a hub for local deer travel. I hunted on the opposite side of the property. In two days, we only saw three deer, but the wind was also exceptionally strong.
Day three brought a beautiful sunrise and calm winds, creating ideal hunting conditions. Tony III returned to his stand, and I hunted to the north from the ground. I had a hunch that something was about to happen, and at 9:18 a.m., I heard Tony’s 7mm-08 rifle bark from his ridgetop stand.
According to Tony, he spotted a deer rump protruding from behind a tree. When it stepped out, he realized it was a shooter buck.
The buck, found by Kalna. Courtesy Tony Kalna
“I bleated twice to try to make it stop, but it kept walking,” Tony says. “I decided I had to take the shot before it disappeared into the brush or over the hillside.”
I began heading towards Tony to help track what he had shot. As I approached his stand, I caught sight of the buck standing 65 yards away. The sight of the enormous buck left me shaking, and before I could react, it slowly ran off.
I immediately called Tony and informed him that I had just seen his buck. He rushed to meet me, and together we started following the blood trail. We hadn’t gone far when Tony suddenly looked up and shouted, “There it is!”
Tony sprinted towards the fallen deer with the speed of Usain Bolt. When he reached the downed giant, he exclaimed in disbelief, “I can’t believe it! Look how huge it is!”
After a few minutes of exuberant celebration, we finally took a moment to count the antler points. We tallied a total of 25 points: 16 on the right antler with a 6 6/8-inch base and nine on the left. The longest tine on the right side measures 11 inches, while the longest on the left is 9 4/8 inches. Although we haven’t officially rough scored the entire rack, our wildest estimate puts it close to 200 inches.
“Normally, I don’t get excited about anything,” Tony says. “But I was overwhelmed with excitement when I found him, and it still feels surreal.”
As a father, this hunt will be forever etched in my mind as one of the best days of my life. I am grateful that God allowed me to share this special moment in the deer woods with my son.
As a father, this hunt will be forever etched in my mind as one of the best days of my life. I am grateful that God allowed me to share this special moment in the deer woods with my son.
A skilled hunter, dedicated conservationist, and advocate for ethical practices. Respected in the hunting community, he balances human activity with environmental preservation.