Comments on the "Rompola Buck"
Is it a "FAKE" or is it "TheReal Deal"?
UPDATE!!!!
It is REAL!
Read all about the official scoring process here!!
Here are the comments I received on this topic! The Newest comments are at the bottom.
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Mr. Harrison, I am
tired of hearing all the negativity. I don't go to my stand every day
during deer season in hopes of a world record buck, although it would
be nice. I go to my stand for the love of hunting. I am a dedicated
hunter but it has nothing to do with records, money, or popularity. I
hunt because I love too and that is what I feel is important. I don't
have a lot of money to spend on "Dream Hunts" or a 100,000
acres of woods to hunt. I am just a 20 year old "KID" that
grew up in the heart of Illinois, I hunt any where I can
get permission but usually just family owned land. I have finally
found something that makes me happy and every year I look forward to
one thing and that is Deer season. I am one of those people who eat,
sleep, and breath hunting. I wish I could see more about the
appreciation of hunting. I see all of this negativity about
possible world records and it is really sad that hunting has come to
this. I used to love reading stories of how a hunter bagged a deer.
How their heart was racing as the deer stepped out into an opening, as
they drew back and felt comfortable with their shot. How they tracked
it for 50 or 60 yards and then feeling as it was just around the
corner. Feeling all the anxiety as I read the hunters
story. The hunter looks and finally spots the deer laying along
some brush, and they are so excited. Then I see the picture and
it is a 9 year old kid standing proudly by his four pointer or a six
pointer. That is what hunting is truly about. It's not about how big
the deer is, it is about the feelings you get inside. I love getting
caught up in stories that talk about the emotions involved in hunting,
the anxiety, fear, and excitement of finally getting to see your kill
up close. I appreciate stories like that, not stories about, (Is he
lying about his buck or is it really the "NEW WORLD
RECORD"). It is a shame that it has become what it is
because I am still one of the small time people that appreciate any
deer that comes my way regardless if it is a big buck or simply just a
doe. I have the same feeling with any deer I shoot and I can honestly
say that I am not about breaking records, I am about
"HUNTING". When I am in my stand that is my time set
aside from the every so fast moving world around me and I wouldn't
trade it for anything. Whether I come home with anything or not I am
so much more relaxed and carefree after having my time with
nature and I appreciate every second I am given to be there. I think we
all need to appreciate the time and effort we put into hunting but
also remember that hunting is not about size, money or popularity. It
is about the chance that we have been given to spend our time on this
earth interacting with nature and having opportunities to go
hunting and appreciate any animal that comes our way. Hunting is
my "PEACE" and it's too bad that more hunters don't
write about that are important like I do because I know they
all have it in them or they wouldn't be out there hunting. They just
get caught up in all the Drama about being the best hunter or the
person that killed the most or the biggest bucks. Regardless of
what anyone else thinks, that is not what it is about to me. It
is about the feelings I have inside as I watch a doe and her two
little fawns pass under my stand so playful and "Natural",
or as a nice buck slowly approaches eagerly but yet cautiously. The
feelings I have inside are what keep me going, not the hopes of
becoming some big famous person because I shot a record breaking deer.
I don't care if I ever shoot a record breaking buck but it
breaks me down a little more each time when I read about the
controversy of a possible record but no one knows if it is a fake or
the really thing. It is too bad to think that someone might actually
try to get away with something like that or also the fact that someone
else has the right to question a hunter that actually put his time and
effort in just to be called a lyre. Well opinions are like assholes
and everyone has one and this is mine. Whether anyone likes my opinion
or not I don't really care but I know there are many others out there
that share my opinion and we are the ones that will truly be happy for
the time we have been given on this earth to become one with nature.
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|
Well for starters, if
you put the antlers at the angle that everyone says they "should
be in" the brow tines would point in, and they would say
"look the brow tines point in" therefore it must be a fake.
And the head is wet, and he waited too long to go get it, and he isn't
co-operating, and he isn't defending himself. Well consider this, Its
his prerogative! He can dress up in a red suit and a sleigh and get
the stinking deer 24 hours later. He can smear peanut butter and jelly
on its head, he can deep-fry the ears and let the dogs chew on them,
and he could stick the rack in the trunk of his AMC Pacer and not let
anyone see it. Now everyone playing Colombo out there is saying Ha, an
AMC Pacer has no trunk. And I say " that's your whole
problem" you know everything, you can dissect anything, you have
an opinion on everything, and you can in good conscience bash a guys
character based on what you see in a picture, and according to this
picture you have this guy pegged. Well Perry Mason, Judge Wapner would
say you have proved nothing, judgment for the defendant, and you would
add Wapner to your list of idiots. If it is proved real, you still
wont buy it, and you darn sure wouldn't post an apology to Mitch
Rompala. I know your type and everyone out there knows someone like
you. Give the guy some space. Its his deer, not yours. If it is fake,
then we can all say "dang that was sure a stupid thing to
do" But if it is real then you have bashed a guy that shot a deer
like you will never see and probably couldn't pull off the shot
anyways. There is an explanation for almost anything, but he owes us
nothing. We the public don't own one hair off of his buck. That is
between him and whatever record book he wants to enter him in. Do I
think it fake? I hope not. I have already given you my opinion of your
judgmental attitude, normally I like to keep my opinion to myself, but
I couldn't stand it any longer. "Mitch" my atlas tells me
that Michigan is within the borders of the United States, I would
assume that allows you to do whatever you want to do with your
buck. I hope you aren't playing a big joke on us, because that sure is
a dandy! I for one am patient enough to wait and see, and will not
loose much sleep tonight worrying about the future of deerhunting if
we have indeed been bamboozled. Oh and please don't think that I have
not killed many deer or seen many deer or don't know squat about deer,
because that would be VERY silly!
Steve
Indiana
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| I see the person who wrote that E-mail did not provide their name. Very strong opinion for a person without an identity. Mitch Rompala has a long history of successful deer hunting, could this person possibly feel it was all luck? Could they believe for a second that he cheated his way to the state record as well as the world record? Is it me or does it seam like every time someone shoots a big deer, there is some knob there trying to tarnish the accomplishment? Just because they cant find a big deer, it must be those that do are cheating. Tell that cry baby that when we see his accomplishments, it may lend creditability to his claims. To all this I say, "way to go Mitch!" StPaquet@aol.com |
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This is the
dumbest thing that I have ever seen in my entire life of hunting. The
rack doesn't even look real and all you people out there that think
that it is real you are retards. You must not hunt because if you do
and you think that this buck is real it is no wonder why you have
never killed a big buck because you have been chasing fake one's like
Mitch's. Mitch I hope that you get nailed for trying to forge the new
world record so I can laugh at you and all the people that think that
your buck is real. It is no wonder why he was thrown out of Pope &
Young, trying to pull crap like this. If you feel differently e-mail
me at bucfevr@seanet.com
JEREMY P. |
| By one picture, you can't
tell if this deer is fake or not, however, the ears have a
considerable droop to them which is indicative of the auricular
cartilage being cut from its original place on the head but ears
also droop like that on a fresh kill . Also, just because
the deer has a "wet" head doesn't mean a thing,
maybe the deer ran through a creek and collapsed head first.
This evidence here gives no indication that the deer is nothing more
than a once in a lifetime trophy and does not mean that the deer
has a fabricated rack. I live in Missouri so I do not know the
person that killed the deer but maybe the fella that sent the
e-mail does. If in fact the deer is a fake I stand corrected on
defending the lucky hunter. My whole point to this message
is "don't accuse this fella of not killing this
deer unless you have hard data". One other point to the
person that sent the e-mail, maybe this hunter was a little more
lucky at the harvest and that Mr. e-mail is a little jealous!!!!
RYAN W |
| To tell you the honest
truth I believe the story about the rack being fabricated is a line of
bull%#@! from a hunter that is jealous that they can't get such a
trophy. I've heard rumors that this deer was farm raised and
basically hand fed. If this is true then I believe that the score
of the rack should be thrown out as far as for the world record because
hunting like that is just not right.
J. Owen |
| Dear Sir; It bothers me that you would post an article by someone with an ax to grind and with absolutely no proof to back up his theory. No two deer racks are alike and with picture angle, how could one say that the main beams come off of the head at a wrong angle. Anyway, I don't know why I have to defend Mitch Rompola. I think we should all let time tell the story and if it is fake, it will come out. Right now, I think we have a lot of jealously, greed, and personality conflicts coming into this equation. I just wonder if it was someone else other than Mitch if this would still be happening. I think for your credibility to remain high, you should refrain from publishing anymore of these attacks and wait till it is scored by B&C. These personal attacks on him are probably responsible for Mitch keeping the rack hidden. It is my understanding that a local Game Warden saw the whole deer on the day it was shot. I don't believe he noticed anything fishy. Thank you for your time. |
| This guy is a moron.
Does he really think that someone would actually do this knowing that he
would eventually get caught and experience litigation for fraud?
The friend Craig that this idiot is referring to had his buck thrown out
of the Michigan record book while Mitch was the chairman for having
previous game law violations . Craig is very bitter and sees
an opportunity for revenge through slander. Furthermore,
Mitch did not get thrown out of Pope and Young. He resigned
because Pope and Young has accepted entries from people with previous
game law violations (Craig). I know Mitch - this is no fake
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| Why in the world would you
do that!!! That is bull. That stupid deer doesn't look real. And if he
were to fake one he could straiten the rack, it is off centered!! One
antler is over hear and the other is over hear. I could of drawn it
better!!! He is one those guys who doesn't have the best buck in
the world, even half to fake one. I bet he didn't even get
one he just got jealous and faked one. Will you e-mail me back @ ealanf@hotmail.com
please I would like to hear more from this article, and fake buck!!! Eric Fox |
| To whom it may concern: I agree that it is a possible fake. Funny thing is that I never heard of this before I came in contact with your site. Please keep me posted. Thank You. Sincerely, Vincent King |
| I think everybody should
leave the man alone. Evidently there are some jealous
hunters out there with a wrong personal opinion!
MARK M. |
|
These are comments of my 11 year old nephew Cody O.: I think this monster buck is not fake.It is bigger than are bucks in Pennsylvania.I think the people with negative comments are jealous of this deer. I would like to get a buck like this when I turn twelve next month. Congratulations on getting this monster buck. Cody O. |
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In regards to the
Rompola buck I went and viewed about twenty of my field photos and
have none where the ears are drooping down to their shoulders. In fact
most all of them are up around the main beams. Get your own pictures
out and compare also do you think you could crack a smile after that
kill. Also when I submitted my Pope and Young Buck it was very
explicit that it would not be entered if I had any game law violations
and it is. F D Thompson, Rensselaer, In
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| I read
the whole article on the Rompola buck and couldn't believe he left the buck lay in the woods while he "went home to get my camcorder". Who in there right mind would leave that or any other buck lay in the woods while they went for a camcorder? Sounds a bit funny to me, fake or not. Rob Bietz |
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| I don't think we
can really accuse Rompola of anything for the time being. It is odd though that he would not allow the B and C reps to come and inspect the deer. Everything will be taken care of in due time. I can personally say that I am disappointed (if this does hold up as the world record) because I am from Saskatchewan(where the current record is from). Don't be a jealous jerk and say something that might reveal your I.Q. Let the authorities sort things out. Tim Kroeker Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| I hope that this
buck is real so that each of you arrogant people that have prematurely accused this gentleman of displaying a fraudulent deer will have to eat your words. Better yet, I hope that each of you never get the opportunity to harvest such a large trophy through the rest of your deer hunting years. If the deer is a fake, let P&Y announce it before you lash out at the hunter. My point, what would these people be saying if you killed this deer???????? Ryan Walrath |
One of the Best
Replies yet!!
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| Hi, I'm not a hunter
myself, but my husband is and that is why we came across your
website. I personally don't care if this deer is fake or not, but
I found it very interesting reading the other comments written by some
of the other hunters. One in particular made me laugh. I
believe his name was Eric Fox. He believes it is fake. Well,
I don't know much about deer myself, but I certainly wouldn't lean
towards Mr. Fox's opinion as he can't spell himself out of a paper
bag. Just a word of advise for Mr. Fox...give spell check a try
before you go flapping your gums about something that hasn't been
proven. Thank you. Oh, and by the way congratulations to Mr. Rompola, if in fact, this is truly the world record. If you have faked it, you really have gained nothing, but a lot of humiliation. Wendy M. Canada |
| From Dallas Texas: There was a man in Dallas a couple of years ago that used a deer he had purchased to enter some big buck contest in Texas. He won the contest, but it was ultimately uncovered that the deer was not what he claimed it to be. He was brought up on criminal charges. Found guilty and was ordered to print an apology in the newspaper and fined. I think if the Rompola deer is a fake it will be determined in time. If it is not a fake and was a fair chase kill I congratulate him.
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| I'm beginning to
think its fake too. It doesn't even look like the antlers
are attached to the deer. I also don't see a arrow entry spot.
Scott Carpenter |
It seems Rompola's critics are grabbing at straws; ear angle, wet forehead, etc.. These guys should take a good look at the Hanson and Jordan bucks. Those bucks look pretty unbelievable, too. So many are quick to accuse him of fraud, but anything can happen once. If he'd shot twin 38 inches I'd be a skeptic. Rompola made it clear that he would not try to submit his buck to Pope & Young because his bow had more than 65% let off, making the buck ineligible for their book. He sounds like an honest man to me. It seems to me that if Rompola is the liar his critics try to make him out to be he would be trying to lie his way to the top of both books. Again, Rompola sounds pretty honest to me. Kevin Oldenburg Hemlock, MI |
| In my opinion the
buck is the new world record. Mitch should be very proud of himself for
even getting the chance to see this deer in the wild, let alone shooting
this monster. People who criticize him for fabricating this deer
are just jealous and have nothing better to do than complain about
things. The Hanson buck was a great buck but that buck was killed
with a rifle. Mitch was able to outsmart this deer and kill
it. I don't know about you but to shoot the new world record with
a bow is quite a feat and I respect him for that. I would be
even more proud if I shot the world record with a bow then a
gun. I cant wait for the official scoring of this deer just
to make people that criticize him close there foodholes.
Congratulations Mitch!
Jesse D. Pa |
at first I felt the guy had himself a real nice deer, but after seeing your site, and all of the comments I'm beginning to think it is fake. what kind of guy would leave a "world record" lay in the woods while he goes to have a cup of coffee and get his camcorder?? a real idiot if you ask me. also, why wouldn't he let B&C officials examine the rack? kind of fishy if you ask me. another thing you notice (I should say don't notice) in the pic is an entry point in the arrow. shouldn't there be one? yes. and how did this guy hunt this same deer for three years supposedly? wouldn't that be hard? seems like it would be to me. but if by some strange mishap, the deer is real, my apologies, and congrats to rompola. Jesse Inman |
| This story is very
interesting. I really do not know what to believe. I am not
going to cast judgement just yet, but I will ask some simple
questions. Why would someone who killed a possible "World
Record Whitetail Buck" not show the animal off to more than just a
handful of people? Why has Mr. Rompela delayed the scoring
of the buck after the 60 day drying period? When I am
accused of something that I know I did not do the first thing I would
want to do is to prove my innocence. Is he trying to milk this
story for all the money he can? Apparently so. That is his
option. I feel that something is not right about this story.
I hope I am wrong! Blake McCord |
| I THINK THAT THE ROMPOLA BUCK IS REAL. I ALL SO THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE MAD BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SHOOT A BIG BUCK. TIME WILL SOON TELL IF IT IS REAL OR FAKE. Bob and Tina Montgomery |
| I recently read an
article in the news paper that said four Boone and crocket scorers
measured this deer and they said it was five inches net larger then the
recent world record. all can say is congratulation to mr. rompola.
jon lautenschleger |
| This is, in fact, one of
the greatest big buck controversies I have ever run across. What
makes this story so appealing is that this will more than likely set the
new world record whitetail if it is indeed real. As of now
there are still a lot of unanswered questions and with good
reason. Many skeptics raise perfectly good questions that
could possibly be true. Although no one has come forth with
any hardcore evidence, both sides of the story are very convincing. I
have only saw one photo of this projected world record buck and I would
venture to say that it is about as much as anyone else has seen. From
that photo there is nothing too suspicious that indicates to me that
Rompola’s buck is a fraud. The antlers look perfectly
normal to me. They don’t look off-centered or positioned at a
wrong angle like previous skeptics have claimed. I’ve looked at
pictures of numerous trophy deer and several of them obtain
abnormalities and oddities of their own. The droopy ears do raise
some suspicion, but if you ask me they’re perfectly normal. I
have pictures of deer I shot that carry that same characteristic as
Rompola’s buck.
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| the rompola buck
? at first hearing of " the new world record " I
was in peace river, Alberta Canada hunting whitetails. a well known
writer for north American whitetail mag, left camp to get story on the
rompola buck. but according to the January issue mr rompola refused to
cooperate with magazine. why ? after reading mr rompola
version of the hunt , I question who would go home eat
breakfast, get camcorder, go to girlfriends house than go after buck.
who would leave a buck like that lay in the woods in broad daylight. as
far as the ears go most deer raised in pens ears droop down, for they
lose the edge of survival.instincts. maybe to qualify for a new
world record one should pass a polygraph test!!!!!!
jake polaski
p.a. |
| Like your web site! I
am from Traverse City Michigan (where the new record whitetail was
shot!). In fact, I know of him and he hunts an area almost within
the city limits in TC a few hundred yards from my office. No
one is sure if this is where he shot it, but he lives about two blocks
from my office.
Ron Plamondon |
| At first glance, there
appears to be something odd about the angle that the bases of the
antlers come out from the head. If you've ever taken two sheds from the
same deer and separated them while keeping the distance between the burr
the same length apart, you get a similar effect. The beams also seem too
flat. I have read some on this guy and it is a little odd that he would
turn down so many interviews and onlookers. Maybe he just wants the
privacy but I guarantee you; if I killed a deer like that, the whole
world would know in 48 hours! During the 1997-98 season in the town
where I live in Texas, a guy tried the same thing with synthetic
antlers. (He made its spread 34" wide.) It would have been a new
Texas record. I think this deer in a fake. Court F. |
| I congraulate you for taking
such a big deer. I wish it was mine. for all of you that don't belive you are just mad it is not yours. JOSH GERHOLDT |
| First off, this is a great
site. I am from Michigan and have been following the story as
close as possible. Sure some of the events have seemed out of the
ordinary. I for one remember having a discussion with members of
my camp and saying that if I ever shot a buck of the Jordan Buck class,
I would try and lie about the exact location that it was shot. We
all know that hunters will flood an area if they hear of a large buck
being spotted or shot. My other comment is for the people who call Mitch and idiot for leaving the deer in the woods, and going home for breakfast and a camera. What is the first rule of archery when following up a shot.... Give the animal time to expire before picking up the trail. Even if you are positive of the shot placement you would be stupid to trail a deer so quick. Some times the best way to keep from following the deer to quickly is to get out of the wood for a half hour or so. I know I would be extremely sick if I pushed a deer too early and lost it because I was too excited to wait. I think it is real. It is definitely great for the state of Michigan, especially with all of our TB problems and I think the right guy shot him. Mitch Wagner |
| This one is long but very
good!
First of all let me say that I am an avid bowhunter of 12 years. I have shot one Pope & Young class Whitetail and several that are just short of the Pope & Young minimum, including a couple that do not make the book because of non-typical points. This is in an area where the average score of a deer harvested by a rifle hunter is 100. I put a lot of scouting time into my hunting areas and am very secretive about them and what I see. Early in my bowhunting years I found that if you talk to much you have a lot of company hunting with you. If I were Mitch Rompala I wouldn't tell one of you people where I shot this deer. I have practiced taxidermy on a part time basis since 1982 so I have seen many different deer and variations of deer horns. So with my experience as a bowhunter and a taxidermist I would like to address some of the points that keep coming up over & over from viewing basically one picture and listening to Mitch's own story. 1) Mitch left the deer to go home & get his camera and have coffee.......or whatever. If you are any kind of a bowhunter you know that you never follow up on a hit deer for at least 30-60 minutes even if you think you heard the animal go down, and with a buck of this size I would wait at least one hour if not more. This is if you know you had a very good hit on the animal. The time can be up to 8 hours if you know (or think) you had a marginal hit. Nothing fishy about this activity as far as I am concerned. Now leaving would be a different story if you have other people that you knew were hunting the area but it appears he was hunting very much alone in this area. I do not take my camcorder with me either (most of the time) so if this had been me, chances are I would have had to go home to get the camera too and while I was there I would have had a cup of coffee....maybe two. Bottom line is......nothing fishy about this activity as far as I am concerned. 2) The ear butts must have been cut to put the fake horns on because the ears droop to much and the right ear has some blood on it. True the ears do droop a fair amount but I have noticed this type of droop in quite a few pictures of Texas whitetails. In fact I have always thought they look goofy. Now lets talk about cutting the ear butts. It is possible to remove a skull plate to replace horns with little or no cutting to the ear butts. I have removed many skull plates this way for my customers who just want their horns mounted on a plaque. I do cut the ear butts a small amount but if I would put any effort into the process at all I could easily do this with no cutting to the butt. Also the small cuts I make do not cause the ears to droop. If you think about it the easiest way to put a set of fabricated horns on a dead deer would be to cut the real horns off at the pedicle (similar to a deer shedding its own horns) then drill holes in the center of the pedicles to put in dowels that would accept the fabricated antlers. This practice is done often on mounted large game such as elk so you can remove one or both antlers to get them in your house or move them. The blood on the ear.....has to mean this deer is fake............Sorry, for those of you who have never caped out a deer head I am here to tell you that on the top of the skull and even when you cut the earbutts (which is what he is accused of doing) there is very little blood and most of the time there is no bleeding in this area. So the question is where did the blood in the right ear come from? If you look closely at the photo enlarged it would appear that the deer bled from the nose. Now it is possible that after the deer went to the ground the horns may have hung up on something causing the nose to be up or the nose could have been laying higher than the ear and blood could have ran down the side of the face and soiled the ear. Sound far fetched? I have had this happen. The head is wet, he must have washed to blood away. From the Photo I could not say that the head is wet. Some of the hair out of place could be from dragging the deer. Maybe he did wash some blood away, look at the photo the deer did bleed from the nose. 3) In the picture the death scene appears to have been staged so the deer is fake. This is one of the most stupid things I have heard. Everyone of my pictures has a staged scene. I want a nice background for my hunting photo with as little blood as possible. My photo may have been taken 10 yards from were the deer laid or 10 miles away at a relatives place that has a nice group of trees for a background. If the deer is fake because Mitch staged the scene then I guess all of my deer are fake also. Some people just don't think. 4) You can't see were an arrow penetrated the deer. This is another good one, go to my website and look at my photo album and tell me if you can see were the arrow penetrated my deer. www.wildaboutwhitetails.com 5) The burrs don't come off the head at the right angle. I have seen and paid close attention to many different deer and the way there horns grow and come out of there head. They are all different, some more apparent than others. some are laid back, some come out tipped forward more, some are almost level and some tip out. 6) Why won't he let anyone see the horns, or x-ray the horns. The fact is he has. Three certified scores have felt the horns and scored the horns and they all believe they are real. Read their interviews in the June or July issue of Deer Hunting magazine. Here you will also see more pictures of the deer. Why Mitch is not more open with the deer is a question only Mitch can answer, but I can tell you one thing, so far the Whitetail society has done nothing but scrutinize everything about him. Put yourself in his shoes. Maybe the fact that this deer is a potential world record does not mean as much to him as it would to you and I. I am sure I have not covered all of the issues that have been brought up and I do not intend to. Is this deer a fake? It is possible because just about anything is possible. Is the deer real? It is very possible. Any deer that has the potential to be a new world record even though it has a typical frame is basically a freak of nature and really not typical of our whitetail deer. Look at the Jordan Buck a five point that large? Is that possible?......this will probably never be challenged by another five point. At this time I have no reason to consider the Rompala buck is a fake but I guess we all have to make our own judgements. |
| I feel that Mr. Rompola has
acted in a very odd manner concerning his deer. He says that he doesn't
want to get it scored by B&C or P&Y because he doesn't like
their scoring styles and claims that their scoring is
"outdated". If this is true then why hasn't he had it scored
by another nationaly recognized organization such as the Sierra Club or
Buckmasters? Buckmasters gives full credit for all antler and I am sure
that the Rompola buck would take top honors in their records. His
actions dictate that he has something to hide. The argument has been
made that he, quote "loves the whitetailed deer too much to
disrespect them by having them paraded around as show pieces" end
quote. If that is so then why did he even announce that he had killed
such a deer? Why not just keep it to himself? Being from an overhunted,
harsh weather area with poor genetics like Mr. Rompola lives in I also
know that bucks of the nature that he claims to have harvested over the
last 20 years are very rare. I seriously doubt that he has been able to
consistantly harvest a buck of 110+ every year from 1982 to 1988 in the
area he claims to have accomplished this in, much less nail a grand buck
like the one he now claims to have taken. If he truely did kill that
buck and if it truely did come from Grand Traverse County then he has
accomplished much more than a world record buck harvest. He will have
become only the second hunter to take a B&C buck and the first to
take a buck scoring over 175 B&C points from Grand Traverse County
EVER! I will certianly take any "official" scores of the
Rompola buck with a grain of salt and until my suspisions are proven
wrong I will continue to consider Milo Hanson's 213 pt. Saskatchewan
buck the true official world record. Sincerely, Duane A. Williams |
| I am an
ordinary hunter from the great state of Texas so I do not have any of
the local perspective of "Mitch Rompola's World Record Buck",
but from all of the stories I read, I cannot help but question the
"record". If Mr. Rompola's motives for hunting are
purely for his own enjoyment and not for the whole world as he has
stated as a reason for not "coming out" in front of the
hunting community by having this supposed world record deer scored by
Boone & Crockett, then why didn't he just have the antlers mounted
& hung in his living room for only him & a few hunting buddies
(which I hear he has none ) instead of creating this controversy he has
created? I am very disappointed in Mr. Rompola if he is a real
outdoorsman for what he has done to the sport of deer hunting. If
he really has harvested the "World Record Whitetail" as many
claim then why doesn't he share it with the rest of the hunting world by
having it officially scored by the only organization in the world who
can certify a world record? I would like to have a conversation
with Mr. Rompola; I would ask him the following questions:
1. If you have had problems in the past with Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett in the past as you (or the writers in your favor) suggest, wouldn't you want to "throw it in their face" that you ( of all people) have taken the new "world record"? 2. Even if you believe that hunting is for your enjoyment alone, wouldn't you like to share your accomplishment with fellow sportsmen who can only dream of accomplishing what you have claimed to accomplish? 3. As a true sportsmen wouldn't you like to see the deer you have harvested receive the recognition in spirit that it deserves as being the "Worlds Largest Whitetail"? I have no personal stake in this drama as I am just an average sportsman, but I would like Mr. Rompola to know that this episode has left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak, and I would not buy anything with his or his supposed world record's likeness on it. If I am wrong, I hope Mitch Rompola will show me just how wrong I am by having his deer scored and accordingly recognized by the appropriate organizations. I would also like to add that Mr. Rompola had also divided the hunting community with this controversy. At this day and time this is one community that must stick together on all fronts to defend against the offensive tactics that threaten our very existence. |
| I'd like to add my two cents on
the Rompola issue. First of all, I do not think that Mitch Rompola and his possible-record buckis any of our business. I don't reall his asking the press to beat down his door, demanding pictures and comments. I don't recall him asking all of us to demand he measure the buck. Perhaps we should just sit back and take his word for it. The bottom line is this: why would Mitch Rompola fabricate some wild story about a record deer. Three reasons: 1.) popularity, 2.) money, and 3.) the record. If Mitch Rompola is truely looking for popularity or the record, why doesn't he enter his fake deer into Boone & Crockett? This is not a stupid man. If he did indeed make up this story, then he would have to understand that what has happened would happen. He would have to understand that a fake buck would not fook the judges. He would have to understand that he would be made out a liar and be humiliated. Secondly, if he is seeking money, why doesn't he take any? He has a lot of people offering him money to have the buck scored, he has a lot of people offering him money for his pictures and story. Why isn't he taking it? Let's stop, just for a minute, and pretend that Mitch Rompola did really kill this buck. Why is he acting so strange? Maybe it's because he doesn't like people. Friends say he has always been somewhat of a hermit. Maybe it's because he truly does have a distrust in Boone & Crockett and/or Pope & Young. Maybe it's because he is used to killing big deer. To all those who say that Mitch's refusing to have the buck entered into the record book proves that he is a fake, consider this: This man has killed more than 20 record book bucks in his hunting career. What's one more? So it's the world record, big deal? Maybe he just wants to hunt to be hunting. Maybe he isn't concerned with records and such. And furthermore, the Boone & Crockett panel doesn't meet for two more years...which means he still has plenty of time to have his buck entered. In the end, I think it all boils down to
jealousy. We have a few hunters, or |
| I feel that it is as real as they
come!!! Some people are just running off at the mouth, because they
never had the chance to score on a monster like this in MICHIGAN!!
YES!!! That's where I'm from. I also know Travers city well. >>----------------> HAPPY BOWHUNTING "There is always a better day" Norm :-)) |
| It is hard to tell whether the
deer is fake or not. Rompola's actions however are a little strange. I
live in the fertile farm region of Kentucky and we have some very large
deer. I have a copy of a video tape of a huge buck that was seen around
our farm. The deer has an approximate spread of 30 inches and is a 10
point with one drop tine. When there is a deer of the Rompola size, more
than one person knows about it. Every hunter within 40 miles of us has
seen a copy of our video. I have arrowed 2 pope and young bucks, and you
can believe several people saw my deer the day they were killed, and a
bunch more saw them the next day. Why would he kill a world class deer
and not show the thing off. Man, I would drive around with my tail-gate
down so everybody could see my deer. And smile when you get your picture
taken with your trophy. Time will tell if his kill is legit or not, but
for now, Milo is the man. deerman143 |
| I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEER IS FAKE OR NOT.
BUT THE PURPOSE OF A OPINION PAGE IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
THAT IS WHAT'S FUN ABOUT A CONTROVERSY. THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS ALL
THE NAME CALLING. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A EDUCATED DISCUSSION AND IT
BOTHERS ME TO SEE PEOPLE CALLING OTHER PEOPLE "STUPID",
"RETARDS", ETC.... (READ THE OPINIONS IF YOU WANT MORE.) I
DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW MITCH. I DON'T CARE IF IT IS A TRUE WORLD CLASS
DEER OR NOT. SOME PEOPLE SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES TRYING TO GET A DEER
LIKE THAT. I GO OUT IN THE WOODS TO ENJOY THE TIME I HAVE WITH NATURE,
AND IF I GET A TROPHY ALONG THE WAY, SO BE IT.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME RANT |
|
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Now read the comments of Mitch himself