Finally, Hopper got Clifton to answer his phone. Clifton asked him if he’d shot a doe, but Hopper told him to get out of his stand and come take a look at the big buck he’d taken. When Clifton finally arrived, the two brothers exchanged hugs and high fives as the reality of the situation began to set in for the elder Hopper. Clifton then went to the truck to retrieve their brand-new deer tote that a friend had made for the hunters. After loading the buck into the truck, they went to show the landowner, who was duly impressed with the size of the buck.

Later on, friend Eric Williams of Whiteland drove over to take some pictures of Hopper’s buck. Then the phone calls start to go out to all parts of Indiana. The buck field dressed at 224 pounds on a local farmer’s scale. The huge body was accompanied nicely by one of the widest racks a hunter could ever ask for.

Greg and Clifton took the buck to be measured by John Bogucki, chairman of the Hoosier Record Buck Program, at the Indianapolis Deer and Turkey Exposition held in February.

The monster 4x4 typical frame is truly impressive. The inside spread of 23 1/8 inches is extra wide, and the G-2 and G-3 tines range from 8 1/8 inches to 14 7/8 inches. Adding in main beams that measure 29 5/8 on the right and 28 1/8 inches on the left create a whitetail rack that is more befitting of a small elk.

The buck sports matching drop tines, hence the nickname “Double D.” The drop tine on the right side is longer and drops down and away from the inside of the rack. Its mate on the left is shorter at 1 5/8 inches. Overall, the buck sports 8 non-typical tines that total 33 4/8 inches. When added to the typical net of 169 3/8 inches, it yields 202 7/8 in the net non-typical score. The buck is one of the top non-typicals killed in the state for the 2006-07 season.

Master Wildlife artist Steve Kinker created another breathtaking mount for Greg Hopper. Jennings County has long been known as one of the premier counties for huge-racked bucks in Indiana. It has coughed up at least three 190-class typicals, proving that some of its bucks have excellent antler genetics. The Double D buck is yet more proof of this fact.

Hopper’s buck follows only James Waltermire’s 209 7/8 typical shotgun buck from 1985, proving that some of Jennings County’s bucks have excellent genetics. Jennings County has produced several huge typicals over the years as well.

In the mid-1990s, two huge typicals came out of the county. The famous “Six Mile Creek” buck, found dead in the spring of 1996, tallied right at 198 0/8 as a typical. Walter Johnson’s tremendous buck netted over the 190-class magical mark as well. Another noteworthy firearms buck from the 1990s is Dennis Day’s 179 3/8 typical shotgun trophy. Let’s not forget Chris Fischvogt’s fine buck from last year as well (featured in July 2007 Indiana Game & Fish), which scored 190 4/8 in the non-typical category.

Jennings County lies in the middle of some of Indiana’s most famous deer-hunting country in Zone 5. The hills and hollows make this region well known in the state’s deer-hunting circles. These areas offer whitetails (and other game species) excellent habitat. This section contains fine “escape” cover, which helps savvy bucks to live longer and to grow bigger racks.

The 4,181-acre Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA), Brush Creek FWA (1,841 acres) and Selmier State Forest (355 acres) offer three public-land hunting opportunities in the county. All three of these areas are managed by the Department of Natural Resources.

Hopper’s double drop-tine buck is proof positive that this area does grow big-antlered deer. Greg Hopper was lucky and skilled enough to be in the right place at the right time when his giant buck came by. Congratulations to a hunter most deserving of this great trophy whitetail!