Milo Hanson, the unassuming Saskatchewan farmer who secured his place in hunting history by harvesting the largest typical whitetail deer ever recorded, has passed away at 81. His remarkable achievement, which has stood unchallenged for more than three decades, continues to inspire hunters and wildlife enthusiasts across North America.
On a crisp November morning in 1993, Hanson’s life changed forever. On November 23, while hunting near his home outside Biggar, Saskatchewan, he downed a buck that would eventually score 213 5/8 inches net typical under the prestigious Boone and Crockett scoring system. The deer, taken with a .308 Winchester Model 88 rifle, remains the undisputed world champion among typical whitetails—a record that has defied expectations and outlasted countless contenders.
The trophy’s dimensions are nothing short of extraordinary. The inside spread measured an impressive 27 2/8 inches, while the greatest spread stretched beyond 29 inches. Each main beam reached 28 4/8 inches, and six of the ten primary antler points exceeded 11 inches in length. This combination of massive size and near-perfect symmetry created a specimen that experts still marvel at today.
Understanding the significance of this record requires knowledge of how trophy deer are classified. In Boone and Crockett terminology, a “typical” deer possesses antlers that are symmetrical and conform to the species’ natural, expected pattern. This differs from “non-typical” bucks, which feature irregular or additional points that deviate from the standard formation. The typical category is often considered the purest measure of a whitetail’s genetic potential and age, making Hanson’s record even more prestigious.
What makes Hanson’s achievement truly astonishing is its longevity. For over thirty years, his buck has maintained its position at the pinnacle of hunting records. It surpassed the previous world record—a 206 1/8-inch net typical taken by James Jordan in Wisconsin in 1914—by a substantial margin of 7 4/8 inches. This leap in record size was unprecedented and led many experts to believe it would be short-lived.
Gordon Whittington, former editor-in-chief of North American Whitetail magazine, reflected on this during the hunt’s 30th anniversary. “I didn’t think Hanson’s record would last this long,” he admitted. “I assumed that by now some other typical would have usurped him. Maybe even more than one.” Yet despite countless hunters pursuing dreams of trophy bucks across the continent, the record remains intact.
The Hanson buck has faced several challenges over the years, though none have succeeded in dethroning it. The most famous—and controversial—claim came from Mitch Rompola, who announced in 1998 that he had harvested a typical buck with a bow that allegedly scored 218 5/8 inches with an outside spread of 38 inches. Rompola later revised the score to 216 5/8 inches, but his refusal to submit the deer for official scoring and his apparent signing of an agreement to cease claiming it as a world record led many in the hunting community to dismiss the buck as a hoax. The controversy only served to strengthen the legitimacy and legendary status of Hanson’s achievement.
Perhaps the most endearing aspect of Hanson’s story is his genuine humility and lack of pretense. Unlike many trophy hunters who meticulously scout, measure, and anticipate record-class animals, Hanson had no idea what he had harvested. He was unfamiliar with antler scoring systems and had no indication that his buck might be extraordinary. After the hunt, the deer hung in a farm building for more than a week, completely unprotected, with not even a lock on the door. This unassuming treatment of what would become the world’s most famous whitetail has become part of the legend.
When news of a potential new world record first reached the hunting media, the reaction was immediate. Whittington recalled boarding a plane within two hours of hearing the rumor. Upon arriving at Hanson’s farm, he found the cape and head lying on the floor, treated with the same casualness as any other hunting harvest. “We were there more than 12 hours,” Whittington remembered, “and never did I even reach for a measuring tape. I didn’t need one to know we were staring at history in the making.”
The intensity of interest surrounding record-breaking deer was just as fervent three decades ago as it remains today. Television crews, magazine writers, and trophy hunters descended on the quiet Saskatchewan farm, transforming Hanson into an unlikely celebrity in the outdoor world. Yet through it all, he maintained his modest demeanor and continued working his land, never letting the fame change his fundamental character.
The question of whether the Hanson buck will ever be surpassed remains one of hunting’s great mysteries. Some experts believe that with improved wildlife management, selective harvesting, and advanced scouting technology, a larger typical buck must certainly exist somewhere in North America’s vast whitetail range. Others argue that the combination of genetics, nutrition, age, and luck required to produce such an animal is so rare that the record could stand for another generation or more.
What is certain is that Hanson’s legacy extends far beyond the score of his remarkable buck. He represents the everyman hunter—the farmer, the local sportsman, the person who ventures into the woods not for fame but for tradition, sustenance, and connection to the land. His story resonates because it proves that extraordinary moments can happen to ordinary people, often when they least expect them.
The record-setting deer has been immortalized in countless articles, television programs, and hunting lore. It has become the benchmark against which all other typical whitetails are measured, the dream that keeps hunters in their stands during cold November mornings, and the reminder that conservation and habitat management can produce truly spectacular results.
As the hunting community mourns the loss of Milo Hanson, it also celebrates a life well-lived and an achievement that will never be forgotten. His passing marks the end of an era, but his record—and the story behind it—will continue to inspire whitetail hunters for generations to come. Whether pursuing their own trophy dreams or simply enjoying time in nature, sportsmen and women will remember the humble Saskatchewan farmer who, with one perfect shot, etched his name permanently into the annals of outdoor history.