from the article:
Quote
But as Oregon State Police investigated the hunter in May 2018 in connection to other crimes, they learned the record-setting deer had been shot with a rifle.
Seems that the gentleman isn't an upstanding citizen. The police apparently had cause to look further.

“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell

It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.