I saw a link to the recovery video of the Rompola buck posted on another message forum, and wondered if anyone has heard anything new lately.

The last thing I heard is that Rompola signed a contract with the promoters of the Hanson buck that he will not make any claim that his is the world record unless and until the Hanson buck is beaten.

Steve

That is the last I have heard here in Michigan. I see no reason to disbelieve the man. He has shot lots of huge deer here.

If he had the new world record and took it legally then why would he sign a contract like that? Sounds a little fishy to me.

I've kind of wanted to believe the buck is real. Since he comes off to most people as an odd kind of guy, that only adds to the mysteriousness of his claim. I know he has killed other "book" bucks, yet doesn't seem to use them to seek fame. His nature seems to be pretty reclusive, so I suppose a recluse might act very different from the rest of us.

Maybe someday we'll know more about this. If he actually has the record, I wish it would be determined. The only scenario I can see is that if the Milo Hanson buck gives up the title to a buck that is not as big as the Rompola buck, it will free Rompola to make his claim. Or, if Rompola sells the antlers to someone else, that person might be free from the contract with the Hanson people. Either way, records are made to be broken, so someday it will probably be a moot point.

Steve

You hit the nail on the head with recluse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought this buck had been discredited? Is the claim still hanging around about new world record?

recluse????

I don't think so! Recluses do not hang around malls with cameras hidden in shopping bags to photograph under the skirts of underage girls... Do not remember if he was convicted or just entered a guilty plea...
art

I'm gonna go steal the head..

I had heard he was accused of something like that, but I didn't know any specific charges. If that's true, it supports the view that he was/is a recluse. A guy like that wants to look, but he doesn't want a relationship.

Steve

Good luck, tomahawk! Let us know how it turns out.

Steve

Someone plese correct me if I'm wrong, but (first question) I don't think it was ever discredited. However, it looks bad that he never allowed it to be "credited" or authenticated.

And (second question), the claim isn't hanging around because a contract made the claim go away. Once the terms of the contract no longer apply, the claim could be made again.

I didn't really want to re-open this issue. I was just wondering if there was anything new since I'd last heard anything a couple of years ago. Apparently the contract he made with the Hanson people makes sure there is nothing new.

Steve

anybody got a pic of this buck?

Here is a link that gives some of the history, including a link to a large photo:
A good Rompola archive. It supposedly beats the Hanson buck by more than 5 inches.

Steve

I am fairly certain there has NEVER been a B&C buck killed in Grand Traverse Co. where Mitch claims to have killed the buck. If there is one, it was taken MANY decades ago. His story don't add up...

I think Grand Traverse County is just below the dent separating the little finger from the rest of the mitten. By the looks of all the white counties around there, you're right. 'Course, that doesn't mean a booner could never come from there. I could point out a county in Pennsylvania that is also white, indicating an absence of any B&C bucks, but a buddy of mine killed one there inNovember, '05 -- 189 4/8 non-typical that was accepted into B&C in May, 2006.


Sorry for the huge map. I hate it when other people post giant photos, but it's not mine; I just linked to it.

Steve

He got paid for it.

Now, therefore, in lieu of litigation, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

GV

Yep. I think it was probaly a game farm deer, doctored antlers or both.

Actually, that makes the most sense of any theory -- although that's not to say I support that view. I don't support any view. I'm only asking questions. There have been B&C scorers who have scored the rack, even though Rompola never submitted it for B&C entry. (Whether their score was "official" or not, I don't know.) And Deer & Deer Hunting magazine did a story -- as I remember, they believed it was not a set of doctored antlers. Might be interesting to go back and read that again.

But a game farm? Possibly -- that would require accomplices. We'll probably never know much more than we do now until Rompola is gone, and that would require the rack to "outlive" him.

Anyway, it sounds like old Mitch made out OK if he received "good and valuable consideration" to shut up.

Steve

If I recall correctly, wasn't the skull plate covered in Bondo or something simlar when it was scored unofficially? From what I read on the forums, the whole incident stank to high heaven including the signing of the contract...I mean why in heavens name would anybody sign such a contract unless it was to prevent the truth comming out? The people behind the Hanson buck could not have forced him to sign, but any action they could have taken if didn't would have meant the head would have come under more scrutiny...I suspect he simply signed to stop it being exposed as a fake..

Going from memory:

The rack was never scored, Mitch won't allow anyone near it. He signed the agreement with Hanson after Hanson threatened to sue him. The agreement states that if another deer is shot that is bigger then the Hanson buck Rompola will allow his rack to be scored.

Yes, the guy is a cetified pervert. he had a camera mounted in shoe, was filming up the dresses of young girls at a county fair. Haven't heard anything of him since he went to jail a few years back. He has some mental issues to say the least.

If you believe the articles that were written about him in bow hunting magazines over 15 years ago the guy is a hell of a bow hunter. He does his homework, only persues specific animals. He has shot some massive whitetails in Northern Michigan. He got busted for shining deer (IIRC he didn't have a bow or rifle in his vehicle) which has had a negitive impact on his creditability.

Actually, it was scored.....
http://www.record-eagle.com/sports/archive/08rompol.htm

The score sheet was never sent to any record-keeping organization. And the agreement between Hanson's sponsors and Rompola indicates it won't ever be.......until such time as another head beats Hanson's.

Rompola is a bit of a flake, and possesses some other fairly undesirable traits, the combination of which certainly makes him want to stay out of the limelight. A perfect set of circumstances to have that agreement signed for perhaps a pittance.

Nobody has proven it's a fake rack. Three measurers testify it's real. Hanson and Arkansas Seed Co. apparently think it's real.

GV

Steve,

Yes, it COULD happen, and I COULD win the lottery next week, but it aint very likely...especially for the LARGEST perfect typical WT EVER! I am very confident that record is not going to be broken with a deer coming from Grand Traverse county. Southern Mi--maybe, U.P.--maybe--Traverse City area--uh-uh no way.

I sure wanted it to be true when the whole thing started, but there is just TOO MUCH b.s. surrounding it. Mitchy could have settled this long ago if it was legit. One guy offered him $10,000 just to have it x-rayed. If I had nothing to hide, that would pay for a couple nice hunts...

I do like that map though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You know, boys, ain't this whole deal kind of sad. We all enjoy deer hunting and would like to kill a nice buck. But with all the back stabing, fraud charges and counter charges, cheat and general nastiness that comes about along with pettiness and egos.

Every one of us would like to kill a nice head. All would like to kill a super nice head. But when I see and read all the crap that goes along with it durned if I might think twice about showing it much.

Now I got some ratty old heads that are pretty nice to me and you couldn't buy them for a hundred dollar bill. OTOH I am sure some of you got lots better on your wall and I wouldn't give you a nickel for them because they are not mine.

Mixing up money in something that is just supposed to be fun and satisfying is just sad to me.


BCR

Lots of truth in what you said. Money tends to mess up our value system. Good post.

Steve

This buck named "Wide Load" is at a game farm in Ohio . He looks really familar with the tines tiped out and all he scores 210 @ 3 years old . I'd like to trace his blood line. Wonder what his grandaddy looked like in say 1998. They keep pretty strict records so it would be possible. Good hunting KHH

Thanks for clearing that up. Shows what can happen to someones memory <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Steve, Rompola has shot some monster Whitetails proir to this buck. I don't have a copy of Commemorative Bucks of Michigan, at one time he had a few bucks in the record book. They may have been deleted due to his shining situation. Shining was a popular way to scout deer when he got busted (early 80's). You have to remember we didn't have trailcams and other "hi-tech" equipment back then.

WHen my buddy had his archery shop , here in michigan back in the mid 80s, we had a few small shows, and Mitch brough some of his deer heads to them. he gave some talks about sents, hunting large bucks ect. seemed like a nice guy, he held some state records back than.

You guys find it odd that in a county that has only a few B&C bucks he took pretty much all of them? He is a lying fool.
He was shooting his mouth off about his world record buck and the Hanson attorny's told him to put up or shut up. he took the latter and lost his chance at making a lot of money and respect because he couldnt muster up the proof that it was legit

You don't have a clue how serious he was about bow hunting. Calling him a fanatic is an understatement. He'd only target big deer. I've read stories about how he hunts. Don't know if their true. If they are his life was consumed with hunting large bucks, not unlike hunters you see on TV today.


This guy is a few fries short of a happy meal, elevator doesn't make it to the top floor, lights are on no one's home. IIRC he was trying to get full disabilty retirement from the post office due to a mental condition. His creditability was shot (like it wasn't already damaged) with the dealings of this buck. Sure wish someone would shoot a buck that beats Hansons so we could put this to rest for ever..................

BCR,
Right on..

I get so nausiated when reading all of the crap the goes on with these big bucks, I just quit reading so I can keep my own good perspective.
Good post BCR!!!!!

Don

Al,

I am keenly aware of Rompola's history. Been to his seminars...used to think he was the real deal. There is also a book out there called "Whitetail Masters" by Dan Bertalan (recognize that name in the Rompola saga?) that shows some of the other big bucks Mitch has taken. One looks like a younger version of his supposed record buck. Also, the guy who offered the $10,000 for the x-ray was an enemy named Craig Calderone from down near Jackson. Craig and Mitch traded state records a bit. Craig was also busted and dethroned for spotlighting with a weapon in the vehicle in Nov. It is all sickening. I'm happy shooting little bucks and does up north (where there are no trophy bucks) with my longbow--that is my challenge <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If any of you visit Grand Traverse County, you will realize how rediculous it really is for Mitch to have done what he used to claim.

Hear from a reliable source, that Rompola did his hunting on the border of a reserve, that did not allow tresspassing. Think it was a Air Force Base, or something like that.

Anybody know this for a fact?

Just think how embarassing it would be to have your name in a record book with a pervert!!!

Done! And here it is! I found this on another board -- It's safe to say this buck will never be beaten! Is that Rompola's little brother? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Steve

Seems to me that with all the BS around trophy heads, if I ever shoot one that is world record class, I don't think any one will know but me.

You said a mouthfull right there. The more I see of the "Super Trophy" game the less I like it.


I reckon there is a mint of money to be made by the fellow that kills one. Endorsements and books and picture rights and all.

Now I like money as well as the next fellow down the pike but I will tell you something.

There ain't enough money in the world to buy my honor.

What I mean is nobody could offer me enough money to where I'd have to look myself in the mirror every morning and know I was a lying, cheating, whole cloth SOB for taking it. Over a dead animal to boot.

I believe most everybody posting here feels the same way.

At least I sure as heck hope so.

BCR

I dont see how the buck could score that high... isnt there something about the width score cant be more then a main beam length????

Everyday Hunter....is there a map like the one you showed us for mule deer too? Thanks.

With you on that one Boggy a 100+ percent!!!

Did it once, WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!!

Even had a couple of guys question me to the point of they were wanting to know the exact spot I shot the buck. I got the impression they assumed there would be another standing in the exact same hoof prints as the former.

It is SUPPOSED to be a celebration of a great animal specimen, not a study in human foibles.

There isn't an Air Force base in that area. If there was us wingnuts would have had exclusive hunting rights. I was stationed at a SAC base on the east side of the state. We had a big area behind the base that was almost landlocked, limited public access. We could get into the area easily from the base.


Steve, I thought Rompola hunted more towards Kalkaska County. I kinda figured it's not impossible to find an isolated area hold a big deer. Presque Isle County (where I did a ton of hunting) isn't known for big bucks but thought of as a sleeper. I've seen some nice bucks taken up there. I knew of two that might have ranked well for the county. I never got a glimpse of either while hunting. My wife had seen one on two different occasions without firing a shot. Both most likely died of old age. I've got a good story to tell you about that next time we get togeather to shoot. Heck you've got some nice bucks east of you over by Atlas or Goodrich.

Thanks for the AF Base info! Tried to find out, but could never find listing or map that showed as such.

There may had been a radar sight in that area but it wouldn't take up more than 10 acres.

Al,

A shooting session would be a welcome change...

I sure hope you are right about the folks who post here. Where I live, there are some very nice bucks, no secret about it. No denying it, I would love to take one of book size. But, it would be seen by my family and close friends only. One guy in the small group I hunt with has a HUGE buck he shot a few years ago. Ethics of officially scoring it vice just the bunch of us admiring it were discussed. Unanimous decision, no scoring done.

Have entered a few and have quite a few that were scored and made book that I did not enter. May not enter any more. With that as the starting point, I shot a Sitka deer in '98 that made the Awards book. It also won a local big buck contest.

Found myself at the kill site with slide film that requires processing out of state. There were some delays getting prints made. A jealous co-worker, wannabe trophy hunter went to the store sponsoring the big buck contest and told him I had bought the antlers at a garage sale. As proof he pointed out I always have pictures of my critters, but I could not come up with any of this one...

When I talked to him about it he said it was impossible for me to have killed as many big deer as I had because he had never even seen a single Booner after hunting one week per year for about four years. I only averaged 3 or 4 weeks per year for almost 15 years at that point...

Trophy scoring affects the way a lot of folks think... And not usually for the better...
art

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Some guys deserve to be punched out....

Don

The hunters here in MI kept a pretty close eye on this whole thing and here are a few facts that you might not know.

1. Milo Hansen ask Mitch to either register the buck at the new #1 world record or shut up. Mitch passed
2. Mitched was offered 10,000 to x-ray the rack, Mitch passed.
3. There is a guy named Calderone (missspelled Im sure) who was denied a #1 MI bow kill by Mitch a number of years back when Mitch was the pres of MI commeritave bucks and he along with Milo H were the ones who I was told offered Mitch the money for the x-ray.

I live in SW MI and go to Grand Travers county on a regular basis, I gotta tell ya that if there was a 12 point with a 3 foot spread running around by the airport it would have been seen.

My thought is just this, IF the buck was shot lighit as Mitch says, he knew what he had, right? So why didnt he go and get a CO right then and there for the recovery? Why didnt he take the deer to a locak sport shop when it was still soft and say "look what I just shot"? This is a guy who has been in the deer scoring business for years, he knows the deal.

No one wants to see a world record deer come from MI more than me. But the chances of that are slim at best. Bottom line is that Mitch was offered thousands SEVERAL times to prove the rack was real and said no every time. End of story.

PS, his family owns a deer farm in MO, dont know if that had anything to do with this or not.............

Of all the trials in life that test a man's character, I gotta say killing a monster deer should not be the hardest.

Still waiting to prove that to myself ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I lived in Grand Traverse county and there is no way that caliber of deer came out of there. I am alittle suprized that Mitch was the only one to see the deer. The average buck and I mean average buck being shot up there are 4 points and occasional 10 point scoring 140. Thats it....
Most of the bucks dont even get a change to live past 2 years


No way on Gods green earth that monster came from Norhtern Michigan. That is a pen deer.

It does seem as though he initially wanted the press and then as the scrunity increased he backed off from his claims. That would qualify as suspicious for me.

I followed this story for a while. Had all the mag articles and whatnot. The stories from AJ and the other Mich guys all seem very accurate from what I remember. Bottom line is this.............that guy is a deer hunting FANATIC and would love nothing more in life to hold the world record. If it was legit, he'd be kickin' Milo Hansen off his throne in a minute......2MG

As far as the deer coming from a deer farm I doubt that very much. A buck of that caliber would never be able to be kept secret and worth way more as a stud than an unclaimed or claimed for that matter WR.
As to wether the deer was faked, legit, we'll probally never know. I'd like to believe it but there is just too much BS involved, even beyond the deer itself, with Mitch for my BS radar not to be going off.

That's a pretty bold statement. How can you prove anything that you've claimed here? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I know I have no post count, but have followed this topic a little in the past.

I know we are not suppose to post another site link here, but this site has the edited version of the Rompola deer retrieval video.

http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/outdoors/urban-legends/mitch-rompola.html

My first observation is that the rear legs are unnaturally straight and appear stiff, almost like the deer had been hung by the rear legs and then stiffened up.

Also, the rack base color looked strange to me. Between the burr and the brow tine, the left side main beam looks imperfect (crooked) to me. I found it interesting that the tag was later installed there for the still picture (which the whole country later saw).

I also saw a pic on one of the sites, showing Rompola holding the detached rack with a super small section of skull plate (which looked modified to boot). With a deer rack that massive, wouldn't a past 'antler scorer' know the potential danger of a skull plate breaking in half? Myself, I would have assured enough skull plate to prevent any chance of breaking on a potential world record. But that's just me, and I am not even a registered scorer.

I know many posters who claim anyone who is skeptical of this Rompola trophy is just a jealous hunter. I myself am old enough to remember when Owen Walton was posted in many advertisements within some outdoor publications. His Boone and Crockett whitetail was later determined to be a pair of sheds that he did not even find! If I am a jealous hunter, what does that make him? A good dose of skepticism is healthy these days.

To me, the SILENCE and the signed deal with Milo Hanson (or is it Hansen?) speaks volumes.

MW

The man is a fraud, lets all just say it..... Rompola has had trouble in past with other things and doesn't have a spotless record. All he wanted was a quick pay day and it didn't work. .

I don't see why so many say it is impossible. It's not impossible by any means. We will probably never know the real story and the real results but, it could very well be a buck of world record size.

Just this season a guy killed a buck that scored 166 and weighed 211lbs very near to an area I hunt. To some of you that may not sound very big but, to the locals it sounds unbelieveable. The area is piney hills with very large bucks tipping the scales around 175 and scoring around 100-115 with a rare 130 incher taken once in a while.

Near another area I hunt (Piney hills as well) a hunter bagged a buck said to be a State record typical contender in the 180s. Thats over 40" larger than most monster bucks taken in that area. Anything can happen.

If a buck gets proper nutrition and is allowed to grow until he reaches his full potential, anything can happen.

Reloader7RM

Reloader-
I don't know if the post was towards me, but I do believe the typical world record will be beaten in the future. I sure hope he comes from Iowa....

My question is: Do you actually think the typical world record was beaten in this case?

I am sorry, but the individual's character has to be included in the equation. I am sure there were several witnesses and pictures of the Hanson buck. I am sure they had been checked over very carefully, as they should have been.

I know, Mitch is a recluse, and really could care less about the score or it's position in the record books. That's why he was a certified antler scorer, because he cares nothing about scores.

My understanding is that Mitch pulled this new world record out of the woods himself. Wouldn't someone involved in officially scoring deer know about the scrutiny involved in a world record class deer?

I heard he had a tiffle with Boone and Crockett too. Why not enter the buck in Pope and Young?. That would show them. Interestingly, this bad blood with B&C could be looked at as a motive.

Also, did you hear the 'recluse' narrate the retrieval video? Sounded very well spoken to me. Not to mention the product endorsements he already had, before 'taking' this deer.

Many Rompola supporters state he may be the best Whitetail hunter on earth. How does that equate into his credibility?
I contend there may be some fine deer hunters in the local penitentiary....doesn't mean they are not criminals in my eyes.

Again, I am guilty of posting a link, but check out the author's view on pictures posted of the deer, taken in 1997.

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/trophybucks/naw_aa203rumors/index.html

We bring in non-resident bowhunters here in Iowa. Our best typical to date with a bow was over 183+ net, taken by a gentleman from New Jersey. Yes, we had lots of the 'evidence' that was required. This fiasco is the reason Record book entries require so much red tape. I really don't have a problem with any of that, but then again, the hunt was perfectly legal.
MW

Excellent background information -- thanks for posting the link. Wittington is very careful to avoid what lots of people are guilty of. Most people fail to make the distinction between evidence and proof. There is lots of evidence against Rompola having taken the world record buck, and much of that evidence is regarded by many as proof. But, it's only evidence.

Although it is true that lots and lots of evidence does not necessarily rise to the level of proof, it is also true that one may draw some common sense conclusions from overwhelming evidence. Ultimately, the burden of proof is on Rompola, and so far he has not supplied any more proof that he shot a world record than I have. I'd like to believe his story, but the bottom line is that he won't let me.

If the deer is from a deer farm, someone else knows about it. If it is a fabricated set of antlers, it must be a dang good job, and it's likely that someone else knows about it. In either case, something is keeping the other person quiet. If this buck is a fraud, my guess is that the reason they're keeping quiet is that they were complicit in the fraud.

One telling point in the article linked to above is that Rompola can't say he isn't interested in scores. He was an official scorer, for goodness sakes, And he has entered bucks into the Michigan book. And he bragged that his buck would outscore the Hanson buck. Rompola is (or at the time he shot the buck was) very interested in antler scores.

Is he a good hunter? Undoubtedly. Is he a great hunter? Probably. But this whole thing makes me wonder if some of the other bucks he has killed may have been faked -- kind of a trial run for the big scam. Hope not.

Steve

I don't think so. I think it was toward 12 point, as was my post.

It's foolish for anyone to say where the next world record buck will or will not be killed. You don't always need famland to grow big bucks. Did Jim Jordan's early 20th century northern WI 206" monster live off of corn, alfalfa and soybeans?

I'm not Rompola's lawyer and the whole thing undoubtedly is fishy. But, I just am dumbfounded when anyone says a certain place can NEVER produce a record book buck. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Is it possible? Sure. Is it likely? No. There is a better chance of finding Jimmy Hoffa than finding a deer like that in Grand Traverse County. It is hard for me to believe in 6 years no one saw that deer except for Rompola. The deer was allegedly shot in an area of town where there is a lot of foot and car traffic. If he can find Hoffa, then maybe I will be a true believer and sing the praise of the mythical buck and the man with the golden bow.

Everyday Hunter-
I did not want to come across like my thoughts were to be considered anything close to proof. It's just that none of the excuses given by Rompola seem valid to me.

On other sites, every time someone smells do-do over the whole Rompola deal, 10 posters jump on and say some hunters are just jealous because they cannot take a deer like that. Gimme a break.

I do suspect that if you found all the illegal entries in B&C and P&Y, the book would be a whole lot smaller. This would include fabricated racks, poached deer, and deer taken by 'other' legal methods.

Around here, folks have been known to take 140 class bucks legally with their shotguns, wait a couple of years, then enter them in Pope and Young book. Have no idea why.

I have (with bow) taken bucks over the 125 inch P&Y minimum (has that min. changed yet). I have no desire to enter these deer at all. But I will say, if I shot a deer anywhere close to a world record, the helicopters with movie cameras would be called in for the retrieval of the animal. Even if I chose not to enter the buck into the book (I suspect I would), plenty of witnesses would be there.

In one of the pro-Rompola articles, Mitch claimed to have shot his first P&Y 150+ buck when he was 9 years old. First off, I would want to see when it was entered into the books. When he was 10 years old? Or many years later.

Rompola has chosen his 'right to remain silent'. He has signed away his priviledge to the world record typical. Either he is not thinking clearly now, or he suddenly came to his senses a few days after all the media attention in 1998.

I agree with you EverydayHunter, makes you wonder about his other 'supposed' trophies.

MW

Mike:
I was not implying that you were one of the people who confuse evidence with proof. Actually, most of us do that from time to time on various issues. I think you and I are on the same page here. The link you provided pretty much sums it all up. Thanks again.

Steve

Back in the early 80's the company I worked for built a machine assembly plant in an industrial park on the backside of Traverse City Airport. I had to make a few trips up there to disassemble machines for shipping. I don't recall the area being condusive to holding big bucks.

I'd hear of big bucks being seen by UPS drivers, postal employees, auto-part delievery drivers, utility repairmen (phone/electric) etc. Can't say it didn't happen but I tend to think someone else would have caught a glimpse of a buck this size.

Steve-
I did not take your post that way at all. I just wanted to put out a blanket statement covering all my biased rantings and ramblings.

Here is a link to a pro-Rompola article (which I again should not post):

http://groups.msn.com/TheMichiganHuntingandFishingClub/thestory.msnw

The first thing I notice is that Mitch appears to use this synthetic deer lure year 'round. Some of these scrapes were 12 ft square throughout the year. There are 'scrapes' like that around Iowa as well. Except we call them mineral licks and salt licks. But around here they are considered illegal to hunt around.

Unrelated, I was thumbing through an old Rompola article in D&DH Sept. 2003. This article had all kinds of trophy deer Mitch had taken 'since' the controversial 1998 buck. Interestingly, the pictured bucks also had some scores shown. I thought Mitch did not care about scores anymore.

I thought Mitch wanted to just be left alone, which is why he signed the contract concerning the Hanson buck. How did Deer and Deer Hunting magazine get all that info on his (then) recently taken deer? For a recluse that did not care about what other people thought, the article sure looked like a grasp for some credibility.

The contradictions seem endless.

I could be wrong about the whole hoax, but I really hope I am not. This whole deal makes me appreciate Milo Hanson as the hunter that harvested the typical World Record Whitetail.

MW

Mike,

Mitch had endorsement deals set up ahead of time with CSS (bow), Buck Fever (the synthetic lure you mentioned), and ScentLok. None of those places have anything to do with him now, but all of them were fledgling companies at the time of the "kill"...

He WAS very interested in fame and scores but it made it more legendary for him to be a recluse.

Remember fellas, there has NEVER been a B&C buck taken from Grand Traverse county. So, all of a sudden it produces the largest typical of all time...I don't think so. AND, for all of you guys that say there is this secret cult of trophy hunters up there that doesn't enter their deer in the book...that is not how it is done up there ;~)

SteveO-
You mentioned in a past post that Craig Calderone got busted last November for jacklighting with a weapon.

It sounded like Rompola and Calderone had quite the rivalry. Almost like each would do whatever it took to get one up (whether legally or illegally). Calderone gets busted spotlighting, after wanting to pay to prove Rompola's buck was a hoax (by X-ray).

I have always heard that when something doesn't seem quite right, it usually isn't. No different than steroid use in athletes or getting caught not passing tech in racing.

If Rompola refuses to X-ray the rack, doesn't that kinda (almost) narrow it down to the possibility of fabricated horns? If the deer was pen-raised, why would he be afraid of the X-ray?

Just by watching the video, my farfetched 'theory' is that the mainbeam was lopped off about 3 inches from the base (on the deer that actually was shot). Then another couple of modified horns were attached from there. This would explain the freakish spread of the rack, as well as the wide distance between the brow tines (too far up main beam). Looking at the rack, the portion from the base burr to the brow tine is unusually dark, which would account for staining the area where the 12 pt rack extension was attached. This would make the skull plate appear normally attached as well.

Is there any evidence to date that would nullify my theory?

MW

Mike,

CC got busted in a November MANY years ago...he doesn't even hunt anymore, apparently the "business" of trophy bucks got to him. He has a whitetail museum and charges people to see his penned up bucks. One day I will have to stop in and ask a few questions.

They had a FIERCE feud going; exactly how you pictured it.

There are many theories on how the fraud was done; I don't pay that much attention anymore. But, like the car wreck, I just had to look here. It boggles my mind that people, after all the time Mitch has had to prove he was legitimate, actually still believe he is being truthful. He has not done one thing to prove his honesty and the folks that were greasing the wheels on the money train are LONG gone.

If I shot the world record whitetail, I would have no problem letting anybody x-ray it, dna test it, give me a lie detector test, whatever...but I would not have anything to hide. $10,000 to x-ray my deer...line 'em up, everybody can do their own ;~))

Regurgitated for overmax.

Last April 1st........they announced the Rompola buck is now the legitimate world record.

Happens every year......right around the same time.

Who is "they"?

"they" being the people who alwayss stir [bleep] on Aprril 1st

Interesting to see this churned up. I think he was an excellent bow hunter and if he shared what he knew, a lot could be learned. That said, I don't believe for a minute this buck was legitimate. Too many red flags that can't be explained.

I pulled out my MI record book and a few facts about him and the area (as of the #8 edition). He does still hold the largest bow killed typical whitetail in Michigan with a score of 181 7/8 in 1985, claimed to have been killed in...Grand Traverse County. In the 150 largest typicals killed by bow, only one other is from Grand Traverse County, the #87....from Rompola in 1982. The vast majority are from the southern lower peninsula. There is not one non-typical in the top 150 from there. In the all time scores in Grand Traverse, there are only four bucks scoring over 160, two of them from Rompola. And two that qualify for B/C, his 1985 buck and another that scored 174 5/8 killed in 1976 during firearm season. Defiantly not the place you'd think the world record would be lurking. I always thought this raised some good points:

http://216.92.51.156/rompolagate.html

http://216.92.51.156/rompolagate2.html

i read someplace Hansen paid Rompola not to have his buck scored and had him sign a form he would not have this buck scored while he was still alive, so when Mitch Rompola dies those buck antlers then can be legally scored by his son. maybe Rompala made enough quick money that he did feel it was a better deal for his family ? i have read a lot about the Rompola buck ,even a game warden from the area said that buck was taken legally, is not a farm deer and Mitch Rompola did shoot this huge buck with his bow. yes it is a true world record and maybe this way: this old bowhunter Mitch Rompola still gets plenty frame for killing this true giant record antlered buck with a bow ? here is another question > why would Hansen be so worried ? reason is because Hansen knows the Rompola buck is the true world record typical Whitetail buck.

Very eye opening article. Thanks for sharing

Read the link M1 Garand posted and then you'll stop posting your nonsense

OH ITS TRUE ! i don`t trust Hansen either seems strange Hansen paid Rompola to keep quiet ?

Even stranger is the fact that if he had a legitimate world record, he didn't tell him where to stick it because he could've cleaned up. $20,000 just to have it x rayed in addition to numerous endorsement deals for every piece of clothing and gear he used.

i wonder if that was part of the agreement Hansen had Rompola sign to get the money no nothing could be done which probably included x-rays ? Hansen was and is making alot of money every year off his world record buck so he probably gave Rompola a lot of money to keep quiet too ?

Here's my take on this whole mess, I am not a trophy hunter BTW, but I do follow rules .
Something is not a record unless it was done in a match, a race , or registered with the particular governing body , in this case the Boone and Crocket Society.

That bloody deer is NOT the world record unless that has happened , no matter how big it is .
Was this buck actually registered and in the book?
I'm betting no or it in fact would be recognized.
This whole mess stinks as bad as the the other big scandals put there people got caught at trying to make big bucks and a name for themselves - like Kirk Darner !
Cat

I dunno but I doubt it would even be close to what he would have made with endorsements and appearances.

Lived in Michigan quite some time. Most of it was when all this Rampola mess started. As far as I know it never was offically scored and did not get scored by a panel neither Pope and Young or Boone and Crocket which all "Worlds Records" need to be offical. Or Commemorative
Bucks of Michigan for that matter. How many inches would be lost due to shrinkage after all these years?