The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught in Idaho

Idaho is a gorgeous state, known for its natural landscapes, wild beauty, and stunning waterfalls. The state is also home to the deepest canyon within North America. It should be no surprise that Idaho’s population is growing rapidly, drawing wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers from all over the U.S.

Beyond its raw beauty, Idaho is also an ideal location for hunters, particularly big game hunters. A diverse array of species populates the state, including the highly prized whitetail deer. The record-breaking bucks captured in Idaho aren't scored by their overall size, but rather by a series of antler measurements. The Boone and Crockett Club is responsible for carefully measuring all buck antlers.

This slideshow covers Idaho’s most notable whitetail deer harvests. We reveal the hunters behind the prize-winning bucks, as well as the process of measuring antlers and how officials score them. Let’s take a look at the Gem State’s biggest whitetail deer.

• 70 types of gemstones can be found in Idaho.
• The state is home to Hells Canyon, Shoshone Falls, and 107,000 miles of rivers.
• Idaho wilderness spans 4.8 million acres.

• Hunters love Idaho for its rich variety of wildlife.
• Species include bighorn sheep, moose, elk, whitetail deer, and bear.
• The state is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

• Whitetail deer mostly inhabit the area north of the Salmon River.
• Central and southern Idaho are full of mule deer.
• The state is home to some record-breaking bucks.

• The Boone and Crockett Club scores antlers according to a strict system.
• Measurements include tine length, spread, and symmetry.
• Records are labeled as typical or non-typical.

• Ronald M. McLamb holds the typical whitetail record at 186-7/8.
• Mark Schilling’s 2005 buck scored just 3/8 of an inch less.
• McLamb’s buck had long tines and impressive antler mass.

• Idaho’s non-typical whitetail record scored 267-4/8.
• The hunter’s identity was a mystery for decades.
• Ryan Hatfield launched an investigation to uncover the truth.

• Herman Lunders harvested the record buck in 1955.
• He shot it during lunch on a railroad job near Kamiah.
• The buck was mounted and eventually traced to Texas.

• Lunders wasn’t a trophy hunter—he provided for his family.
• He had 11 children and prioritized meat over antlers.
• His family shared detailed memories of the day.

• The Boone and Crockett Club updated its records in 2010.
• Herman Lunders was credited 55 years after the hunt.
• His story is now part of Idaho’s hunting legacy.

• Idaho’s forests and wilderness make it ideal for trophy bucks.
• Its whitetail hunting stories are legendary.
• A symbol of both tradition and record-breaking adventure.