1991 Illinois Buck Verified as Largest U.S. Typical in Boone and Crockett Records

A whitetail taken in Illinois in 1991 has officially moved to the top of the U.S. typical category in Boone and Crockett's records. The club announced September 8 that the Sam Aiuppa/James Martin buck was verified at 207 7/8 inches. The news is the completed verification, not a deer harvested this season.

Sam Aiuppa killed the buck in late November 1991 during a pheasant hunting trip in LaSalle County. Its antlers spent 32 years on a plaque in his basement before an electrician noticed their unusual size. Collector James Martin later acquired them and arranged an official measurement.

After the initial submission, two additional Boone and Crockett Official Measurers independently remeasured the antlers. Dr. Jon McRoberts, chairman of the club's Records of North American Big Game Committee, reviewed the completed score charts and confirmed the score.

The buck now ranks ahead of the Jordan buck in the club's U.S. typical records and second worldwide behind Milo Hanson's 213 5/8-inch typical. That distinction is specific: it is not an overall record across typical and non-typical categories.

The club also notes that its $40 entry fee has been waived since January 1, 2026, through a donor's support. For hunters with an unmeasured set of antlers, this is a reminder that an old harvest can still add to the record. Official measurement and review, rather than a photograph or an informal tape job, establish where it belongs.