Burt Eichstaedt’s 6-pointer had a final net score of 155 4/8 typical inches. The inside spread was 21 6/8 inches, while the main beams measured 28 4/8 and 29 inches long. Photo courtesy of Burt Eichstaedt.

The words “6-pointer” and “monster buck” usually aren’t used in the same sentence. A “6-pointer” usually conjures up an image of a cute little basket-racked buck. However, the 6-pointer that Waukesha County bowhunter Burt Eichstaedt arrowed last fall is definitely a monster buck. Not only does Eichstaedt’s buck meet the Pope and Young Club’s minimum score of 125 inches, but also it exceeds it by a whopping 30 inches. In fact, this buck very well could be the biggest basic 6-pointer ever killed in North America with a bow or gun!

It was an early-season bowhunt on Sept. 30 last year that would end up as the most memorable hunt of Eichstaedt’s life. It was cloudy and warm as the hunter reached his stand around 5 p.m. The property Eichstaedt hunts is basically a 35-acre field -- not exactly the kind of parcel that bowhunters dream about. To make things even more challenging, the area gets a lot of hunting pressure. But Eichstaedt has hunted this farm for six years, and despite the tough hunting conditions, he has taken a few does and a nice 10-point buck from the property.

Last year, the field was planted with corn and pumpkins. Eichstaedt’s stand is located in a corner of the field where several deer trails come out. It’s a good evening stand because deer are coming out of their bedding areas to feed in the field.

After about 45 minutes on stand, Eichstaedt noticed rain showers approaching from the west. Not wanting to sit in the rain, the bowhunter decided to get down from his tree and head back to his truck. After waiting out the downpour for about 15 minutes, Eichstaedt saw clear skies and headed back out to resume his hunt. It wasn’t much later when a few does came out to feed on the pumpkins, but they were acting nervous and soon headed back into the woods.

That’s when things really started to get interesting.

“At 6:20, a 10-pointer came out of the woods and trotted right toward me, stopping 20 to 30 yards away,” Eichstaedt described. “I drew back my nine-year-old High Country Extreme to take the shot and noticed the deer glancing back toward the woods he had come from.”

Still drawn back, Eichstaedt looked in the same direction the 10-pointer was looking. That’s when the bowhunter saw an even bigger buck standing at the edge of the woods. Although he didn’t realize at the time that it was only a 6-pointer, the buck’s frame was much bigger than the P&Y-class 10-pointer he had drawn back on. In fact, Eichstaedt recognized the buck as one he had seen just a week earlier, and thought it was a huge 8-pointer.

As Eichstaedt let back down on his bow, the bigger buck trotted down the hill and stood broadside next to the 10-pointer.

“I drew my bow back again, but both deer started quartering away from me,” Eichstaedt said. “As the 10-pointer stopped, the bigger one took a few more steps. I thought it was a 30-yard shot, but my arrow went right beneath the front right shoulder. I couldn’t believe I missed such a big buck!”

As luck would have it though, the buck ran about 10 yards and stopped, while the 10-pointer walked along the tree line right past Eichstaedt’s stand. The bowhunter reached into his quiver for another arrow, because he was amazingly going to get a shot at the 10-pointer.

“By the time I turned to my right to take a shot, the deer was too close to the tree line,” Eichstaedt said. “Branches and leaves blocked my shot. I turned my head to see where the monster 6-pointer went, and it was headed my way, following the 10-pointer!”