Buck of the Week: Big first buck in Grundy County

Stephanie Cermak finished her schooling in deer hunting this fall.

The 26-year-old from Orland Park dropped a 10-point (broken points would have made it a 13-point) buck on the second day of firearm season in Grundy County.

“I had not seen anything all morning and could not wait to bring this one down when I spotted him over my right shoulder,” she emailed. “It was 8:45 am when I sighted in, about 180 feet out, and I hit him perfectly and was able to retrieve my reward with my Dad, Ron.”

The deer went to the taxidermist.

“It was only my fourth year out this year,” she emailed. “I like to think that I ‘graduated’ this year.”

BOTW is the celebration of big bucks taken by hunters around Chicago outdoors. Send nominations on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).