Dan Ladd

A massive white-tailed buck taken Nov. 4 in Ulster County is rumored to have record book potential in the bow typical category, considering it is eventually scored by the New York State Big Buck Club.
The buck, which had 16 scorable points and grossed 208-3⁄8 -inches using the Safari Club International scoring system rather than Boone and Crocket – was taken by life-long hunter Mike Betanzos Jr., of Plattekill. Betanzos, however, while thrilled with the outcome of the hunt, is more concerned about passing the heritage of hunting onto his children and others, and putting food on the table.

For several years John Dixson – a farmer, landowner and hunter in New York’s Southern Washington County – has utilized the state’s Deer Management Assistance Program to help keep white-tailed deer populations in check on his farmlands in Easton.
Dixson, however, said he was caught off guard this year as his DMAP applications were denied and it was suggested that he rather enter the state’s Deer Damage Permit (DDP) program, also known as “nuisance” permits.