Archery season is just around the corner and although the weather may not act like it, the calendar is proof that it is time. Today it’s all deer talk.

In Wisconsin, the 2025 general archery and crossbow deer season runs from Sept. 13, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026. In some metro areas you can hunt until Jan. 31, 2026. 

The first state-sanctioned archery deer season was held in 1934, though it was limited to a five-day period in Sauk and Columbia counties. No Wisconsinite harvested a deer that year. While it was Wisconsin's first official bow hunting season, the state had previously allowed bow hunting during the 1932 gun season. One individual archer, Roy Case, had been permitted to hunt with a bow in 1930. There is no report on whether or not he was successful so I’m saying not.

Kwik Trip and Culver’s are Wisconsin and so is the Jordan Buck. For those of you not familiar with the story, here is the Cliff notes version.

THE LEGENDARY JORDAN BUCK 

1914 Danbury, Wisconsin

James Jordan, age 22, was out hunting with a friend by the Yellow River near Danbury. Jordan shot a doe and his friend offered to carry it home while Jordan kept hunting. He tracked a deer into a tall grass area near a railroad. A train passing by startled a large buck and Jordan shot at it. A recent snowfall allowed the men to follow a fresh set of tracks which ultimately led to the world-record buck. Jim shot the buck with his .25-20 Winchester rifle and later recovered the deer in the middle of the Yellow River. George VanCastle, a local taxidermist, offered to mount the head. Months later “Jordan” returned to George’s place only to find that the taxidermist had moved away, leaving no sign of his trophy.

In 1958, a man named Bob Ludwig purchased the antlers for $3 at a garage sale. They remained in Bob’s garage until 1964, when he had them officially measured – 206 1/8 net typical. Then came an amazing coincidence. Bob, a distant relative of James Jordan, showed him the impressive antlers knowing that James was an avid hunter.

In 1968, the antlers were sold for $1,500 to a collector in New Hampshire. The trophy was remounted with a new cape.

In 1971, Boone & Crockett named the buck the world record; however, it wasn’t until December 1978 that James Jordan was recognized as the rightful hunter.

In 1977, after outdoor writer Ron Schara wrote about the buck in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Boone and Crockett Club reopened its investigation into Jordan's claim.

In 1978, B&C officials verified the story and acknowledged Jordan as the hunter and Burnett County as the location of the kill. Unfortunately, Jordan had passed away two months prior.

In 1993, after holding the top spot in B&C records for 29 years, the Jordan Buck was surpassed by Milo Hanson's 213-5/8 buck from western Saskatchewan, Canada.

In 2001, Bass Pro Shops purchased the Jordan Buck mount for an undisclosed amount. As part of a traveling collection of trophies, it is now viewed by thousands of sportsmen. 

2014 - 100th Anniversary of Jordan's landmark buck.

• 53-7/8 inches of mass/circumference measurements

30" main beams, even on both sides

• G1s - G4s: 7, 13, 10 & 7 inches
• Only 3-2/8 in symmetry deductions

The famous buck will be commemorated on Sept. 27, 2025, at the Fourth Annual Jordan Buck Day in Danbury. A parade will be followed by a town/area celebration including food trucks, vendor booths and entertainment. Check out the website or Facebook for the full event schedule.

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