Big Bob

Time: Afternoon

Gun: Thompson Center Encore 50cal Muzzleloader

Bullet: 240 gr sabot

Sights/Scope: Open Sights

Distance of the Shot: 50 yards

Taxidermy: Scorza Brothers Taxidermy – Rochester, NY

I shot “Big Bob” on the Estes Farm. Bob Estes was the founder of the New York State Big Buck Club. This Buck was shot on his farm and was named after him. Bob Estes passed away February 13, 2024, he was 89yrs old. We were hunting a small swamp when this buck and six doe popped out. We saw where they went and hopped in the truck and headed a half a mile down the road to get ahead of them. After four of us set up around the buck, our buddy Tom pushed the buck and six doe out of a small ravine.

The big buck left his doe and ran across a cut corn field right to me. I was behind a large down tree. He stopped at 50 yards and offered me a quartering shot. In those days, scopes were not allowed in the late season. So, using open sights, I remember my front pin nearly covered his whole chest. Through the smoke, I heard the thud of the bullet as it hit his front shoulder. He struggled to run with a broken shoulder and died in the field within 75yds. He was the biggest buck taken in New York State with a muzzleloader in 1999!

-David Steele

Bob Estus Obituary: https://alhartfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/5379422/Estes-Robert/index.php

New York State Big Buck Club: https://www.nysbigbuckclub.com/history.html