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New State Record In Little Rhody
By Northeast Big Buck Club RI Regional Director Ernie LaFazia

WOW! A 15 POINT NON-TYPICAL—180 1/8”. What else could I have said when I first observed the new RI state record non-typical? NBBC Measurers Chairman Ed Klosowski brought the antlers to the NBBC Annual Awards Banquet in July for all of us to preview. As you might expect, we were shocked at the size of the rack and we do this would be a potential state record! So on August 16th a group of us got together to “panel score” the big rack, including Ed, Dick Patenuade, Mike Zannini and me. We got together at Byron’s Fin & Feather Lodge in East Greenwich, RI.

Bill Wira, the hunter who found the rack, was there watching as we scored his newest trophy. Bill has been hunting South County for years with bow and gun. One day in July he entered this big swamp that he hunts. As he was jumping from grass stump to grass stump he almost landed on this huge skull, antlers and remains. Apparently this magnificent animal had passed only 50 yards from his tree stand! Bill checked for any signs of arrow or gun damage but could not find any. Bill was excited because of his find but also felt as if he was robbed of a giant bow or gun harvest.

Bill was thrilled with the final score of this magnificent, which had seven points on the right side and eight on the left. At 180 1/8’’ gross non-typical, this is THE LARGEST RHODE ISLAND SET OF ANTLERS EVER OFFICIALLY SCORED FOR ANY ORGANIZATION! The final NBBC non-typical net score (after deductions) is 175 2/8”. Let’s look at a few of the numbers: The outside spread is a phenomenal 25+ inches. The inside spread is 20 5/8”. All of the typical tines measured between 5” and 7 6/8”, as this is not a “high rack.” But it has very good mass throughout, and it is complimented by five non-typical points that add 21 3/8” to the final score. Wow, what a trophy!

At 35 years old, Bill has many years ahead of him to try to “top” this set of antlers. Bill will probably have many dreams about how he will harvest the “offspring” of this monster. This set of antlers just shows all of us what kind of genes we have in this little and heavily populated state!

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