The deer hunter virtually each deer hunter has heard of has left the woods. Milo Hanson, the hunter who shot the world file whitetail on his personal land, handed away on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2026. Deer & Deer Searching journal, collectively along with his household and numerous pals, mourn his loss.
Milo Hanson — the person who by no means noticed superstar coming — grew to become an icon within the deer searching world with out even making an attempt. On Nov. 23, 1993, fame was thrust upon him, and he accepted it with out permitting it to alter the person he was — a humble, hard-working farmer. We overuse the phrase “salt-of-the-earth,” however Hanson was all that, and extra.
As we speak’s deer hunters can generate their very own star standing utilizing digital media. Some even aspire to world file fame utilizing each attainable benefit. They plant plots with crops that present most vitamin for deer. They shoot cull bucks on the speculation that they’re genetically inferior. They create habitat that produces the whole lot a deer wants each month of the yr. That’s not criticism of these practices, however an commentary that Milo Hanson’s file has stood for 33 years and counting, regardless of vital benefits at present’s hunters have.
Talking of criticism, nobody is above it, however Hanson has had his share of unfair criticism. His luck got here throughout a standard deer drive, which a couple of hunters think about unethical. By no means thoughts the truth that when Europeans arrived in North America, indigenous tribes had been utilizing deer drives. They even used fireplace to push deer to shooters. The lesson is that searching is searching and needs to be revered wherever and nonetheless it’s accomplished, as long as the strategies and practices honor the sport and are authorized and in step with prevailing legal guidelines.
Hanson capitalized financially on his world file buck. Nearly anybody with the identical alternative would have accomplished likewise, however few would have stayed so humble. His 213-5/8″ buck taken in 1993 has by no means been overwhelmed, however for him it wasn’t a one-off. The very subsequent yr he shot a second Boone & Crockett buck, once more on his personal land — a two-fer unlikely to be topped.
Hanson put his little city of Biggar, Saskatchewan on the map. With simply over 2,000 folks residing in fewer than 1,000 non-public properties, the city slogan, “New York Is Massive However This Is Biggar,” actually wouldn’t ring so true with out Milo Hanson.
The announcement of Milo Hanson’s passing has introduced renewed focus not solely to his stature as a hunter, but additionally to the type of man he was. Social media took the information with shock and reverence, and plenty of gave tribute.
A number of feedback from Hanson’s Fb pals:
Mike Charowhas — Milo won’t ever be forgotten, not just for his unimaginable whitetail that set the bar so excessive, however for the nice man he was, the kindness he carried, and the respect he confirmed to the searching custom and to others.
Gordon Whittington — In some ways, the right type of particular person to do what he did within the deer woods. Not solely was he a quiet, unassuming farmer, he remained one after fame discovered him. RIP, previous buddy.
John Hopkins — I used to be capable of meet Milo and his spouse at their residence in 2009. I simply flat out requested if there was any probability of seeing the deer. He was more than pleased to provide me instructions to his home. I acquired to see all of his trophies, acquired a couple of footage, and had an important go to for about an hour. His spouse gave me some contemporary cookies and off I went. He was a form and humble man.
Shaun Bitner — Nicely deserved true trophy, no sport cameras, no camo, no scents, no tree stand, only a hunter loving the game.
Numerous feedback echoed these sentiments from just about each social media deer searching group and dialogue discussion board. In a day when the deer searching world has grow to be consumed with file books and antler discuss infinitum, the person who stood on the middle of it since 1993 at all times remained the identical — a farmer, household man, and buddy to hundreds.
All the deer searching world extends sympathy to Olive Hanson, Milo’s devoted spouse and deer searching accomplice. And to their son Brad, whom Milo was intensely pleased with. Due to these two for his or her willingness to share husband and father with the deer searching world.
Relaxation in Peace, Milo. As you sit round a heavenly campfire with different deer searching legends, you have got our thanks not just for displaying us all what a white-tailed deer can grow to be, however particularly for being the person you had been. The remainder of us will go away the woods quickly.
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Steve Sorensen, aka “The On a regular basis Hunter,” is a long-time contributor to Deer & Deer Searching and speaks ceaselessly at sportsman’s dinners.
Additionally learn Dan Schmidt’s newest weblog on the deer drive that resulted in tagging the world’s greatest typical whitetail:
