Steven Calderwood's huge 11-point bow kill scores 167 6/8 gross B&C points. The G-2 measures 12 inches even! Photo courtesy of Steven Calderwood.

Steuben County is well known for producing plenty of bucks each deer season, plus some of New York's best gun bucks each year. In 2008, it would be a huge archery typical, a deer that just might be the Empire State's best archery typical buck of 2008!

Steven Calderwood and his wife, Deborah, residents of Prattsburgh, own Edge of Time Trading Post, a local archery and hunting pro shop. As one might guess, they are avid bowhunters! They practice and plan 12 months out of the year for just one moment -- a moment like Calderwood experienced in 2008!

Calderwood is no stranger to big bucks. He has been hunting since he was 12 years old and has taken several nice deer over the years. He shot a 152-inch typical 8-pointer with his bow in 2006 in southern Illinois, and a 135-inch non-typical in New Hampshire in 1994. Like most hunters, he has shot a good number of smaller bucks and many does, but since 2000, he and his wife have focused on only shooting 8-pointers (or better) that score at least 125. And, Calderwood has become exclusively a bowhunter.

THE WORK BEGINS
In summer 2007, the couple finally "bought the farm," 111 acres of overgrown fields, swampy woodlands, and neglected apple trees with a large, deep creek that runs along the entire back property line. Included were an old, gutted farmhouse and a decrepit barn. Calderwood's hunting seasons were usually spent on other people's land, both public and private. This would be the first time he owned enough land to hunt on, and he planned to maximize its potential.

Because they didn't close on the property until late summer, there wasn't much time for pre-season scouting. The couple really wanted to begin managing the land for wildlife but didn't want to push any deer out of their established bedding or feeding areas. So, they quickly installed a couple of tree stands on the edge of the fields, figuring the first season would be one of mainly observation.

They were pleasantly surprised with sightings of six to 10 deer every afternoon, with most coming into the fields to eat.

They were rewarded with two deer that first season, and were now well educated regarding the farm's deer movements. They were very much looking forward to planting food plots next year!

The Calderwoods worked hard on the farm during the summer of 2008. They allowed a neighbor to plant corn and to mow the fields in exchange for tilling the first food plot area, a one-acre stretch of turnips, brassica and clover on the edge of the wood line where the deer were coming out to feed.