Richard Gates' 22-point Suffolk County non-typical gross-scored 208 5/8 Boone and Crockett points.

Any story about a 200-class buck from anywhere in North America will always get hunters' attention -- particularly if the deer's been taken with bow and arrow.

As I read the story and look at the pictures, I can almost put myself in the tree stand with the hunter and visualize the scene unfolding in front of my eyes.

As a die-hard bow-hunter, I can imagine myself in Kansas, Illinois or Iowa, drawing my bow and preparing for that moment of truth. It's the stuff of dreams.

In 2006, millions of bowhunters took to the woods with that same dream in mind.

A select few hunters had the "right stuff" to seal the deal and put an arrow in the boiler room -- while the rest of us will be haunted for the rest of their lives by missed opportunities.

During the 2006 season, only one hunter in the Empire State had the skill and good fortune to make that dream a reality.

He not only downed the biggest buck taken in the state last year, but it was the largest gross-scoring archery buck tagged in anywhere in the Northeast.

THE GATES BUCK
Richard Gates has been hunting deer for many years, primarily in his home state of New York. During his hunting career, he has taken more than his share of deer, including some very good bucks.

In 2002, he took a very impressive 18-pointer in Suffolk County that scored 162 4/8 net non-typical Pope and Young points.

As he entered the 2006, season he could not have known that he was about to improve his personal best by more than 30 inches!

Gates first saw the huge buck from about 100 yards away, during an afternoon tree-stand hunt in late October 2006. That one look was all he needed -- he was hooked!

He hunted for the buck from that day on, but couldn't get another glimpse of him.

He started to think he'd lost his chance. But then on Nov. 17, a close friend saw the buck in one of Gates' hunting areas.

Gates was re-energized and began to plan the next day's hunt.

On Nov. 18th, he had the option of hunting from one of his tree stands, or setting up in a ground blind on the edge of a field.

He chose the ground blind, and that turned out to be the right choice.

At about 3:45 p.m., two does appeared from a nearby thicket. Right behind them was a buck -- the buck.

The deer went off to the east and disappeared. Gates became anxious and thought about moving in that direction, but he stayed put.

Again, a good choice, because 10 minutes later, the big buck was back in the field. Only this time, he was by himself.

Gates knew the deer was looking for a hot doe. So when the buck was about 80 yards away, he uttered a buck grunt and doe bleat -- a deadly combination.

The wind was perfect. The unsuspecting buck picked up his head and looked for the source of the grunt and bleat. After a brief pause, he put his nose to the ground and started closing the distance.

At that point, Gates knew things were about to get very exciting!

When the buck was about 40 yards out, Gates drew his bow and settled into his anchor point.