Remember When the 2nd Largest Buck in Missouri History Was Tagged

It was November 1969. That fall deer season was when Jeffrey Brunk hunted the “Phantom” buck.

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A year prior (in 1968), a 16 year old Brunk had been startled by the massive buck with a huge white rack in Clark County. Brunk squeezed off two shots from his 20 gauge at the fleeing stag at 150 yards and expanding. Jeffrey missed both shots. He knew then he’d need a rifle.

The Brunk’s had a farm near Revere, Mo. and Jeffrey grew up learning how to hunt. His dance with the “Phantom” though seemed to be a personal thing as the other farmers, hunters and family in the area had never seen a buck that large with a massive white rack.

On the final day of fall deer season, he tracked and stalked the majestic buck for hours, wounding him and chasing him and tracking for another couple hours. Noticing that the buck was so large that it moved more like an elk. Steady, fast and controlled. Brunk finally brought down the biggest buck he (or anyone of his family or friends) would ever hunt, see or possibly imagine in a clearing.

The “Phantom” wasn’t just unusually large, fast and crafty, he was –and still is—one of the biggest bucks ever tagged anywhere.

Jeffrey Brunk gave a full telling of his years long pursuit of the “Phantom” to “Outdoor Life” magazine in 1971.