Big Buck Series
Kentucky • September 6, 2026
Brandon Stidham watched the Kentucky buck known as “Fonzie” grow for five
years. On the second evening of Kentucky’s 2026 deer season, that history
finally came together on a 24-point velvet buck that green-scored
202 4/8 inches.
Green Score
202 4/8″
Rack
24 Points
History
5 Years
Weapon
Compound Bow
Location
Kentucky
Stidham’s history with the deer began long before Fonzie carried more than Once the deer grew his first set of hard antlers, however, there wasn’t Those antlers swept backward toward his ears. That distinctive look reminded
We named this deer ‘Fonzie’ when he had his first set of antlers due His antlers weren’t the only memorable thing about him. Fonzie apparently Stidham said the buck would smack and damage feeders with his hoof. He evenFive Years With a Buck Called Fonzie
Stidham didn’t just have a few trail-camera photos of Fonzie. He had watched
and encountered the deer for years, learning his personality and watching
his rack change season after season.
200 inches of antler. Looking back through old trail-camera photos, he
realized he even had the buck on camera as a button buck.
much question about his identity.
Stidham of the character Fonzie from Happy Days, and a nickname
was born.
to the antlers sweeping back toward his ears like Fonzie did in
‘Happy Days.’
had little respect for Stidham’s deer-feeding equipment.
developed a habit of rolling mineral blocks over an embankment.
Stidham essentially had a front-row seat to Fonzie’s development. The buck
I would honestly say I’ve seen this deer over 100 times in person.
That familiarity makes the story unusual. This wasn’t simply a mature buckFrom a 5-Pointer to a 200-Inch Buck
started as a 5-pointer before making increasingly dramatic jumps in
antler growth.
Early Rack
5-Pointer
Age 2
10-Pointer
Age 3
13-Pointer
Age 4
24 Points
Stidham identified and targeted for one season. He had watched Fonzie grow,
learned his habits and crossed paths with him again and again before the
2026 season arrived.
September 6 was the second day of Kentucky’s 2026 deer season. It was Around 4 p.m., Stidham climbed into position with his Hoyt Nitrum 30,
Stidham had been “covered up with deer” for much of the evening. Then, When he entered the field, all the other deer left in a hurry.
Fonzie was the dominant buck on the property, and his arrival made thatA Hot Evening in Fonzie’s Staging Area
Stidham slipped into a small clearing inside heavy timber that the buck used
as a staging area before moving toward food.
humid, miserably hot and hardly the kind of weather most hunters picture
when dreaming about a giant whitetail.
Leupold rangefinder, saddle setup and two bottles of water.
Into the Tree
Stidham gets settled over the small clearing and buck staging area.
Deer Begin Moving
Smaller deer begin filtering through, leaving Stidham with almost
no room to move without being seen.
Fonzie Appears
The dominant buck reaches the edge of the timber and the other deer
clear out.
around sunset, the deer he had been waiting for finally appeared.
clear. Stidham said the buck stood at the edge of the tree line for only
a moment before stepping into the field.
Getting Fonzie into range was one thing. Getting a shot with deer already Stidham drew his bow three times before he finally got the opportunity When the buck turned broadside, Stidham settled his pin just behind the The arrow connected, closing the book on a buck Stidham had watched growThree Draws Before the Shot
surrounding the setup was another.
he needed.
shoulder and released.
Five years came down to one broadside opportunity.
from his earliest antlers into a 200-inch-class whitetail.
Stidham is quick to credit the people who helped shape him as a hunter Taught Brandon about deer hunting and the outdoors and continues Has worked alongside Stidham hanging stands, running trail cameras Passed down one of his homemade hunting knives shortly before the If it wasn’t for my father teaching me everything I know about deerThe People Behind the Pursuit
and who put in work alongside him during the pursuit.
Father
Marcus Stidham
to push him as a hunter.
Best Friend
Blake Dean
and scouting several days each week.
Uncle
Vince Townsend
hunt, hoping Brandon could use it on his biggest buck.
hunting and the outdoors, I would be nowhere near as successful as
I am year to year.
The shot happened during one September evening. Stidham’s preparation for He focused on spring, summer and winter food plots along with providing Put in the time and work and it will happen. It’s not an overnight thing.
That’s ultimately what Fonzie represents to Stidham. The final score isThe Hunt Was Really a 12-Month Process
Spring, summer and winter food plots, consistent food sources, minerals
and year-round attention to the property.
Fonzie stretched across the entire year.
quality food sources and minerals. Stidham believes those efforts helped
the buck maximize his potential.
remarkable, but the story is really about years of observation, preparation
and patience before one opportunity finally arrived.
Hunt Setup
Bow
Hoyt Nitrum 30
Camouflage
Mossy Oak Bottomland
Harvest Method
Compound Bow
Fonzie finished the story as a 24-point Kentucky velvet buck with a green He watched the buck for five years, estimates he encountered him more than Have a Big Buck Story?North American Deer Hunter’s Big Buck Series tells the stories behindFive Years Came Down to One Evening
score of 202 4/8 inches. But Stidham’s connection to the deer can’t really
be explained by a score alone.
100 times and spent seasons putting in the work before finally getting his
chance on September 6.
exceptional whitetails — the trail-camera history, close encounters,
preparation and hunt that finally brought everything together.
