Big Buck Series
Saskatchewan • September 4, 2026
Braeden Magotiaux had six seasons of trail-camera history with one Saskatchewan
whitetail and roughly 30 encounters along the way. After intentionally letting
the buck walk in 2024, everything finally came together during a four-day hunt
in September 2026.
Quick take:
Magotiaux had watched this buck for six years and deliberately backed off in
2024 hoping the deer would reach Boone and Crockett caliber. By 2026, the
7½-year-old buck had grown into a 190 4/8-inch giant. On the fourth day of
the hunt, Magotiaux thought his opportunity was gone, packed up his gear —
and suddenly found the buck standing 20 yards away.
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The Buck at a Glance
Score
190 4/8″
Buck Age
7½ Years
History
6 Seasons
Encounters
30+
Location
Saskatchewan
Weapon
Compound Bow
Magotiaux’s connection to deer hunting started much earlier. He began hunting Years later, one particular Saskatchewan whitetail became the center of his This wasn’t a buck that appeared out of nowhere shortly before hunting
I’ve had him on camera for six years. I have footage and pics of himSix Seasons With One Saskatchewan Buck
Magotiaux had photographs and video of this buck from six different seasons
and estimates he encountered the deer more than 30 times.
around age 8 with his father after seeing a hunting video that immediately
caught his attention.
attention.
season. Magotiaux had followed him year after year through trail-camera
photographs and video.
from all six of those.
The pursuit could have ended earlier.
In 2024, Magotiaux hunted the buck for two days. Rather than forcing the Over the next few seasons, Magotiaux estimated he had somewhere around
By 2026, the deer had grown into a massive 7½-year-old whitetail. At that After six seasons of history, Magotiaux entered the 2026 season with hisHe Had Chances — and Chose to Wait
issue, he eventually backed off in hopes the deer could grow into a
Boone and Crockett-class whitetail.
30 encounters with the deer. He continued to show restraint and stuck
with the plan.
2024
Hunted 2 Days
Then backed off and let the buck continue to mature.
Multiple Seasons
30+ Encounters
Repeated encounters gave Magotiaux an unusual level of familiarity.
2026
7½ Years Old
The buck finally reached the age and size Magotiaux had been waiting for.
point, there was no debate about what Magotiaux would be hunting.
It was this buck or bust.
attention centered entirely on this deer.
Magotiaux’s 2026 pursuit didn’t require weeks in the field, but each of This year, I hunted him for four days. I came so close on day No. 1,
Close on Day One. Finished on Day Four.
the four days brought a different chapter.
but it didn’t work out.
Almost
Magotiaux came extremely close to getting an opportunity, but the
hunt didn’t quite come together.
Slow Movement
Deer movement slowed and the giant didn’t provide the opportunity
Magotiaux needed.
Action, But No Shot
The third day produced more action, but still not enough to put
the buck within bow range.
September 4
Magotiaux returned to a proven early-season pattern between three
sloughs and a canola field.
On September 4, Magotiaux set up in a canola field positioned between The location wasn’t a guess. The buck had spent considerable time there The afternoon itself was slower than he hoped. Then, around last light, I thought it was another deer, but then he turned, saw all the drops, The buck moved toward the slough where Magotiaux was positioned but It was almost a replay of the first day of the season.
Three Sloughs, a Canola Field and a Three-Year Pattern
The buck had centered his early-season pattern around the same area for
three consecutive years.
three sloughs.
during the early season, and Magotiaux had watched the pattern repeat
for three years.
Magotiaux looked across the field and spotted a big buck standing about
150 yards away.
and I was in pure shock.
remained roughly 100 yards away. Then he turned around and went back
into the canola.
As the light faded, Magotiaux started believing another opportunity had About 10 minutes passed. He packed his hunting equipment and camera gear There was another problem: the buck was positioned between Magotiaux Then the entire hunt changed in seconds.
“I looked up, and he’s standing 20 yards in front of me looking Magotiaux’s heart dropped. He picked up the bow as the buck lowered Magotiaux drew. The buck lifted its head and began walking away. He Magotiaux released.
The buck kicked hard, ran roughly 70 yards and fell. Six seasons of historyHe Packed Up — Then Looked Up
slipped away.
and texted a friend about what had happened.
and his planned exit route.
right at me.”
its head.
whistled, stopping the deer quartering toward him.
The shot wasn’t exactly where he intended, but the reaction was encouraging.
had ended with an encounter Magotiaux couldn’t have scripted.
Magotiaux credits the result to years of scouting and learning the buck’s He also wasn’t alone once the arrow was released. Friends Jaden, Cally and His wife had joined him on opening day as well — something Magotiaux This deer meant the world to me. This is why I do it.
For Magotiaux, walking up to the buck finally connected all of the time, The 190 4/8-inch score made the buck exceptional. Six years of historySix Years of Work in One Moment
patterns. He had essentially studied the deer for most of its life and used
that accumulated information when it mattered.
Cheryl, his Uncle Ryan and his father helped him find the buck after the shot.
appreciated even more because the couple has a 2-year-old daughter.
effort and missed family time invested in the pursuit.
made the moment unforgettable.
Magotiaux could have pushed harder when the buck was younger. Instead, By September 2026, the buck was 7½ years old and carried 190 4/8 inches
Patience Paid Off in Saskatchewan
he backed off, learned the deer’s tendencies and waited.
of antler. Even then, the final opportunity didn’t arrive according to
plan. It came after Magotiaux had packed his gear and thought the evening
was essentially over.
Have a Big Buck Story?North American Deer Hunter’s Big Buck Series tells the stories behind
exceptional whitetails — the history, scouting, close encounters,
decisions and hunts that finally brought everything together.
