The Joe Franz' Buck

If you read thru Hunting sites there is a long lingering story about the 'Joe Franz Buck'...well I see it's finally been resolved...not guilty.

In a nut shell...

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Iowa hunter Joe Franz has been exonerated of all charges after a court ruling found that he was not guilty of harvesting a Marion County buck—believed to be the largest ever taken on video—over bait. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also announced that it will be returning to Franz the mount of the deer and his hunting equipment. The buck was greenscored at 258 and 7/8 inches.


“I think the verdict that was handed down is a victory not only for my family and me but also for all the hunters in the state of Iowa because I think it`s been a landmark decision,” Franz told WHO-TV.

DNR officers charged Franz last year with four counts of hunting over bait for the buck, which was harvested on his 80-acre acre property in 2014. Officials said that Franz knowingly hunted near a mineral lick set up by the property’s previous owner. Franz however, said he contacted the DNR prior to hunting specifically to ask about dealing with baited areas. He said he was instructed to cover up the mineral licks, which he did.

In the end, the video of the hunt proved to be Franz’s greatest defense. It showed that before it was harvested, the deer had little interest in the mineral lick, and neither approached it or inspected it from a distance. Due to this, District Court Judge Thomas Mott found Franz not guilty of the charges.

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Now the hunt...grab a coffee !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg7Z4juaGo8


some additional reading on opinions as to whether they legal action was justified in the first place:

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2016/...dnr-overreach/

Good vid. Monster buck. Huge body. Wild rack.
Thanks for posting.

Great video and story. Amazing rack.

I'm not sure I could keep it calm if I see one like that coming towards me.

Meh, there are a couple sketchy things about the incident but nothing blatant. I wouldn't ever shoot that buck unless i was dying in the bush and had no option but that's just me, not a judgement on him or anyone else that chase the biggest. i get plenty of meat elsewhere and would want him breeding as much as possible, that's where i'm at.
I guess, as far as their state rules go, he did knowingly hunt over the salt lick, he could have removed it or hunted elsewhere, so legally that's the only sketchy part i see. But i don't feel i'm looking at a guy that deserves any punishment, i just see a guy i wouldn't personally hunt with and am not impressed by.
Vanity hunting (hunting so you can impress someone) is not my thing. This guy could've filled his freezer any way he wanted based on his videos, he chose to only take the one that would help him impress people. Not my thing... I get that it's a competition to some, just doesn't float my boat. i'm also not into fast cars, anything with dill in it, or suits. But i don't care if you love those things, go for it.

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

Meh, there are a couple sketchy things about the incident but nothing blatant. I wouldn't ever shoot that buck unless i was dying in the bush and had no option but that's just me, not a judgement on him or anyone else that chase the biggest. i get plenty of meat elsewhere and would want him breeding as much as possible, that's where i'm at.
I guess, as far as their state rules go, he did knowingly hunt over the salt lick, he could have removed it or hunted elsewhere, so legally that's the only sketchy part i see. But i don't feel i'm looking at a guy that deserves any punishment, i just see a guy i wouldn't personally hunt with and am not impressed by.
Vanity hunting (hunting so you can impress someone) is not my thing. This guy could've filled his freezer any way he wanted based on his videos, he chose to only take the one that would help him impress people. Not my thing... I get that it's a competition to some, just doesn't float my boat. i'm also not into fast cars, anything with dill in it, or suits. But i don't care if you love those things, go for it.

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Of course with the holier than thou attitude. Your supposedly an outfitter save the sermon for your customers.

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

Meh, there are a couple sketchy things about the incident but nothing blatant. I wouldn't ever shoot that buck unless i was dying in the bush and had no option but that's just me, not a judgement on him or anyone else that chase the biggest. i get plenty of meat elsewhere and would want him breeding as much as possible, that's where i'm at.
I guess, as far as their state rules go, he did knowingly hunt over the salt lick, he could have removed it or hunted elsewhere, so legally that's the only sketchy part i see. But i don't feel i'm looking at a guy that deserves any punishment, i just see a guy i wouldn't personally hunt with and am not impressed by.
Vanity hunting (hunting so you can impress someone) is not my thing. This guy could've filled his freezer any way he wanted based on his videos, he chose to only take the one that would help him impress people. Not my thing... I get that it's a competition to some, just doesn't float my boat. i'm also not into fast cars, anything with dill in it, or suits. But i don't care if you love those things, go for it.

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His "vanity hunting" (aka holding out for a trophy buck) is no worse than vanity fishing (like using fly's when a hook, sinker and worm would be far more effective).

The only reason this place exists is to share opinion. that's mine, don't read my posts if you don't want to. i wouldn't keep a 33 inch pickerel either, i'm not a scientist, but my personal belief is that fish like that, or bucks like this are the key to great genetics and population strength, now and for the future. it's my personal preference, to hunt/fish/trap my way, i don't have any problem with anyone else doing it. it's just not how i choose to hunt or fish. it's not like i get frustrated or angry at anyone else doing it, i just wouldn't do it myself, i choose not to surround myself in life with people that do. why is that so offensive to hunters and fisherman? i'm not anti-trophy hunting, go for it, i just don't do it for my own reasons. Vanity-hunting also includes many other things, i didn't invent the term i just use it. it's not the same as trophy hunting, it's the mentality of hunting with the intent or need to impress someone.
My customers are free to do anything within regs and laws. Sometimes i will ask them to avoid some circumstances, but in the end it's up to them. For instance, we have white moose here. If a white cow is walking around with brown calves on my cams, i will inform my customers so they are cognizant of that, and hope the don't take one, if they do, they do, that's up to them, i just want to make sure they are educated, so they can make their own choices with as much knowledge as possible. The white moose population is important to me, so if possible, i'd like people to be a part of it's preservation. The white moose are protected but their offspring aren't unless they are white too, even though they carry the gene.
But i still fully support 100% the calf hunt. but i wouldn't shoot the offspring of a white moose if i could avoid it. I support the calf hunt because me and my wife hunt for us alone, i don't need the meat of a cow or bull, it's way too much meat for the two of us.
It's all a matter of choice, not hate. i'm just sharing my point of view. would you keep a 33inch pickerel? i wouldn't... that's all i was saying... would i shoot this buck? nope, not a chance... do i think this hunt was a vanity play? yes. would i hunt with him? no.

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

i just see a guy i wouldn't personally hunt with and am not impressed by.

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

But i don't feel i'm looking at a guy that deserves any punishment, i just see a guy i wouldn't personally hunt with and am not impressed by.

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It's fine to have your point of view, but you're passing judgement onto Hunters that don't happen to share it. That'll get their backs up and you should expect some negative responses.

I've hunted with Trophy hunters, not one myself, but I was happy to share a hunt with them and enjoy their company at camp. You have no right to judge them.

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

Meh, there are a couple sketchy things about the incident but nothing blatant. I wouldn't ever shoot that buck unless i was dying in the bush and had no option but that's just me, not a judgement on him or anyone else that chase the biggest. i get plenty of meat elsewhere and would want him breeding as much as possible, that's where i'm at.
I guess, as far as their state rules go, he did knowingly hunt over the salt lick, he could have removed it or hunted elsewhere, so legally that's the only sketchy part i see. But i don't feel i'm looking at a guy that deserves any punishment, i just see a guy i wouldn't personally hunt with and am not impressed by.
Vanity hunting (hunting so you can impress someone) is not my thing. This guy could've filled his freezer any way he wanted based on his videos, he chose to only take the one that would help him impress people. Not my thing... I get that it's a competition to some, just doesn't float my boat. i'm also not into fast cars, anything with dill in it, or suits. But i don't care if you love those things, go for it.

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You would pass on him because you are not a trophy hunter but you still want him to reproduce to pass on his gens, doesn't make sense. To me, it sounds like you are full of it.
Btw, he did cover the salt lick as instructed by the authorities.

Great vid, I'd pull the trigger to, he worked and waited for it, once in a life time opportunity, when it all comes together

I can't help but wonder how he slept that night waiting for daylight :)

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"Franz said earlier that he had purchased the 80-acre parcel of land last June, but sold it to pay for court costs."

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Well that really bites - hard!

I like the guys stand...it would be hard to climb down and head home from that one!

I think he is a very ethical hunter and I would hunt with him. Notice when he wasn't comfortable with shooting at this buck of a lifetime from 45 yds out with his crossbow, held off.... Great deer, a heck of a trophy.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I can't help but wonder how he slept that night waiting for daylight :)

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I was thinking the same thing, I couldn't wait till morning... rough, sleepless night for sure

guys I think we are all missing the point whether or not we'd let him walk or shoot him..... how come this guy who was not in the wrong and went to lengths to ensure he was legal had to get dragged to court, pay these legal fees to defend his innocence, he ended up losing his property, doesn't seem right to me, I feel for the guy, guilty until proven innocent I guess... hope he sues for damages and gets to buy 160 acres

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

I guess, as far as their state rules go, he did knowingly hunt over the salt lick, he could have removed it or hunted elsewhere, so legally that's the only sketchy part i see.

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This makes no sense at all. He covered the existing licks as instructed by the Iowa DNR. He was hunting over the food plot and not the licks and furthermore the deer went nowhere near the covered licks. The judge decided there was nothing "legally sketchy" about it based on clear video evidence. I'm pretty sure the judge is more qualified to determine legality than you are. The only thing sketchy about this case are the COs on a power trip.

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Originally Posted by flytyermiller

my personal belief is that fish like that, or bucks like this are the key to great genetics and population strength, now and for the future

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That buck probably bred dozens of does during his life so the spread of genetics was likely wide and far. Furthermore what is the point of having great genetics if you don't get to harvest some of them once in awhile.

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Originally Posted by fratri

I think he is a very ethical hunter and I would hunt with him. Notice when he wasn't comfortable with shooting at this buck of a lifetime from 45 yds out with his crossbow, held off.... Great deer, a heck of a trophy.

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^^Agree completely.

Thanks for posting Mike.