Well, it now seems Kirwan's hunts have been moving toward bigdeer status. Additionally, permits in his region are practically a guarantee. Toponce recently caught up with Kirwan and came away with the following update:
"Over the last few years Kirwan has produced some outstanding whitetail trophies, including a 180- class buck that one of his hunters harvested in 2004. This past season, Kirwan had four clients, all of whom took bucks. The deer scored 135, 140, 146 and 150 B & C. The 135- class buck was actually the smaller of two bucks that Kirwan showed his client simultaneously; the hunter shot the smaller one by mistake. Rarely do his clients go home without a deer, and on such occasions, hunters have passed or simply not connected on shot opportunities.
"Many of Kirwan's hunts are only a few miles from the Nebraska border, where some very impressive deer have been taken in the past decade. Kirwan has access to approximately 1,200 acres of his family's land around the town of Gregory, plus 7,000 acres of leased grazing and farming ground, river breaks and the like. As a registered tribal guide, he also has access to the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation on the South Dakota/Nebraska line. The reservation encompasses over a million acres of tribal lands in Todd, Mellette, Tripp, Lyman and Gregory counties.
"Kirwan's hunts involve driving through scenic, rolling country; stopping to glass the open hillsides; making short drives; and using the spot-and-stalk technique. At times, considerable walking is involved. Long shots are a distinct possibility.
"Although hunters must draw a deer license........(continued)
