Reuniting With A Jaw-Dropping VA Droptine
By Mark Melotik
Opening morning of Virginia’s 2023 muzzleloader season will likely never be forgotten by Surry County hunter Jake Berryman. On that date—Nov. 4, 2023—the 17-year-old laid claim to the largest buck ever taken by the hard-hunting Berryman family, an 18-point bruiser that is now the state’s 11th largest whitetail in BTR’s blackpowder Irregular category.
The mainframe 9-pointer tipped the BTR scales at 190 4/8 inches with 18 scorable points and a 16-inch inside spread. However, most would agree the rack’s most stunning feature is its 9.25-inch right-side droptine that, according to Berryman, sets it apart from most all local bucks seen or taken over the years.
The buck was bagged on an approximate 200-acre private parcel where two of Berryman’s cellular trail cams had captured photos of the deer beginning in early June, the first time Berryman—or any member of his deer hunting family—had ever seen it. Through late July and early August, Berryman said the buck’s rack grew “dramatically,” solidifying it as his No. 1 target buck.
“I hunted at least 10 times for him during bow season. But then, after the start of October, he disappeared,” Berryman said. “I was worried, I really thought somebody shot and wounded him, and that was the end of him. If someone would have shot and found him, I would have at least seen a photo.”
On Nov. 4, opening day of muzzleloader season, Berryman was back in the big droptine’s stomping grounds. After a strange start to the morning, which included a tractor cutting across the cut beanfield that Berryman had been watching, a brief cell phone conversation saved the day. On the line was Jake’s dad Steve, who recommended the youngster switch locales, to a spot on the same farm near a large swamp. That’s where things finally came together just a few hours later, as the buck of Berryman’s dreams trailed a hot doe off a hardwood ridge that led down to the large swamp. After some additional twists and turns—and one well-placed 30-yard shot from his .50-cal. muzzleloader— Berryman was soon walking up to a fallen giant.
“I couldn’t believe it. My whole body just started vibrating,” Berryman recalled. “I thought somebody else had killed that deer; it was just such a big relief that he was still alive, and that I was fortunate enough to get him.” For the full story of Jake Berryman’s amazing 2023 hunt, including some stunning trail cam photos, be sure to check out the next issue of Rack magazine.