Fight Over World Record Broder Buck
Our Special Winter Issue of Hunting Illustrated has an exclusive cover story titled:
Fight Over World Record - What Happened to the Broder Buck
This issue of the magazine is hitting subscribers now and will be available on newsstands around the country on December 20th. I have posted the beginning part of the cover story. The rest of this incredible and unfortunate story can only be found in Hunting Illustrated. I invite you to share your thoughts and comments on the article in this post.
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Fight Over World Record
What Happened to the Broder Buck
(excerpt from the cover story by David King)
It was 1926 and Ed Broder had planned to go hunting from November 11th to December 23rd for his annual hunting trip. He shot a black bear and took the bear cape into town and reportedly sold it to someone from the United States. With the extra money, Ed was able to buy some additional supplies for a couple more weeks of hunting and headed back into the bush near Chip Lake in Alberta, Canada. A fresh snowfall blanketed the ground, improving the hunting conditions. Ed was following a fresh moose track when a large mule deer track crossed the moose tracks. More interested in the buck track, Ed changed course and pursued the mule deer. Ed always wanted a nice mule deer buck to have for a wall-hanger. The deer tracks were definitely a buck, but Ed Broder had no idea that the deer whose track he was on would eventually be the greatest mule deer buck ever taken; and, as some have described it, “one of the most outstanding big game trophies ever taken by a sport hunter.” With cold and rugged conditions, Ed persisted on the track until it led to a small clearing. There, in the clearing, Ed spotted the buck. His head down was down and Ed could only see the buck’s rump in his sights. The buck was approximately 100 yards away and when he raised his head, Ed realized it was no ordinary buck - he was awesome. One shot from his trusty Winchester 32 Special put the buck down, and the legend of the Broder Buck began.
In those days, hunters left the cumbersome antlers of big game animals behind in the woods because the meat was the primary reason for hunting. The antlers were of no value and all the meat had to be packed out by the hunting party. The only reason Ed would keep the antlers of most of his kills was the fact that in the area he hunted, there were a few sawmills around. There was almost always someone with a team of horses that Ed could hire to pack out the animal and this was his common practice. However, it is not known for sure if this was the case for this buck - although it was usually the course of action for Ed. He would hike some distance to the closest sawmill, stay the night, and strike up a deal with the worker who owned the team of horses to pack the animal out. On November 26, 1926 Ed was obviously able to get some help to pack out his awesome mule deer buck.
Due to the money Ed made off of the bearskin he sold in the town of Edson, Alberta, he was able to afford the mule deer shoulder mount in 1927 by Wolf Taxidermy and still had a few dollars left over to get married that year as well. The deer head stayed with Ed in his home from 1926 until Ed’s death in 1969, but was sent to Boone & Crockett in 1962 by train to be officially panel-scored. Ed was not very comfortable about the trip because he could not accompany his deer mount. However, the mount was safely returned to Ed and had been given an official score of 355 2/8 B&C and declared world record status. Finally, 36 years after that snowy day near Chip Lake, Alberta, the Broder Buck was given the recognition it deserved. Ed Broder passed away on December 26, 1969. Fortunately, he would never know the turn of events that would eventually unfold to lead into a family dispute that would tear Ed’s children apart.
Here is the story of the Broder family and their trials and events that have led to an unparalleled struggle over the world record Broder Buck. Lawsuits, greedy lawyers, corruption in court rulings, jail time, unbelievable amounts of money, and siblings pit against each other by the proceeding of the courts – all of this cumulated to put the future of the Broder family and the Broder Buck’s future in question. Don Broder is in a battle over the Broder Buck with his six brothers and sisters. Don’s son, Craig Broder (and grandson to Ed), has assisted his elderly Father and has subsequently been drawn into the dispute by the six brothers and sisters of Don. Craig has also represented his father in court. A statement by Craig sums up some of the bitterness that now simmers beneath the surface of the Broder family, “I am totally upset with the courts in Canada that allow second and third generation children - who had no obligation, or knowledge to the distribution of a deceased grandfather’s belongings - to be brought before the courts and named in a statement of claim. When the events that led to the claim took place, I was twelve years old. This was caused by the negligence of the immediate siblings actions.”
In a series of interviews with Craig, I was able to record the story of events leading up to present time. What happened to the Broder Buck? This is his story as it unfolded in the courtroom…
The rest of the story can be found in the Special Winter Issue of Hunting Illustrated.
11 comments December 16th, 2005
