Ohio Hunter Shoots Giant Typical with Split Brow Tines

Kelcee Westenbarger has been deer hunting with her dad, Troy, since she was 6 or 7 years old. She took her first deer at 11 and has filled about 10 more tags in the years since. Until this year, her biggest buck scored around 115, but Kelcee has always dreamed of taking a monster. She was in a pretty good position to make that dream a reality, too. For more than 20 years, Troy has operated T & K Outfitters in central Ohio, and his clients routinely harvest some big Midwestern bucks.

Kelcee has been hunting with her dad, Troy, since she was very young. All images courtesy Kelcee Westenbarger.

One of the properties that Troy has managed the longest is an 1,800-acre chunk with mixed timber, food plots, and plenty of bedding cover. The farm is operated more as a hunt club, with the same core group of hunters, including Troy and Kelcee, hunting it year after year.

They have worked hard to turn the place into prime deer habitat, and that has paid off, as the farm produces trophy bucks on a regular basis. This past season, everyone on the farm had a particular buck in mind, too. The giant deer had been showing up in the nearby ag fields the two previous summers and had appeared on trail cameras just often enough to keep everyone excited.

When she isn't hunting, one of Kelcee's jobs is to dress up as a Disney princess for children's parties. As a nod to her gig, Kelcee named the big buck “King Triton” because of its massive split brow tines. And, when she found a camo hat earlier this year with “Midwest Princess” embroidered on the front, she laughingly told her dad that she’d be wearing it all season, and that this would be her year.

When she found a camo cap with “Midwest Princess” embroidered on the front, Kelcee laughed and told her dad this was her year.

Still, although King Triton was very visible in the days before hunting season, the buck always seemed to disappear when the season started. But in 2024, as the Ohio rifle season approached, the buck had been around a bit more often. Another hunter had even gotten a chance at the deer a few weeks earlier, but a mishap with his crossbow’s safety spoiled the opportunity. Needless to say, Kelcee and Troy were excited to be out in the woods.

On opening day of the rifle season, Troy checked with everyone to see where they were going to be hunting. When he found out that one of their favorite box blinds was going to be open, he said that he and Kelcee would go there.

Although the buck showed on trail camera sporadically, he had been seen recently in the area by another hunter.

That evening, deer filtered in and out of the area. The temperature was chilly, so Troy fired up a heater inside the blind. But when a young buck came in and spooked, they decided to turn the heater off to cut down on any odor that might be coming from the shooting house.

As darkness approached, deer began to pour into the area. As many as eight at a time stood in front of the blind. All of the sudden, four does rushed in from the left, on the downwind side. A small buck popped out and made his way toward the does. Troy whispered that conditions were right for big bucks to be moving that evening.

Kelcee then sensed that another deer was on her side, coming from the same direction the does had. She whispered, "Dad, that might be him." Sure enough the giant buck appeared, just 60 yards away. Kelcee kept her calm and leveled her .350 Legend on the deer, following along as it moved through the trees.

The big buck followed a group of does to the stand where Kelcee and Troy waited.

Troy says that most hunters, himself included, would be shaking so hard they couldn't shoot at the sight of a buck that size that close, but that Kelcee handled it like a pro. "I knew the buck was older and not likely to fumble, so I had to make the shot count at the first chance he gave me. I took two deep breaths, settled my crosshairs, and waited for him to stop," Kelcee said.

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When the buck stopped at 45 yards, Troy whispered to take the shot. Kelcee was already squeezing the trigger before he could get the words out. At the shot, the big buck bolted into the woods but quickly stumbled and fell.

As the two approached the downed monarch, Kelcee laughed and told her dad, "I told you it was my year."

The buck featured a symmetrical and giant 10-point frame, with the matching split brow tines that earned him his King Triton name. The sweeping main beams measured 26 inches, and the heavy mass carried all the way out. A quick green score totaled 189-6/8 inches. Troy estimated the buck to be 6.5 or 7.5 years old, with very worn teeth.

The giant buck sported a typical frame with split brow tines.

"I never dreamed I would ever take a buck like this," Kelcee said. "I think it is cool that I might have passed this same buck up years ago so that he could reach his maximum potential. I know I couldn't have pulled off getting my dream deer without all the hunting knowledge my dad has taught me over the years. I probably would have been shaking like a leaf on a tree."

Troy seconds the thought that they might have passed this buck in past seasons. "The key to growing big bucks is food, cover, low pressure, and plenty of time to grow. We try to give them all of those things."

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