Pewaukee deer hunter sets Wisconsin crossbow record

[Go Big Red!]

Pewaukee deer hunter sets Wisconsin crossbow record

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

When Jim Spataro of Pewaukee headed out to the Waukesha County woods near his home last November, he was primarily looking forward to the relaxation and contemplation that come with bowhunting.

The 65-year-old Spataro – known to most as Jimmy – has been battling fibromyalgia, a painful, debilitating disease that caused him to give up golf.

Spataro is a past president of Milwaukee’s Italian Community Center and the National Italian Golf Tournament for Charities.

He can bowhunt, though, with the use of a crossbow, and greatly enjoys his time outdoors.

Although he had taken an antlerless deer in 2007, nothing prepared him for the deer that would pass near his stand Nov. 15.

Spataro made good on his shot and was soon fixing his tag to a 15-point buck. The deer was officially scored last Saturday at 179 3/8 inches and set a Wisconsin crossbow record, according to scorer Brian Tessmann of Waukesha.

Spataro's buck topped the 174 7/8 inch deer taken in Door County in 2001 by Keith Bink.

We'll have more on Spataro's buck story in the Sunday Outdoors Page. The photo below was submitted by Mark LaBarbera and shows Jim Spataro with his 15-point buck.