One minute you’re the most famous hunter in North America, and the next, you’re looking at 90 days in a jail cell. Honestly, the story of CJ Alexander and that massive 18-point buck from Clinton County, Ohio, is basically a Shakespearean tragedy for the camo-and-orange crowd. It had everything: a "once-in-a-century" deer, a borrowed crossbow, and a lie that grew so big it eventually smothered everyone involved.
You've probably seen the photos. They were everywhere in late 2023. Christopher J. Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, posing with a whitetail so wide it looked like it belonged on a prehistoric cave painting.
The "Dream" That Turned Into a Felony
It started as a fairy tale. Alexander claimed he bagged the "Megatron" buck on November 9, 2023. The story he told the world—and several high-profile hunting magazines—was that he was hunting on his sister’s modest 9-acre property. He said he didn't even know the deer existed. He just sat down, and this monster stepped out.
People wanted to believe it. We love the "lucky guy on small land" narrative. It gives the rest of us hope.
But the numbers were too big to ignore. The buck green-scored at 206 7/8 inches typical. To put that in perspective, it would have been the No. 1 typical ever taken in Ohio and the No. 3 largest of all time on the Boone & Crockett list. We're talking about a deer worth a small fortune in "stupid money" for endorsements and antler replicas.
Where the Story Fell Apart
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) didn't just take his word for it. They rarely do when a world-record contender pops up. Game wardens Matt Roberts and Isaiah Gifford started digging, and what they found wasn't a lucky hunter, but a calculated plan.
Basically, Alexander hadn't shot the deer on his sister's land at all.
GPS data and text messages—the ultimate "poacher killers"—showed he had been illegally hunting on a 49-acre private tract nearly 10 miles away. He didn't have permission to be there. Investigators found he was sneaking in and out under the cover of darkness, being dropped off or parking far away to stay "inconspicuous."
A Web of Accomplices
You sort of have to feel for the family members who got dragged into this, but then again, they helped stage the crime scene. Alexander's sister, Kristina Alexander, and the Haunert brothers (Corey and Zachary) helped him move the deer and falsify the paperwork.
They literally staged the deer on the sister's property to make it look like the kill happened there.
Corey Haunert actually provided the crossbow used to kill the buck. He ended up with his own set of charges, including aiding a wildlife offender and tampering with evidence. It wasn't just a white lie; it was a full-blown production.
The Crushing Legal Reality
By October 2024, the "I’m innocent" act finally broke. Alexander pleaded guilty to 14 charges.
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This wasn't just a slap on the wrist. Here’s what the fallout actually looked like:
- Jail Time: Sentenced to 180 days, with 90 of those served at the Star Community Justice Center.
- The Fine: A massive $35,071.73 in restitution for the 18-point buck alone. This is the largest single-deer restitution in Ohio history.
- Total Costs: Between fines, court costs, and restitution for a second illegal buck he took, the total bill hit roughly $43,000.
- Loss of Rights: A 10-year hunting license revocation. And if he doesn't pay the fines? That ban stays in place indefinitely.
Why Do People Poach?
Greed is the easy answer, but the text messages revealed in court were pretty damning. Alexander texted his fiancé weeks before the kill, saying, "I'm gonna get offered stupid money for this deer head babe... This deer is gonna make us money."
He wasn't hunting for meat or the "experience." He was hunting for a paycheck. He actually managed to collect about $20,000 from antler buyers and media outlets before the law caught up to him.
The ODNR eventually ordered him to pay back $2,000 to the media groups he deceived.
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The Tragedy of the Deer
The real shame here is the animal itself. A buck of that caliber is a "state treasure" in the eyes of wildlife officials. Because it was taken illegally, it can never sit at the top of the record books. It won't be "Alexander's Buck." It will just be "the poached buck in the evidence room."
The Boone & Crockett Club is very clear: if it's not legal, it's not a record. Period.
What Hunters Can Learn From This
If you’re out in the woods in Ohio—or anywhere else—the "permission" rule isn't a suggestion. In Ohio, you must have written permission to hunt on private land.
- Always carry your paper: Electronic permission is great, but a signed, dated form is your shield.
- Be honest about boundaries: Even if a monster buck is 20 yards across the fence, if you don't have the "yes" from that landowner, it's not your deer.
- Digital footprints are forever: In 2026, game wardens are tech-savvy. They will pull your GPS pings, your texts, and your photos. If you're lying, you're going to get caught.
The CJ Alexander buck serves as a reminder that "fame" in the hunting world is a double-edged sword. If you claim the throne, people are going to check your credentials.
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For more information on legal hunting requirements and how to report poaching, check out the Ohio Department of Natural Resources "Turn In a Poacher" (TIP) program. If you see something that looks "too good to be true," it usually is.
Next Steps for Hunters: Ensure all your hunting land permissions are updated for the current season and double-check your local county's specific regulations regarding "written permission" versus "verbal consent." It’s the difference between a trophy and a felony.