Bow Tie was a very well-known white-tailed deer MURDERED in County Park - Bow Tie had a large 10-point main frame with two small sticker points

If you're a white-tailed deer in Milwaukee County, odds are you live in or near the county's park system.

The 15,000 acres of parks and parkways provide more than 90% of the deer habitat in the county, according to an assessment by the Department of Natural Resources.

That's a lot of land, but not enough for a deer to hide in.

Especially if you're a big-racked buck like "Bow Tie."

Randy Crawford of Wauwatosa is a wildlife photographer and hunter who enjoys viewing and capturing images of the animals that frequent the county parks.

"It's a kick to hike through the parkways and see wildlife," Crawford said. "Close to the city, but you get the feeling of being away."

Like many local residents, Crawford sees many of the deer on a regular basis.

He had seen Bow Tie for the last eight years. He nicknamed the animal for its distinctive white throat patch.

The buck became locally famous for more than its coloration — it developed an impressive set of antlers.

Based on estimates from sheds collected in recent years, the deer scored about 160 inches.

"This deer had a 'wow' factor," said Jim Bagley of Milwaukee, a hunter and wildlife viewer and friend of Crawford who also frequents the parks.

This year Bow Tie had a large 10-point main frame with two small sticker points, Bagley said.

Bagley had his most recent sighting of the big buck at 2 p.m. Sunday as he was hiking through the Little Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa.

He captured a couple of images of the deer, which was moving away.

A few minutes later, Bagley said he encountered a man wearing waders.

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