Another Cook County hunter claims Big Buck Contest top prize

Todd Bullock is another successful Cook County hunter who got a nice buck this hunting season—and won an all-terrain vehicle in the statewide Big Buck Challenge. Bullock’s 10-point buck weighed 199.88 pounds and won in the under 200-pounds category of the contest.

It was a very successful deer season for a number of deer hunters with ties to Cook County. Many hunters not only got a buck or a doe, they were winners in the statewide Big Buck Challenge sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm, Central Boiler and Hunter’s Specialties. The Cook County News-Herald recently heard from another winner—Todd Bullock of Delano, Minnesota, who has lake property in Lutsen. It was there that he bagged his buck. Bullock won first place in the Under 200 pound division and he won a new Polaris Sportsman 500 all-terrain vehicle.

Bullock’s deer was a 10-point buck weighing in at 199.88 pounds. Bullock said he felt that his deer is dedicated to his father, who had passed away 18 years ago. Bullock said, “His birthday was the opener of deer hunting this year, November 9. As a tribute, I brought a very old homemade deer stand this year that my Dad had made. He had last used it back in 1989. His last few years he was too old to use it. After 24 years, it was brought back out to the woods Sunday morning and set up and my deer was shot the same day at 2:00 p.m., the only deer I saw all season!”

Bullock hunted with his daughter Megan, also of Delano, Minn. and a friend Duane Hoffman of Bloomington, Minn., with his daughter Samantha. It was Samantha’s first deer opener at age 10.

Bullock said his big buck is his “true trophy,” but winning the ATV was “great.” He said the awards party held Dec. 7 in Baxter, Minn. was also a lot of fun, with free gifts, food and drink and the opportunity to socialize with all the other hunters. “Many pictures taken and many, many, stories shared. It was hosted with class and really demonstrated a good cause to share our harvests and to share our stories. And if we were lucky enough, we won one of the many great prizes offered!”