Deer rifle season closed Sunday, November 22, and a new winner has been named in the Buck’s Hardware Big Buck Contest. Paul Swearingen of Buffalo, MN, who had the lead in the contest for several weeks, was bumped by Treg Axtell of Hovland. Axtell earned the prize for the largest deer with a buck weighing 245 pounds. The prize for that was half of the contest cash—$1,800.55. Axtell also received the prize for the largest rack with an antler spread of 21 5/8th inches. Theprize for that is a model 700 Winchester 30.06.
Buck’s also draws a hunter from the entries to receive the other half of the contest cash. Thelucky winner of that is Shane Danielson of Grand Marais, receiving $1,800.55.
Buck’s Hardware saw quite a few more registrations in the final week of firearm season with 359 deer registered, up from 279 last week.
Lockport General Store in Lutsen was also up significantly, from 167 last week to 181 this week.
At Mike’s Holiday in Tofte, the end of season count is 147.
On the Gunflint Trail at Windigo Lodge, there has again been no change. Four deer have been registered at Windigo, most likely because hunters brought their deer to Grand Marais to enter the contest.
Sandy Updyke at the Hovland Post Office, the county’s east end reporting station, reports that her numbers increased somewhat in the last week with 39 bucks and eight does.
Muzzleloader deer season begins November 28 and ends December 13. Archery season started in September and continues until December 31, 2009.
Congratulations to all our successful hunters and to those still hunting, be safe!
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