Andy Peterson of New Richland, Minn., and Grand Marais got this 12-point buck on Friday, November 15. The antler spread was 19 inches with nice tall tines.
Deer rifle season is in full swing and there have been 471 entries in the Buck’s Hardware Big Buck Contest. There may be different results at the end of the contest on Saturday, November 23, but at press time the following hunters were in the lead.
Joe Deschampe of Grand Portage was winning the contest in the weight category with a buck weighing in at 244.9 pounds. Deschampe’s big buck bumped the deer registered earlier by Greg Olson (234.8 pounds) and Paul Swearingen (227.2 pounds).
In the contest for the widest antler spread, Eric Chatterson of Charlotte, Mich. is in the lead with a rack size of 21¼-inch. He is just ahead of Paul Swearingen whose buck had an antler spread of 21 inches.
The Big Buck Contest awards a new rifle for the deer with the largest dressed weight. Half of the prize money, which is made up of all of the entry fees, goes to the hunter with the largest antler spread. And finally, all of the hunters entered in the contest are in a drawing for the other half of the money.
In the Buck’s Hardware Big Buck Contest, Eric Chatterson of Charlotte, Mich. is in the lead for the widest antler spread with a rack size of 21¼-inch. He just beat out Paul Swearingen whose buck had an antler spread of 21 inches.
In another contest, the statewide Big Buck Challenge sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm, Central Boiler and Hunter’s Specialties, several local hunters are in the running for some great prizes. As of Wednesday, November 20, Charlie Blackwell had the biggest buck in the contest at 252.75. If Blackwell holds on to the lead for largest buck, he will win a Polaris Ranger 400 and a mount by Sprint Creek Taxidermy. Dallas Smith of Grand Marais is in the lead in the biggest doe category with a doe weighing in at 160.16 pounds. Smith could win a Polaris Sportsman 500.
For more information on the Big Buck Challenge, visit www.usbigbuck.com.
Rifle deer season ends Sunday, November 24, however archery season continues until December 31. Black powder deer hunting season runs from November 30 to December 15 statewide.
Good luck hunters!
Leave a Reply