The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of the Big Buck Contest which acknowledges and rewards hunters who harvest a deer in New York. The contest takes place during regular hunting season concluding on December 18, 2012. Deadline for entries is November 16, 2012 and the banquet & game dinner will be held on January 5, 2013 at Tuman’s Tavern at 373 Forest Avenue in Amsterdam.
Part of the registration fee will be allocated to the Chamber Scholarship Fund which awards several academic scholarships to area high school seniors each May.
Cash prizes will be awarded for the largest deer taken in each category. The dollar amount of prizes to be presented will be dependent upon the number of entrants in each division of the event and so will be determined after entry deadline. Categories include Rifle/Shotgun, Bow, Muzzleloader, Female Hunter, Heaviest Doe, and Youth (19 years old and under). All entries must be free-ranging whitetail deer of New York State origin from any county. All harvested animals entered must have been taken legally and tagged in accordance with the laws set by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. All contestants who enter a deer will have a chance to win a rifle and door prizes.
The winners from last year’s event are as follows: Luke Nellis placed first in the archery division with a 142 pound, 4 pointer; George Amedore place second with a 135 pound, 8 pointer; Brent Phetteplace placed third with a 110 pound, 4 pointer; Seth Paro placed first in the youth division with a 160 pound, 4 pointer; Margaret Achcet placed first in the female hunter division with a 199 pound, 9 pointer; Bill Achcet placed first for heaviest doe with a 147 pounder; Bob Georgia won the muzzleloader division with a 120 pound doe. In the main rifle/shotgun division, Margaret Achcet took first place with her 199 pound, 9 pointer; Sean Hardies placed second with his 180 pound, 10 pointer; and Wayne Brownell placed third with his 177 pound, 8 pointer. The event drew a field of 70 participants bringing in 34 deer for a commendable success rate of about 48 percent.
For this year’s event, the weigh stations will be located at Fuel-N-Food on 3006 State Highway 30 in Mayfield, Tuman’s Tavern at 373 Forest Avenue in Amsterdam, Loopie’s Pub at 410 Mohawk Drive in Tribes Hill, and Lock, Stock, & Barrel at 5794 State Highway 10 in Palatine Bridge. If a station is unavailable, contestants are asked to contact Tom Georgia at (518) 258-9448 or 111 Pine Street in Tribes Hill.
You may pick up a registration form at Frank’s Gun Shop, Fuel-N-Food, Tuman’s Tavern, Loopie’s Pub, or Lock, Stock, & Barrel or download one. For more information, please contact Sharon Jenkins at 725-0641 or e-mail events@fultoncountyny.org.
Please visit the Chamber business directory for a list of business members that carry hunting/sports supplies!