By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — December 7, 2010 — As of yesterday, the regular firearm deer hunting season entered its final week here in Sullivan County and across the Delaware River in Wayne County, Pa.
This is also the final week for the 37th annual Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck Contest.
A couple inches of snow fell across the area yesterday morning, which may prove to be a good tracking snow for local hunters. And that tracking snow may very well lead one of those hunters to a buck which could take over the top spot in the Big Buck Contest.
As of yesterday morning, the leaders in the Big Buck Contest’s two divisions – Biggest Rack and Heaviest Deer – remained the same.
Back on Nov. 20, which was the opening day of the regular firearm deer hunting season here in Sullivan County, Tom Price of Monticello shot a 10-point buck in the Town of Thompson. He took the buck to Cannie D’s in Neversink, which is one of the official measuring stations for the Big Buck Contest. The buck scored 77.5 in the Democrat measuring system.
The Democrat system includes the length of the two main beams, the width from outside to outside of the beams and the number of points that are at least 1 inch long. Those four numbers are added together for a total score.
Also on opening day, Jerry Dagostino of Rock Hill shot a large buck and took it to Neves Taxidermy in Bethel, which is one of the official weigh-in stations for the Big Buck Contest. The buck tipped the scales at 175 lbs.
Bob Kackos of Neversink is in second place in the Biggest Rack division. He shot a 12-point buck on opening day which scored 77.25 in the Democrat measuring system.
Liberty resident Mike Chanov and Geoffrey Sheppard of Cochecton are currently in second place and third place, respectively, in the Heaviest Deer division.
On Nov. 20, Chanov shot an 8-point buck which weighed 170 lbs.
Sheppard shot a 5-point buck on Nov. 21 in the Town of Thompson that tipped the scales at 165 lbs.
The winner of the Biggest Rack division receives a $100 prize and a free mount of their buck courtesy of Rod’s Taxidermy in Callicoon. The runner-up will receive $50.
In the Heaviest Deer division, which is for a buck or doe, the winner will receive a $100 first prize. The runner-up will receive $50 and the third place hunter will receive $25.
Remember, the Democrat Big Buck Contest is open to hunters who legally take a deer here in Sullivan County or Wayne County, Pa. during the regular firearm season.
The season ends this Saturday, Dec. 11 in Wayne County, Pa. and this Sunday, Dec. 12 here in Sullivan County.