By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — Area deer hunters have just a couple of days left to enter the 2011 Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck Contest.
The contest is open to hunters who legally take a buck during the regular firearm deer hunting season here in Sullivan County or across the Delaware River in Wayne County, Pa. The season ends in Sullivan County this Sunday, Dec. 11. The season concludes tomorrow in Wayne County, Pa.
With the contest in its final stage, the leaders in its two divisions – Biggest Rack and Heaviest Deer – remain the same. Bill Abbate is in first place in the Biggest Rack Division thanks to the large 10-point buck he shot on Nov. 27 while hunting in the Town of Bethel. Abbate, who lives in Stony Point, shot the buck while it was chasing a doe.
He then took the buck to Neves Taxidermy in Bethel, which is one of the official measuring stations for the Democrat contest. The buck scored 86 3/4 in the Democrat measuring system, which is second all-time since the contest started in 1974.
The leader in the Heaviest Deer Division is Brian Fisher of Bethel. He shot a 195 lb. buck in the Town of Bethel.
Second place in the Biggest Rack Division is currently held by Frank Lee of New York City. Second place in the Heaviest Deer Division belongs to Abbate as his buck tipped the scales at 194 lbs.
While hunting on Dec. 4 in the Town of Callicoon, Lee shot an 8-pointer. The buck, which weighed 187 lbs., was standing alone when Lee took it with a 25-yard shot from a 30-06 Remington. Lee transported the buck to Neves Taxidermy where the buck measured 82 in the Democrat scoring system.
First place in the Biggest Rack Division is $100 plus a free mounting courtesy of Rod’s Taxidermy in Callicoon. The runner-up will receive $50.
The Heaviest Deer Division, which is open to bucks and does, has three prizes. First place is $100, second place is $50 and third place is $25.
The official measuring and weigh-in stations for the 38th annual Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck Contest are as follows:
Biggest Rack Division:
• Artistic Creation Taxidermy, 30 Eagle Drive, Swan Lake
• Cannie D’s, 4 Schumway Road, Neversink
• Neves Taxidermy, 1980 Route 17B and Donaldson Road, Bethel
• Rod’s Taxidermy, Route 17B, Callicoon
• The Sportsmen’s Den, 623 Gaebel Road, Callicoon
• Sullivan County Democrat, 5 Lower Main Street, Callicoon
• TK Taxidermy, 4402 State Route 52, Jeffersonville
• Tom’s Bait and Tackle, 118 Kirk Road, Narrowsburg
Heaviest Deer Division:
• Artistic Creation Taxidermy, 30 Eagle Drive, Swan Lake
• Cannie D’s, 4 Schumway Road, Neversink
• Neves Taxidermy, 1980 Route 17B and Donaldson Road, Bethel
• The Sportsmen’s Den, 623 Gaebel Road, Callicoon.