Last Season’s Big Bucks Honored

The Georgia woods surrendered some very fine bucks in 2017, and the top-scoring bucks were recognized recently at the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association (GOWA) meeting in Blue Ridge at Mercier Orchards.

The Georgia DNR Big Deer Contest is the state’s longest running big deer contest (started in 1968) and is administered by DNR retired biologist Bill Cooper, who is on the lookout for big bucks being scored across the state. GON provides the plaques and provides public news coverage. The GOWA conducts the awards dinner, while the Southern Company/Georgia Power provides financial support. Thus, the program is a joint effort of conservation-minded groups to highlight successful hunters and their outstanding bucks.

Each year, the contest recognizes top bucks in four different categories.

Last year’s typical firearms category winner was Mathew Stubbs, who harvested his buck in Wilcox County on Nov. 11, 2017. It scored 160 4/8.

In the non-typical category, Phil Mills took his buck in Wilkinson County on Oct. 25, 2017, and it scored 174 4/8.

In the archery category, Glenn Garner dropped a nice Harris County buck on Oct. 13, 2017 that scored 161 7/8 inches.

In the non-typical archery category, Lee Ellis killed a whopper Fulton County buck that scored 193 7/8 inches. Lee was unable to attend the banquet.

Winners of the 2017 Georgia DNR Big Deer Contest were (from left): Phil Mills, Glenn Garner and Mathew Stubbs. The Big Deer plaques and certificates were awarded April 28 at the annual Georgia Outdoor Writer’s meeting in Blue Ridge at Mercier Orchards.

The minimum scores for entries are 120 P&Y inches for archery typical, 145 P&Y for archery non-typical, 145 B&C for typical firearms and 170 B&C for non-typical firearms kills.

To enter the contest, have your buck scored by an official B&C scorer. If your buck is over the minimum scores for the record book, the word gets out, and Bill Cooper may be calling you.

GON’s Truck-Buck Contest is a separate contest and is administered by GON magazine.