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The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Izaak Walton League of West Virginia, West Virginia Bowhunters Association, West Virginia Muzzleloader's Association, West Virginia Physically Challenged Advisory Board, and Toyota are again sponsoring the West Virginia Big Buck Contest for deer taken between Oct. 16 and Dec. 31, 2010.
During this time, any hunter who bags a deer in West Virginia with antlers having eight or more points, a 26-inch beam length, and points that are more than eight inches long may have a winning buck.
Antlers will be measured according to the official scoring system for North American big game animals, established by the Boone and Crockett Club.
Plaques will be awarded to up to eight overall first-place winners for typical and non-typical bucks in gun, bow, muzzleloader and crossbow (physically challenged) categories at the National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration to be held at Stonewall Resort State Park Sept. 24-25, 2011.
Gun and muzzleloader hunters whose bucks score more than 140 points typical or 165 non-typical will receive certificates commemorating the entry of their buck into the W.Va. Big Buck Contest and Records Keeping Program. Bowhunters or physically challenged crossbow hunters whose bucks score more than 125 points typical or 155 non-typical will also receive certificates.
There were 80 new entries into the Big Buck Records last year that were taken during the 2009 season. The season total showed 12 bucks taken by gun hunters, zero by muzzleloaders, 67 by bowhunters and one by crossbow.
Bucks taken in previous years may still be scored for a certificate (if it meets the minimum score) and entry into the records.
Hunters wishing to have their deer scored for this contest should contact the closest official measurer through any DNR Wildlife District Office.
Phone numbers and addresses are listed in the 2010-2011 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary.
Appointments must be made for trophy scoring. Many hunters have their deer scored by official measurers during the W.Va. Hunting and Fishing Show, held in late January at the Charleston Civic Center.
Hunters will be required to read and sign a fair chase affidavit and must bring their official game check tags with the antlers to be measured.
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