Posted 10:00 pm Sunday, November 02, 2008
Youth Hunters Take One-Two In North Division
Young hunters made use of last weekend's youth-only deer season as Matt Scruggs, of Jacksonville and Rylan Thedford, of Tyler grabbed a quick one-two lead in the North Texas Youth Division of the
29th Tyler Paper Big Buck Contest.
Hunter in Cherokee County on the Windy B Ranch, Scruggs, 11, has taken the early lead in the contest with a 12-point buck scoring 154 4/8. It was a buck he and his father, Nolan, have been looking for throughout October. He finally got the buck with a 75-yard shot.
Hunter in Cherokee County on the Windy B Ranch, Scruggs, 11, has taken the early lead in the contest with a 12-point buck scoring 154 4/8. It was a buck he and his father, Nolan, have been looking for throughout October. He finally got the buck with a 75-yard shot.
The buck only had an inside spread of 14 4/8 inches, but it had a longest main beam of 22 2/8 inches and a longest tine measuring 12 inches. The largest circumference at the base was 4 2/8 inches.
Rylan Thedford of Tyler
Thedford, 9, was hunting his father, Brian, and grandfather, Don, in McCulloch County when he took the 9-pointer scoring 121 7/8.
"We were hunting in stand No. 3 and got down when we heard the truck coming. I heard my uncle Donnie say they had just spotted a big, mature, management buck," Thedford recalled.
Along with his father, Rylan jumped in the truck's high rack.
"I asked my dad, 'Are we going to hunt that big buck?' He said maybe, and my heart started beating really fast," the young hunter said.
When they drove back to where the buck was first spotted it was still there. It took a quick glance with the binoculars to determine it was a shooter.
"My dad asked, 'Do you want to shoot him?' I said yes," Thedford said.
However, a malfunctioning rifle caused Rylan to have to borrow his cousin's .243-caliber rifle for a second attempt. When the deer presented a shot, Thedford dropped it.
The buck 15 1/8-inch inside spread and a longest main beam length of 18 inches. The longest tine was 11 5/8 inches and the largest circumference at the base was 3 5/8 inches.
With this being the opening weekend of the Texas deer season, the leader board should begin to fill quickly.
The only other division leader is
Don Harvey, of Longview, who is atop the Adult High Fence Division with a 14-point San Saba County buck scoring 184 6/8 he took bow hunting.
Don Harvey, of Longview, who is atop the Adult High Fence Division with a 14-point San Saba County buck scoring 184 6/8 he took bow hunting.
The Big Buck Contest is divided into adult and youth divisions. The adult division is divided into North Texas, South Texas and Statewide High Fence divisions. Winners in each division will receive a Remington .270-caliber rifle and a mount of their deer provided by Still Life Taxidermy. The guns are being furnished by Mac's Gun Shop, Noonday Gun Trader and Lynch's Food Store.
Second place in each division will receive a gift certificate from Academy and the Army/Navy Store of Tyler.
The Youth Division is divided into North and South Texas divisions. The top three finishers place in each division. Winners in both divisions will receive a mount of their deer provided by East Texas Seed. Second- and third-place finishers will receive gift certificates from Gander Mountain.
To participate in the contest, hunters must register at one of the contest sponsors at least 24 hours before taking their deer. Contest rules are listed on the back of the registration ticket.
Hunters may still register for the contest at area sponsors including: Army/Navy Store of Tyler, 1201
S.SE
. Loop 323; East Texas Seed, Cotton Belt Rail Yard; Mac's Gun Shop, 213 E. Elm St.; Lynch's Food Store, 3400 E. Fifth St.; Gander Mountain, 151 Market Square; Noonday Gun Trader, Texas 155 South; Academy Sports and Outdoors, 8668 S. Broadway Ave.; and Still Life Taxidermy, 1415 E. Tyler, Athens.
. Loop 323; East Texas Seed, Cotton Belt Rail Yard; Mac's Gun Shop, 213 E. Elm St.; Lynch's Food Store, 3400 E. Fifth St.; Gander Mountain, 151 Market Square; Noonday Gun Trader, Texas 155 South; Academy Sports and Outdoors, 8668 S. Broadway Ave.; and Still Life Taxidermy, 1415 E. Tyler, Athens.
All deer to be entered must be taken to either Still Life Taxidermy or Lynch's Food Store.
The contest will continue until Jan. 25, one week after the season closes in South Texas.
