Posted 10:40 pm Sunday, October 23, 2011
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Henderson County Buck Takes Buck Contest Lead
Clay Lemmert shot at a couple of wild pigs earlier in October at his lease in North Texas, but it has been two years since he hunted deer with a bow.
That changed last week when sitting in a blind in Henderson County as the Brownsboro hunter spotted an 11-point buck. Returning to the blind Thursday, with his bow, Lemmert shot the 140-inch buck and is the season’s first leader in the North Texas Division of the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s 32nd Big Buck Contest.
Hunting on just 50 acres, Lemmert first got a glimpse of the buck last season, but two broken tines kept him from shooting it. He saw the deer again, still in velvet, on game camera photos back in July. He knew it was a good deer and would be a shooter if it didn’t again break a tine or get shot by someone else in the heavily hunted area.
That changed last week when sitting in a blind in Henderson County as the Brownsboro hunter spotted an 11-point buck. Returning to the blind Thursday, with his bow, Lemmert shot the 140-inch buck and is the season’s first leader in the North Texas Division of the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s 32nd Big Buck Contest.
Hunting on just 50 acres, Lemmert first got a glimpse of the buck last season, but two broken tines kept him from shooting it. He saw the deer again, still in velvet, on game camera photos back in July. He knew it was a good deer and would be a shooter if it didn’t again break a tine or get shot by someone else in the heavily hunted area.
Thursday night, when the deer came to his feeder, Lemmert realized all was good.
“He was the only deer I saw. I thought he was going to leave. He walked right past where I was going to shoot, went to the fence, turned around and came right back,” Lemmert said.
The 4 1/2-year-old buck only had a 13 5/8-inch inside spread. Its longest main beam measured 20 1/8 inches and the longest tine measured 9 inches. The largest circumference measurement at the base was 4 3/8 inches.
“He was the only deer I saw. I thought he was going to leave. He walked right past where I was going to shoot, went to the fence, turned around and came right back,” Lemmert said.
The 4 1/2-year-old buck only had a 13 5/8-inch inside spread. Its longest main beam measured 20 1/8 inches and the longest tine measured 9 inches. The largest circumference measurement at the base was 4 3/8 inches.
Hunters may still register for the contest. Participation is free, but hunters must register at least 24 hours in advance of taking their deer. Hunters may register at any of the contest sponsors: Army/Navy Store of Tyler, 1201 E.SE. Loop 323; East Texas Seed, Cotton Belt Rail Yard; Lynch’s Food Store, 3400 E. Fifth; Mac’s Gun Shop, 213 E. Elm; Noonday Gun Trader, 14674 U.S. 155 South; and Still Life Taxidermy, 1415 E. Tyler St., Athens.
The contest is for open range deer only. No deer taken on a fully enclosed, high-fenced property may be entered.
The contest is for open range deer only. No deer taken on a fully enclosed, high-fenced property may be entered.
The contest features three adult divisions — North Texas, South Texas and Women’s; and two youth divisions — North and South Texas. The youth division is open to hunters 16 years old and younger.
First-place winners in each adult division will receive a Remington .270-caliber rifle and a shoulder mount of their deer. Second-place winners are awarded gift certificates.
Winners of the youth divisions will receive a shoulder mount of their deer. Second- and third-place finishers will be awarded gift certificates.
All deer to be entered in the contest must be taken to either Still Life Taxidermy or Lynch’s Food Store.
First-place winners in each adult division will receive a Remington .270-caliber rifle and a shoulder mount of their deer. Second-place winners are awarded gift certificates.
Winners of the youth divisions will receive a shoulder mount of their deer. Second- and third-place finishers will be awarded gift certificates.
All deer to be entered in the contest must be taken to either Still Life Taxidermy or Lynch’s Food Store.
