Posted 10:35 pm Sunday, December 23, 2012
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Lott leads contest's women's division
Staff Report
Tyler’s Pam Lott has upped the ante in the Statewide Women’s Division of the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s 33rd Big Buck Contest.
Tyler’s Pam Lott has upped the ante in the Statewide Women’s Division of the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s 33rd Big Buck Contest.
Lott, who is annually among the contest leaders, has taken over the division lead with a 14-point McCulloch County buck scoring 149 1/8.
“This hunting season was off to a slow start as I had not really seen any great deer yet. I began hunting opening weekend, saw some good bucks, but they were never to be seen again,” Lott said.
About to become discourage at seeing mostly smaller bucks, she followed the advice of her husband, Ron, and moved to another blind. There she hoped she would find the 140-plus buck she was looking for.
The first hunt got off to a less-than-perfect start.
“This blind is smaller than the one I was used to. I had no place to put my phone, it fell off of the ledge. I kicked over the binoculars and dropped my glasses,” Lott said.
But not all was lost.
“Yet despite all the noise, I looked to my left and spotted this buck. I reached for my binoculars and about that time something spooked the deer and that buck and does run off,” she recalled.
In a matter of minutes, however, the deer started to move back into range.
“I saw the buck and realized that he had at least six points on one side so I knew he was a shooter. As soon as all of the does moved out of the way I took my shot, which was about 150 yards,” she said.
About to become discourage at seeing mostly smaller bucks, she followed the advice of her husband, Ron, and moved to another blind. There she hoped she would find the 140-plus buck she was looking for.
The first hunt got off to a less-than-perfect start.
“This blind is smaller than the one I was used to. I had no place to put my phone, it fell off of the ledge. I kicked over the binoculars and dropped my glasses,” Lott said.
But not all was lost.
“Yet despite all the noise, I looked to my left and spotted this buck. I reached for my binoculars and about that time something spooked the deer and that buck and does run off,” she recalled.
In a matter of minutes, however, the deer started to move back into range.
“I saw the buck and realized that he had at least six points on one side so I knew he was a shooter. As soon as all of the does moved out of the way I took my shot, which was about 150 yards,” she said.
Her first reaction was one that many hunters go through.
“Then I thought, I hope he is as big as I think he is.”
He was.
The big buck had a 16-inch inside spread and a longest main beam of 20 3/8 inches. The longest tine was 9 6/8 inches and the largest circumference base measurement was 3 5/8 inches.
With Lott’s entry Tyler’s Beverly Minson falls to second with an 8-point Cherokee County buck scoring 127 6/8. Laci Laird, Tyler, falls out of the standings.
Tyler’s Earl Brady continues to lead the North Texas Division with a 9-point Throckmorton County buck scoring 158 7/8, while Tyler’s Jason Ruark is second with a 10-point Callahan County buck scoring 151 5/8.
Cooper Hill, 8, Tyler, leads the Youth division with a 9-point Anderson County buck scoring 156. Tyler’s Clayton Bochow, 15, is second with a DeWitt County 10-point buck scoring 145.
Cole Findley, 11, Flint, is third with an 11-point Concho County buck scoring 142 5/8.
There haven’t been any entries from South Texas.
“Then I thought, I hope he is as big as I think he is.”
He was.
The big buck had a 16-inch inside spread and a longest main beam of 20 3/8 inches. The longest tine was 9 6/8 inches and the largest circumference base measurement was 3 5/8 inches.
With Lott’s entry Tyler’s Beverly Minson falls to second with an 8-point Cherokee County buck scoring 127 6/8. Laci Laird, Tyler, falls out of the standings.
Tyler’s Earl Brady continues to lead the North Texas Division with a 9-point Throckmorton County buck scoring 158 7/8, while Tyler’s Jason Ruark is second with a 10-point Callahan County buck scoring 151 5/8.
Cooper Hill, 8, Tyler, leads the Youth division with a 9-point Anderson County buck scoring 156. Tyler’s Clayton Bochow, 15, is second with a DeWitt County 10-point buck scoring 145.
Cole Findley, 11, Flint, is third with an 11-point Concho County buck scoring 142 5/8.
There haven’t been any entries from South Texas.
Registration continues and is free at any of the contest sponsors: The Tire Barn, 13687 FM 206 at Spur 364; 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 Texas 155 South; and Still Life Taxidermy, 1415 E. Tyler St., Athens.
Hunters must register at least 24 hours before taking their deer.
The contest has three adult divisions: North Texas, South Texas and Women’s. Winners in each division will receive a Remington .270-caliber rifle and a mount of their deer.
Second-place winners will receive gift certificates.
There are two youth divisions — North and South. The winners in each division will receive a mount of their buck. Second- and third-place winners receive gift certificates.
No deer taken within a high-fence property may be entered in the contest.
There are two rule changes this season.
Only bucks with hardened antlers may be entered in the contest.
This eliminates so-called velvet-horned deer from the competition. The change was made not because velvet-horned deer aren’t bucks, but because the velvet covering provides a scoring advantage.
Also beginning this season all deer must be taken to either Still Life Taxidermy or Lynch’s Food Store within 10 days of being harvested to be entered in the contest.
Hunters must register at least 24 hours before taking their deer.
The contest has three adult divisions: North Texas, South Texas and Women’s. Winners in each division will receive a Remington .270-caliber rifle and a mount of their deer.
Second-place winners will receive gift certificates.
There are two youth divisions — North and South. The winners in each division will receive a mount of their buck. Second- and third-place winners receive gift certificates.
No deer taken within a high-fence property may be entered in the contest.
There are two rule changes this season.
Only bucks with hardened antlers may be entered in the contest.
This eliminates so-called velvet-horned deer from the competition. The change was made not because velvet-horned deer aren’t bucks, but because the velvet covering provides a scoring advantage.
Also beginning this season all deer must be taken to either Still Life Taxidermy or Lynch’s Food Store within 10 days of being harvested to be entered in the contest.
