Callicoon – The 51st Annual Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck Contests will be starting soon as Opening Day of the Big Game firearm season starts next Saturday, November 16 in New York State.

“We are very excited to sponsor the contest every year and really can’t believe it’s been going on for 51 years,” Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III said. “This contest is very popular and this year we are hoping it is even more exciting.”

New in 2024 will be an expanded coverage area  which will now include all bucks taken in Sullivan, Delaware and Ulster Counties in New York and Wayne and Pike Counties in PA.

“We wanted to include as many hunters as possible into our contest and we know that many Sullivan County hunters have clubs just over the border in Delaware and Ulster,” Stabbert said. “In fact, several clubs’ property lines are split by the county lines and we didn’t want to exclude them from the contest.”
The Big Buck Conest will also now have two new measuring stations, namely Fur, Fin & Feather in Livingston Manor and Shewolf Taxidermy in Roscoe.

“Our measuring stations really do an outstanding job and I would like to thank them for all their hard work,” Stabbert said.

For the Big Buck Contest, hunters can bring their buck into the Sullivan County Demcorat office in Callicoon, Rod’s Taxidermy in Callicoon, Sportsmen’s Den in Callicoon, Neversink General Store in Neversink, Tom’s Bait and Tackle in Narrowsburg, Artistic Creation Taxidermy in Swan Lake, Fur, Fin & Feather in Livingston Manor or Shewolf Taxidermy in Roscoe.

A complete list appears on page 7C of this issue in our Big Buck ad.

Also, hunters who want to enter their heavy deer can do so at Sportsmen’s Den, Neversink General Store or Artistic Creation.

The contest runs from November 16 until December 8. Pennsylvania dates are November 30 through December 14. 

“As always, we wish our sportsmen a successful hunt, but more importantly a safe and fun-filled hunt,” Stabbert said.