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Deer season 2020 opens

Posted 11/24/20

SULLIVAN COUNTY - Tomorrow, November 21, marks opening day for the Deer Hunting season in the Southern Zone of New York.

And with it comes the 47th Annual Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck …

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Deer season 2020 opens

Posted

SULLIVAN COUNTY - Tomorrow, November 21, marks opening day for the Deer Hunting season in the Southern Zone of New York.

And with it comes the 47th Annual Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck Contests to crown the largest buck harvested in either Sullivan County, NY or Wayne County, PA.

And now that both counties are using the “three-point rule,” whereby legal bucks need to have at least three points on one side, deer on both sides of the Delaware River are growing larger racks as well as bigger frames.

In fact, the last 10 winners of the Democrat contest have been evenly split, with five years going to a Sullivan County buck and five years going to a Wayne County deer.

“Pennsylvania was probably about 15 years ahead of us in the deer management program concerning the three-point rule,” Fred Stabbert III, publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat and sponsor of the Big Buck Contest said. “But now New York is catching up fast and we are amazed at the size of the deer as well as the size of the horns we are seeing on both sides of the river.”

Since 2014, the two states have alternated winning the Big Buck Contest and with the relatively mild winter of last year and more hunters than ever expected in the woods, this should be another banner years on both sides of the river.

The Democrat will be sponsoring two contests, as always - a Biggest Rack Contest as well as Heaviest Deer.

All information regarding this contest can be found on page 12B of this issue.

In addition, the Democrat will also be giving away a Weatherby .240 Weatherby magnum Backcountry rifle to one lucky hunter who enters the contest.

“We want to salute our dedicated hunters who enter our contest every year and what better way than by putting everyone's name in the hat and pulling out a winner,” Stabbert said. “All you have to do is enter the Democrat Big Buck Contest to with this great rifle, which is a $1,099 gun.”

Other great prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Delaware Valley Farm & Garden, which handles plenty of hunting gear.

And Rod's Taxidermy will again be offering a free mount to the first place Democrat winner, a lasting tribute for a great trophy.