BY JOSEPH ABRAHAM

SULLIVAN COUNTY -- A common sports adage is that ‘It isn't over until it's over,' which was certainly the case with the Sullivan County Democrat 47th Annual Big Buck Contest, with the winning entry being taken on the last day of the regular firearm season.

Livingston Manor's William Roser never gave up, and took a monster eight-point buck in the Town of Rockland that scored 77 on the final day of the season, Sunday, December 13.

The trophy buck just beats out Tri-Valley star athlete and St. Bonaventure baseball commit Jake Yager, whose harvest measured 76.25 inches.

As the winner of the ‘Biggest Rack' contest, Roser wins a free mount courtesy of Rod's Taxidermy in Callicoon and $150.

Yager will receive $75 as the runner up.

Both contestants, as well as the nearly 2 dozen other entries, will be eligable to win the $900 ‘Grand Prize Raffle,” a .240 Weatherby rifle, courtesy of Sullivan County Democrat publisher Fred Stabbert III.

“We are delighted to be able to sponsor this contest for the 47th year - and are again impressed on the size of the deer making it into our contest,” Stabbert said. “As a thank you to all of our dedicated hunters, we thought a rifle would be a great grand prize.”

On the ‘Heaviest Deer' side, well-known attorney Walter Garigliano shattered the Democrat's contest record with his take of a 224-lb buck. He wins $100. His son, John, takes second place and the $75 prize for his 195.5-lb buck, and 14-year-old Sullivan West athlete Abby Parucki takes third place and the $50 prize for her 159-lb buck.

Most importantly, 2020 appears to be a very safe season, with the New York State DEC not reporting any accidents in the field in Sullivan County as of presstime.

Sullivan County Democrat

Big Buck ‘Biggest Rack' Leaderboard

Name, Residence Taken In Pts. Score

1. William Roser, Liv Manor Rockland 8 77

2. Jake Yager, Grahamsville Liv. Manor 10 76.25

3. Tim Mills, Liv Manor Rockland 10 74.25

4. Kevin Delaney, Woodbourne Grahamsville 12 74

5. Liz Giumarra, Harris Bethel 7 72.25

6. Forest Darder, Neversink Westbrookville 10 71.25

7. Justin Diehl, Cochecton Debruce 9 70

7. Jacob Smith, Massapequa Callicoon 8 70

9. Joseph Salerno Lake Huntington 8 66

10. Don Consiglio Neversink 10 65.75

11. Fred Schneider Callicoon 8 65.5

12. Abby Parucki Fremont 8 65

13. Rich Devoe, Liv Manor Rockland 10 64.25

14. William Nearing, Cochecton Cochecton 6 62

15. James Matos, Damascus Westbrookville 8 61.75

16. Gary Krol, Narrrowsburg Tusten 8 61.5

17. Corrine Hellerer, Liberty Liberty 7 60.75

18. Jimmy Goulas Tusten 58

19. Sawyer Quick, Mongaup Valley Callicoon 8 54.5

20. Terry Davis, Youngsville Delaware 8 52.5

21. Tammy Duffy, Callicoon Delaware 7 52

22. George Marshall,WS Springs Bethel 8 47.5

23. Jared Hellerer, Liberty Liberty 7 45.75

24. Mark Heller, Callicoon Delaware 5 45

25. Xaira Sennett, Jeffersonville Callicoon 4 40

26. Kaitlyn Miller, Glen Wild Bethel 5 35.5

Heaviest Deer Contest

Name Taken In Pts. Weight

1. Walter Garigliano Grahamsville 8 224

2. John Garigliano Grahamsville 8 195.5

3. Abby Parucki Fremont 8 159

4. Kevin Delaney 12 154

5. Don Consiglio Neversink 151

6. Liz Giumarra Bethel 7 147

7. William Roser Rockland 8 144

8. Sawyer Quick Callicoon 131

9. Xaira Sennett Callicoon 4 130

9. George Marshall Bethel 8 130

9. Mark Heller Delaware 5 130

12. Tammy Duffy Delaware 7 128

13. Will Nearing Cochecton 6 127

14. Terry Davis Delaware 8 122

15. Justin Diehl DeBruce 9 120