2025 Illinois Big Buck Contest
1st Place – Caleb Brown – Taylorville – (183 6/8)
2nd Place – Brian Downer – Hartford – (175 0/8)
3rd Place – Josh McFarland – Allendale Village – (158 5/8)
4th Place – Joeseph McMeen – Marseilles – (151 3/8)
5th Place – Trent Koester – Neoga – (150 7/8)
Firearm Typical
1st Place – Jerod Cottingham – Chesterfield Village – (182 5/8)
2nd Place – Bradley Olson – Joy Village – (163 7/8)
3rd Place – Richard Shawgo – Kilbourne Village – (161 3/8)
4th Place – Robert Mitchell – Maquon Village – (155 3/8)
5th Place – Mark Mathis – Cuba – (155 1/8)
Muzzleloader Typical
1st Place – David South – Enfield Village – (159 6/8)
2nd Place – Nolan Martinson – Victoria Village – (153 6/8)
3rd Place – Dave Meinders – Mapleton Village – (144 5/8)
Ladies Crossbow Typical
1st Place – Mariah Kraft – Bradford – (137 2/8)
2nd Place – Milley Elliott – Avon – (98 2/8)
3rd Place – Emily Lohman – Mapleton – (92 7/8)
Ladies Archery Typical
1st Place – Hannah Whiting – Lexington – (149 2/8)
2nd Place – Cassicy Geiger – La Moille Village – (135 2/8)
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Firearm Typical
1st Place – Michelle Fortune – Clinton – (160 3/8)
2nd Place – Karlee Kephart – Benson Village – (157 2/8)
3rd Place – Mariah Washburn – Goodfield Village – (154 2/8)
Crossbow Typical
1st Place – Eric Hattan – Sparland Village – (170 1/8)
2nd Place – Stan Decker – Carrollton – (164 6/8)
3rd Place – Brandon Bollinger – Kewanee – (160 08)
Historical Typical
1st Place – John Cardinal – Vincennies – (174 6/8)
2nd Place – Richard Walden – Sidney Village – (172 0/8)
3rd Place – Cody Miller – Jacksonville – (171 4/8)
Youth Firearms Typical
1st Place – Noah Nipper – Seaton Village – (173 2/8)
2nd Place – Madison Hahn – Dieterich Village – (140 5/8)
3rd Place – Wyatt Washburn – Goodfield Village – (104 5/8)
Youth Archery Typical
1st Place – Kaden Salisbury – Colona – (154 0/8)
2nd Place – Joeseph Patyk – Tonica Village – (153 3/8)
3rd Place – Ian McFarland – Allendale Village -(148 1/8)
1st Place – Keith Lincoln – New Boston – (215 6/8)
2nd Place – Ryan Koester – Neoga – (195 7/8)
3rd Place – Dillon Law – Wilmington – (192 1/8)
4th Place – N/A
5th Place – N/A
Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – Rob Haack – Jewett Village – (220 5/8)
2nd Place – Chris Donovan – Knoxville – (214 0/8)
3rd Place – Brandon Cox – Kankakee – (213 3/8)
4th Place – Luke McLaughlin – Congerville Village – (192 6/8)
5th Place – Gary Hilgenbrink – Quincy – (175 7/8)
Muzzleloader Non-Typical
1st Place – N/A
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Crossbow Non-Typical
1st Place – Rebbecca Ketron – Coal Valley – (174 6/8)
2nd Place – Rozlynn Maring – Sidell – (148 6/8)
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Archery Non-Typical
1st Place – N/A
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – N/A
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Crossbow Non-Typical
1st Place – James Sumner – Alvin Village – (200 7/8)
2nd Place – Tony Foley – Warsaw – (192 2/8)
3rd Place – John Taylor – Prairie City Village – (186 6/8)
Historical Non-Typical
1st Place – Ross Walwer – Watseka – (258 4/8)
2nd Place – John Angel – East Moline – (220 6/8)
3rd Place – Kenneth Ferch – Hanna City Village – (188 0/8)
Youth Firearms Non-Typical
1st Place – Hunter Brandon – Paxton – (210 1/8)
2nd Place – Brady McLaughlin – Mason City – (141 3/8)
3rd Place – N/A
Youth Archery Non-Typical
1st Place – Levi Baffa – Washington – (160 4/8)
2nd Place – Carter Overacker – Kankakee – (130 5/8)
3rd Place – N/A
6 Point Buck
Alex Corrington – Bethany Village – (132 0/8)
8 Point Buck
Michelle Fortune – Clinton – (160 3/8)
9 Point Buck
Nick Bruketta – Prairie City Village – (164 7/8)
10 Point Buck
Caleb Brown – Taylorville – (183 6/8)
11 Point Buck
Brian Downer – Hartford – (175 0/8)
12 Point Buck
Nathan Payne – Patoka Village – (170 3/8)
How to Enter:
Bring your trophy to the Illinois Deer Classic Big Buck Ticket location.
All antlers should use the Box Office Entrance off of Jefferson Street.
Purchase a $20 Big Buck Contest entry ticket which includes a 3-day Show Pass (a $30 value) and official scoring of your whitetail. You will be asked to fill out a complete registration form and receive a numbered claim check which correlates to a registration tag that will accompany your whitetail. Security and safety of your trophy is always our number one concern. Your whitetail will be scored and put on display at the show and may be picked up Sunday afternoon after 3:30 PM
Big Buck Contest Rules of Entry:
- Contest open to hunters who legally harvested an antlered whitetail deer in the State of Illinois.
- Entries will be accepted starting 2:00 pm on Friday March 21, 2025 and close at 11:00 am on Sunday March 23, 2025. Sunday entries accepted starting at 9:00 am
- Antlers do not need to be mounted. Antlers must have a solid skull plate. 60 day drying period applies.
- If your deer has been previously scored, you MUST bring a copy of the official score sheet. It will not be re-measured.
- Entry Fee is per Trophy and contestants will receive a FREE three-day pass (a $30.00 value), and entry in the prize drawing.
- Bucks must have been harvested in the Fall 2023/2024 or the 2024/2025 Illinois Hunting seasons to enter the Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, Crossbow, Ladies Archery, Ladies Firearm, Ladies Crossbow or Youth categories.
- Bucks harvested prior to Fall 2023 hunting season must be entered into the Historical category.
Found Deer (deadheads) can be entered in the Historical Category. - To compete in the Youth Firearm or Youth Archery category, hunter must have been under 18 years of age at time of harvest. Proof of birth date may be required.
- Female entrants can choose whether to complete in the Ladies Archery category, Ladies Firearm category, Ladies Crossbow Category or in the appropriate method specific category (Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, Youth). Once entered, the category cannot be changed.
- Deer from Game Farms or deer harvested in high fence areas may NOT be entered in the contest and they will not be measured.
Awards and Judging:
- Awards will be given at 3:00 Sunday in the Big Buck display area.
- Plaques and Deluxe Place Ribbons are given for the top five (5) entries in four (4) categories: Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Firearm Typical & Non-Typical.
- Plaques and Deluxe Place Ribbons are given to the top three (3) entries in the following sixteen (16) categories: Muzzleloader Typical & Non-Typical, Crossbow Typical & Non-Typical, Youth Firearm Typical & Non-Typical, Youth Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Historical Typical & Non-Typical, Ladies Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Ladies Firearm Typical & Non-Typical, Ladies Crossbow Typical & Non-Typical.
- Entries eligible for one Award only, and must be present at the Awards Presentation to win.
- Award Ribbons are awarded to all entries meeting Pope & Young Record Book, Boone & Crockett Record Book or Long Hunters Society Book entry standards.
- All entries will be measured by Official Measurers using the Boone & Crockett and/or Pope & Young Scoring System. Bucks can be entered into the Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young Record Books if qualified for an additional fee.
- Each entrant is eligible for a Special Door Prize Drawing. You do not have to be present to win the drawing.
- Judging will be performed on Sunday afternoon. No entries can be picked up without permission before 3:00 pm on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
- Awards will be determined based on the Boone & Crockett score and/or Pope & Young score. Trophy deer must be present to win an award. Net score used for awards. Gross and Net scores listed.
- You MUST have a Claim Check AND Proof of Identity to claim your entry. No exceptions. Security is a high priority at the show. We strongly suggest your trophy be locked in your car after return. No trophy deer will be allowed on the show floor after return.
SCORE ONLY:
We offer the option to have your deer officially measured by our certified scorers. It will NOT be
entered in the contest or displayed. Antlers may be picked up after they are scored. Priority is given to deer entered in the contest first. Cost $20.
BIG BUCK REGISTRATION:
Please print and fill out the Big Buck Registration Form to expedite the check in process.
for a registration form CLICK HERE
