MANITOULIN—There were 37 deer weighed in at the annual Kagawong Bridal Veil Esso Big Buck and Doe Contest during the Manitoulin deer rifle hunt. There were also a number of entries in the first Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and Township of Assiginack contest.

A total of 37 deer were weighed as part of the Bridal Veil contest, which included entries from 17 camps and approximately 60 single entries.

The award for the biggest buck went to Jackie Legge and the Manitoulin Boys and Girls Hunt Camp. Ms. Legge’s winning entry was an eight point buck weighing 215 pounds. The prize for the biggest doe went to Anne Pyette of the Pyette Hunt Camp for her 155-pound deer. Both Ms. Legge and Ms. Pyette won cash prizes of $431.25 each.

Another notable big buck that was harvested and entered in the contest was a 20 point buck which weighed 195 pounds, harvested by Chris Syr.

The contest began in 1991 started by owners Dave and Sharon Montgomery. Proceeds raised from the entry fee to join the contest, excluding the cash prizes given out, were donated to the Gore Bay Fish and Game Club this year. Also, there were a total of 19 different prizes-giveaways given out to the contest contestants.

New this year, Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and the Township of Assiginack partnered to host a deer contest. The organizers asked hunters to bring in their does, bucks or fawns for the purpose of collecting data. All entries were entered into a draw for each of the three categories of buck, doe and fawn and a $100 cash prize was to be awarded to a winner in each division.

The winner of the buck category was Trevor Cress of Tehkummah and Fred Armstrong of Manitowaning took home the cash prize in the doe division. There were no entries in the fawn division.