Big turnout for big bucks

The stories were plentiful and so were the antlers at Big Buck Night for Leelanau County hosted by Dick’s Pour House.

It was the 21st year for the event.

“That’s when people were excited about new antler restrictions,” recalled Mark Steimel, a fruit farmer and taxidermist from Leland Township who has attended every big buck evening. “There is a huge difference between the size of bucks now compared to then.”

Steimel joined Commemorative Bucks of Michigan official scorer Travis Nelson of Centerville Township on Jan. 12 in putting tape measures to the racks. Thirty-five sets of antlers taken in Leelanau County were brought to the evening, which was highlighted by turns at the microphone by hunters holding their trophies. While all shooters of the biggest deer were recognized, those who had entered a Big Buck Contest sponsored by Dick’s received prizes. About 35 hunters entered.

The biggest buck entered in the contest was shot across the street from last year’s winning entry.

Dan Cermak, who took home the prize money for the 2023 season, held up the winning rack for his neighbor, Bob Lecy, while explaining their hunts. Lecy could not be present.

“This deer was shot probably 150 yards from where I shot my deer last year,” said Cermak, of Leelanau Township. The massive buck was shot as daylight faded on Nov. 17.

“I had him on camera in my food plot the previous night mating a doe. Last year when I won the contest, I paid for both of us this year. I should probably take all the money but the $20 (entrance fee) and tell him, ‘Here’s what you won,’” said Cermak through a wide grin.

Placing second in the firearms category was Al Skeba of Bingham Township, and third was Lenny McNeil of Suttons Bay.

To speed things along, measurements were taken and combined with number of points, inside antler spread, length of the tallest points, and the circumferences of both antler bases. No fair comparisons can be made with how the antlers would rate using the widely accepted Boone and Crocket method.

The three winners on the gun side of the contest scored 54 2/8 inches, 51 1/8 inches and 49 1/8 inches.

Cody Campbell of Leland Township doubled up on his winnings, shooting the biggest two bucks on the archery side of the contest. The first deer he claimed emerged after Campbell had listened to two bucks fighting for more than a half hour. His second winning buck — first place winner shot later in October — was icing on the cake.

“I just went out to the tree stand to pass the time. I had no intention of shooting a buck,” he explained.

However, a buck that he considered shooting did pass near his stand. Before he released a bolt, he heard rustling behind the deer.

“Every experience I’ve ever had was this was going to be a bigger buck. He came down that same lane, and I shot him,” Campbell recounted.

Tying for third in the bow category were Daryl Couturier and Bob Dembowsky. The top bucks in the bow contest scored 50 5/8 inches, 47 inches and 44 7/8 inches.

Daryl’s son, Cody Couturier, was winner in the youth category. He made the best of what little time he could put in the woods. A senior at St. Mary, Couturier ran cross country in the fall and is a starter on the basketball team.

“I basically got one hunt per weekend, and I don’t hunt on school days because I have to study,” he said. His eight-point scored 40 1/8 inches.

The biggest buck of the evening was taken by Jesse LaCross of Centerville Township on Dec. 13 during muzzle loader season, which was changed in 2024 to allow deer rifles as weapons. Lacross was familiar with the 5 1/2-year-old buck, having had a shot at him that deflected during the rifle season.

And he was familiar through pictures, having studied trail cam photos of the identical buck mature for three years. LaCross learned that the animal always entered a field from the south, but had to wait several days for the right wind direction.

“It’s fun to watch them grow up. That’s the biggest moral of the story,” LaCross said.

Lacross’ buck scored 56 5/8 inches. Taking second overall was Nate Zientek with a 56 1/8 inch buck.

While many of those attending, like Steimel, are founding members of the Leelanau Whitetails Association and have never missed a big buck night, one face was missing. Ron Plamondon, who usually emceed the event, set up tables and did the prep work but for the first time stayed home. Plamondon is owner of Dick’s Pour House.

“He’s passing the torch,” explained Pour House manager Adam Sleder, who has attended several Big Buck nights through the years. “I think it was one of our bigger turnouts.”

The cost to enter is $20 for either archery or firearms contest, or $40 for both.