Big Buck Rendezvous RECAP

Successful Big Buck Rendezvous
The 3nd Annual Big Buck Rendezvous is history. This was a day that saw nearly 5,000 hunters and fishermen, 300 deer racks and nearly 100 exhibitors of hunting and fishing supplies, RV, truck and ATV products gathered together once again at the Rogers Community Auction.
We are happy to announce that the 4th Ohio Valley Big Buck Rendezvous will be held September 15, 2007.

And at this time, a survey is being conducted with our exhibitors to determine if a two-day show should be held. The addition of a second day would allow more time for deer scoring, product testing, seeing exhibitor booths, participating in gun auctions and taxidermist displays, and will allow us to add additional events, including seminars.
The Monday after this year’s event, readers were calling the magazine, singing praises of the event and asking about booth space for next year. Other calls were from readers whining because they missed this year’s Rendezvous.

Among the highlights of Big Buck 2006 included the drawing of this year’s Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine Sweepstakes. The top prize winners were: James Riggs of Wheeling WV- New Mexico elk hunt, David Miler of Fredricksburg, OH- a hand-carved Remington or Knight in-line muzzleloader, William Davis of Wheeling, WV-Ten Point Crossbow, Micheal Boswell of Collins, OH-CSS/Richwood Compound Bow, James Stewart of Morgantown, WV- a fishing trip, David Baker of Madison, OH -CVA Muzzleloader, Andrew Miller of Millersburg, OH -Treestand.

All the other 243 semi-finalists will receive prizes ranging from Doc’s Deer Scent, Carlton Fishing Wing-Its, knives, hats and other hunting and fishing items. To those winners listed above, your prizes will be mailed in the next few weeks.
The top buck winners for the day included Mitchell Manning who brought in the biggest Non-Typical rack with a score of 183 7/8. The biggest typical winner was Rick Bartoletti, who brought in a rack that scored 166 7/8.

The biggest buck brought in by a woman hunter was Dawn Morrison with a 133 5/8 rack. The biggest rack brought in by a youth was Jocilyn Depetro (see story in this issue) with a deer scoring 165 4/8. They each received plaques that were laser engraved and donated by Moose Creek.
Winners in our taxidermist competition judged by views included: Best overall - Greg Henning of Hennings Taxidermy of Chester, WV. Best whitetail - Steve Shepler of Shepler Taxidermy of Frazeysburg OH, Steve received a special whitetail statue donated by Whitetails Unlimited.

The other categories judged by Jeff Pusateri were deer, fish, mammals and birds. Plaques donated by Moose Creek will also be presented to these winners. Whitetail - Jim Lench of Sprigfield, OH, Birds - Creations Captured New Castle PA, Fish - Ricks Taxidermy of Columbiana, OH and Mammals - Hennings taxidermy of Chester, WV.
Now comes the time to thank the people who helped make this the biggest and best Big Buck Rendezvous ever and, as always, I apologize in advance to anyone I missed. First, to all the exhibitors who traveled from as far as Michigan to share their knowledge and products with the area’s outdoorsmen, thank you for participating. I would personally like to thank Ken, Bill and Wade Baer and their staff. I would like to thank the scorers from Buckeye Big Buck Club and other scorers, George Block Washington, PA and Robert W. Ebbert Connellsville, PA, Taxidermist Judges Jeff Pusateri, Morning Journal publisher, Larry Dorschner, my staff, including Kathy Freeman, David Freeman Jr., Bill Henrich, Tod and Jason Taggenhorst, Roger Pound, Ralph Scherder, Ken Grantonic, Linda and Marvin McKenzie, and Dan Large. Special thanks also goes to Beaver Creek Sportsmen who supplied our hungry crowds with their delicious food, Columbiana Archery Club, who helped in the buck scoring and GKL Sports Club members, who helped in our treestand tests. Also, thanks to all the Ogden newspapers and WKBN Radio Outdoor Icon program who informed sportsmen about the Rendezvous.
Thanks for all who helped and who attended. As we plan next year’s event, we are looking for your input.

Please drop us a line at Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine, 308 W. Maple St., Lisbon, OH 44432, send a fax to 330-386-3312, or drop me an e-mail at lclaypool@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com.
Please tell us what you think, both good or bad, and any thoughts you may have on how to make next year’s event even better.

2006 Big Buck Rendezvous Sponsors

Midwest Firearms, Youngstown,OH
Custome Made Sportswear, Hartville, OH
Action Sport Cycle, Alliance, OH
Bowcase Archery Shop, Follansbee, WV
Clay's RV, North Canton, OH
Hot Rods Gun Shop, Akron, OH
Cunningham's, Jewett, OH
East Ohio Shooter's Supply, Lison, OH
Creation Captured, New Castle, PA
Country Convenience, Burghill, OH
Kiko Meats, Minerva, OH
Hidden Valley Outdoors, St. Clairsville, OH
Glenn's Archery, Guilford Lake, OH
Country View Taxidermy, Lisbon, OH
Kames Sports, North Canton, OH
O'donnel's Sports Supplies, Portersville, PA
Pytash Tractor Sales, Toronto, OH
Murph's RV Center, Richmond, OH
Runzo's Outdoor Sports, Beloit, OH
Evans Taxidermy, Carollton, OH
The Gun Shop, Carrollton, OH
Jefferson Golden Dawn, Jefferson, OH
Snuff n' Stuff Taxidermy, Leetonia, OH
Sportsman's Warehouse, Pittsburgh, PA
Wildlife Creations, Waynesburg, OH
North Star, St. Clairsville, OH
Slugmasters, Leavittsburg, OH
Stocker's Shop, Warren, OH
North Star Power Sports, Hermitage, PA
Work Wear Depot, Austintown, Oh