Sponsored by Budweiser, the King of Beers, one of our most popular attractions at the Iowa Deer Classic is our Big Buck Contest which typically brings in over 350 trophies whitetails for scoring and display! Leader Boards are rotated for the many categories and on Sunday an Awards Ceremonly showcases the biggest Iowa bucks of the year and awards the lucky Iowa hunters. Our first class display of entries is truly a site to see!

How to Enter: It's easy! Bring your trophy to the Iowa Deer Classic and purchase a $20 Big Buck Contest entry ticket which includes a 3-Day Show Pass and official scoring of your whitetail. You will be asked to fill out a complete registration form and receive a numbered claim check with correlates to a stamped 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 on display at the show and may be picked up Sunday afternoon after 3:30 pm.

Larry L. Huffman Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the whitetail chosen by the Contest Measurers as the 'Best in Show', this award is named after Larry Huffman, proud founder of the Iowa Deer Classic, who passed away in January 2007.

Larry Raveling Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the whitetail chosen by the Contest Measurers as the 'Most Unusual Whitetail', this award is named after Larry Raveling, holder of the Iowa State Non-Typical Whitetail Record since since 1973 and long-time friend and volunteer of the Iowa Deer Classic, passed away in 2005.

2008 Distinctly Different Award!
Sponsored by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands, Inc., enter your “Distinctly Different” looking antlers for a chance to win the Peoples Choice Awards! Hunters, if you have a whitetail on your wall, crazy, non-typical, drop tine monster, unicorn buck and other freaks, with a unique, Distinctly Different look, be sure to bring it to the Iowa Deer Classic this year to compete for a Peoples Choice Award.

Iowa Deer Classic Judges (not affiliated with U.S. Smokeless) will independently determine which antlers qualify as Distinctly Different. Once the Judges have made their selection, Iowa Deer Classic attendees over the age of 18 can cast their ballots for their own favorite 'different' whitetail. Ballots for voting will be available at the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands booth.

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands Inc. will award an ALL ABOUT GAME Camouflage Bike to the First Place winner; an ALL ABOUT GAME Tree Stand to the Second Place winner; and an All About Game Hunting Blind to the Third Place winner. All voters will also be entered into a drawing for an ALL ABOUT GAME Hunting Blind* Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter contest and/or to vote. A valid photo I.D. is required. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Employees of USSTB and their families are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law or regulation. All federal, state and local taxes apply and are the sole responsibility of the winner. By entering, all entrants accept and agree to be bound by these rules and the decision of the judges. Odds of winning are determined by the total number of entries received.

• Contest open to hunters who legally harvested a white-tailed buck deer in Iowa.
• Entries will be accepted starting 4:00 pm on Friday and close at 11:00 am on Sunday.
• Antlers do not need to be mounted. Unmounted antlers must have a solid skull plate.
• If your deer has been previously scored, you must bring a copy of the official score sheet.
• Buck must have been harvested in the previous two hunting seasons to enter the Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, or Youth categories.
• Bucks harvested prior to the past two hunting seasons must be entered into 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 birthdate may be required.
• No previous Iowa Deer Classic winners (does not include Honorable Mentions) are eligible for an award with the same trophy deer.

• Trophies and Deluxe Place Ribbons are given for the top five (5) entries in four (4) categories: Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Firearm Typical & Non-Typical.
• Trophies and Deluxe Place Ribbons are given to the top three (3) whitetails in the following eight (8) categories: Muzzleloader Typical & Non-Typical, Youth Firearm Typical & Non-Typical, Youth Archery Typical & Non-Typical, and Historical Typical & Non-Typical and now Ladies Only Typical & Non-Typical.
• Entries eligible for one Award only, and must be present at the Awards Presentation to win.
• Deluxe Award Ribbons are awarded to all Honorable Mention bucks as well as all entries meeting Pope & Young Record Book or Boone & Crockett Record 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 3:30 pm on Sunday.
• Awards will be determined based on the Boone & Crockett score and/or Pope & Young score. Trophy deer must be present to win an award.
• 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.

FIREARM TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Dennis Hidlebaugh (171 6/8)
• 2nd Place -- Rick Davis (171 4/8)
• 3rd Place -- Dave Luke (168 2/8)
• 4th Place -- Chuck Johnson (167 5/8)
• 5th Place -- John Bereczki Jr. (165 6/8)

FIREARM NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Jeff Parker (230 7/8)
• 2nd Place -- Walter Johnson (228 0/8)
• 3rd Place -- Jesse Watters (209 6/8)
• 4th Place -- R. Bright & J. Price (206 2/8)
• 5th Place -- Rick Hamilton (204 3/8)

ARCHERY TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Kevin McDonald (180 0/8)
• 2nd Place -- Bob Harsin (179 2/8)
• 3rd Place -- Ron Ludwig (177 5/8)
• 4th Place -- Jim Staley (177 3/8)
• 5th Place -- Rob Jaeger (176 4/8)

ARCHERY NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Chip Thurnau (217 7/8)
• 2nd Place -- Hilary Bates (209 0/8)
• 3rd Place -- Brent Johnson (207 5/8)
• 4th Place -- Jared Robinson (207 4/8)
• 5th Place -- Jesse Godwin (204 5/8)

MUZZLELOADER TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Brandon O'Neill (176 3/8)
• 2nd Place -- Robert Berry (173 5/8)
• 3rd Place -- Avery Reed (166 6/8)

MUZZLELOADER NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Stephen Hanson (198 6/8)
• 2nd Place -- Mick Wade (197 4/8)
• 3rd Place -- Wes Stender (197 2/8)

LADIES ONLY TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Teresa Fields (156 0/8)
• 2nd Place -- Emily Fredericksen (141 2/8)
• 3rd Place -- Lacy Bos (121 6/8)

LADIES ONLY NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Susan Miller (192 6/8)
• 2nd Place -- Lindsay Laurie (166 7/8)
• 3rd Place -- Lynette Mayer (159 1/8)

YOUTH FIREARM TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Drew Jackson (168 0/8)
• 2nd Place (tie) -- Casey Crozier (166 2/8)
• 2nd Place (tie) -- Ken Knoblock (166 2/8)

YOUTH FIREARM NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Angela Lenehan (215 4/8)
• 2nd Place -- Luke Hoerner (209 4/8)
• 3rd Place -- Rob Clifton (193 2/8)

YOUTH ARCHERY TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Alex Golay (158 4/8)
• 2nd Place -- Bryce Carnahan (157 7/8)
• 3rd Place -- Drew Jackson (146 4/8)

YOUTH ARCHERY NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Brandon Cairney (161 5/8)

HISTORICAL TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- Douglas Warrior (175 6/8)
• 2nd Place -- Randy Manuel (168 3/8)
• 3rd Place -- Gary Nekola (166 6/8)

HISTORICAL NON-TYPICAL (photo)

• 1st Place -- David Fuller (198 7/8)
• 2nd Place -- Brian Manhart (190 0/8)
• 3rd Place -- David Fredericksena (189 7/8)

LARRY L. HUFFMAN MEMORIAL
TROPHY FOR BEST OF SHOW

• Awarded by a Vote of our Measuring Staff to David Fuller (198 7/8 Non-Typical Historical). (photo)

LARRY RAVELING MEMORIAL
TROPHY FOR MOST UNUSUAL WHITETAIL

• Awarded by a Vote of our Measuring Staff to Brent Johnson (207 5/8 Non-Typical Archery). (photo)

2008 DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
Sponsored by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, Big Buck Contest Entrants over 18 with "Distinctly Different" looking antlers were eligible for participation in the 2007 Iowa Deer Classic 'Distinctly Different' People's Choice Awards. Classic attendees cast their ballots for their favorite 'different' whitetail. Our 2008 winners were...

• 1st Place -- Harry Ericson winner of a an All-About-Game Camo Mountain Bike!
• 2nd Place -- Brent Johnson winner of a an All-About-Game Treestand!
• 3rd Place -- Tanner Bunce winner of an All-About-Game Hunting Blind!
• Voters Drawing -- Dan Blackford winner of an All-About-Game Hunting Blind!