Tickets Still Available for Buckeye Big Bucks Banquet in Wilmington

52nd Annual event will showcase Southwest Ohio’s trophy bucks

WILMINGTON, OH– On Saturday April 2, 2011 the walls of the Roberts Centre will be adorned with the antlers of whitetails in one of the most impressive collections of deer mounts seen anywhere in North America. Members of the Buckeye Big Bucks Club (BBBC) will be displaying their trophies during the club’s 52nd annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony. For the first time the entertaining and informative, day-long event will be held in Southwest Ohio.

The public is invited to view the displays and talk with vendors from 9am to 4pm at no cost.  A panel of guest speakers from the wildlife management and hunting professions will be on hand throughout the day.  The Division of Wildlife will be available to answer questions as well. In addition to the seminars, sportsmen and women can cure “cabin fever” by picking up some new equipment or swapping outdoor stories with vendors, club members and representatives from companies and organizations including Adams Co. Travel &Visitors Bureau, Mike Beatty Production, Cabela's Properties, Clinton County Motorsports, Cherrybend Pheasant Farm, Cole Outdoors Production,Char-Tom Charters, CFJM Mobility --action trackchair, FHFH, Heartland Wildlife Institute, Jackie’s Deer Lure, Lucky Buck, New Hope Outdoors, Old Trading Post, Robert Lowendick  "Hunting in Ohio", Southern Ohio Sportsmen, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Ohio Outdoor News, True Trophy Outfitters,    Wildlife Conservation Foundation for Ohio, Ten Point Technologies, Clinton County Motor Sports, Cole Outdoors, The Old Trading Post and many more. Raffle tickets for a variety of hunting related items will be sold, with the drawings to be held during the awards ceremony. You do not have to be present to win.

Wildlife District Five Manager Todd Haines is pleased to have the opportunity to host the annual BBBC event.  Many of Ohio’s current record deer are from Southwest Ohio District Five area.  "By repeatedly setting records on non-typical and typical whitetails harvested, Ohio is starting to see an increase in the number of deer hunters," said Haines. "That translates directly into a boost in Ohio’s economy. Just the one-week of deer gun season generates about $859 million dollars in business for supplies such as food, lodging, fuel, and gear as well as supporting thousands of jobs."

Club members are invited to bring their deer antlers for the traditional display which has become a major attraction of this event and a tribute to Ohio’s quality whitetail deer herd. Ohio record deer harvested by Mike Beatty, Brad Jerman, Brian Stephens and Johnathan Schmucker will also be on display.  Brien Burke will be displaying the “Triple Locked Bucks” from Meigs County.

Banquet dinner tickets are $30.00 per person, kids 12 and under are $15.00. Tickets orders must be received by March 26, 2011. Send dinner ticket requests with your check or money order (made out to BBBC) and a self addressed stamped legal sized envelope to:  Banquet Tickets, Buckeye Big Buck Club, 15201 E. Scatter Ridge Rd., Athens, Ohio 45701.  Visit their website at http://buckeyebigbuckclub.org/ 

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Editors Notes: Photo credit Division of Wildlife.  Deer are from left, Jerman buck, center, Stephens buck, and right, Beatty buck.