Oct. 17–TWIN FALLS — After Jeff Frost bought a local taxidermy business eight years ago, he started receiving requests to get involved with conservation groups. While the groups had individual banquets, there wasn’t something that drew everyone to one place.
“What I was noticing is there was no opportunity for Magic Valley sportsmen to come together as sportsmen under one roof,” the Intermountain Taxidermy and Worldwide Adventures owner said.
So he teamed with Sportsman’s Warehouse and Rob Green Auto Group to create the Bucks and Bulls trophy contest. The annual contest later picked up another primary sponsor — Advantage Archery — and is supported by many other individuals and businesses.
Now in its eighth year, the Bucks and Bulls big-game contest returns. The deadline for entries is 6 p.m. Dec. 31.
It’s free to enter the contest, but racks must be clean and free of meat.
There are about a dozen categories to choose from. In addition to bragging rights, winners take home prizes.
Reese Widmier, general manager at Sportsman’s Warehouse, said the contest isn’t for the businesses to gain anything, but “for the community to enjoy the outdoors.”
The number of people who enter the contest varies each year, he said. Last year, more than 200 people participated.
There are rifle, muzzleloader and archery divisions for mule deer, elk and antelope. There’s a whitetail division, as well as women’s and children’s mule deer categories.
“Any trophies taken legally in the state of Idaho are welcome,” Frost said. “We’d love to display them.”
Prizes are awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners in each category. First-place winners will take home a shoulder mount from Intermountain Taxidermy and World Adventures and a $300 gift card to Sportsman’s Warehouse. Second-place winners receive a $200 gift card, while third-place winners receive a $100 gift card.
For the archery categories, winners will receive prizes from Sportsman’s Warehouse and Advantage Archery.
Winners will be recognized during a banquet in January.
Area conservation groups are also invited to raise money and awareness for their individual groups, Frost said.
A portion of the banquet proceeds goes to Hunt of a Lifetime, a nonprofit that takes children who have life-threatening illnesses on hunting and fishing trips.