By HEATHER NELLIS

For the C-S-E

Local merchants and hunters will reap the benefits of next month’s Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Big Buck Contest, which aims to acknowledge and reward some of the half million hunters who harvest New York’s white-tailed deer every year.

The month-long contest was started by the Montgomery County chamber last year, but it was a natural choice to expand it under the soon-to-be merged entities, said interim President Mark Kilmer.

“Hunting is a huge upstate industry — it draws people in for tourism, and affects our members,” he said. “Even though the season is only a short period of time, quite a bit of revenue is generated for local businesses.”

The state Department of Environmental Conservation reports that sportsmen who hunt in New York contribute nearly $690 million to the state’s economy annually through hunting related expenses.

The event will coincide with the hunting season, and prizes will be awarded in the categories of bow, rifle, muzzleloader, female hunter, heaviest doe, and youth hunter.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the largest deer taken in each category. Winners last year included Margaret Achcet, who placed first in two categories for a 199-pound nine-point buck; Luke Nellis in the archery division; Seth Paro in the youth division; and, Bob Georgia won the muzzleloader division.

In all, 70 people registered last year, with 34 of them bringing in deer.

Registration forms are available at Frank’s Gun Shop in Mayfield, Fuel-N-Food in Mayfield, Tuman’s Tavern in Amsterdam, Loopie’s Pub in Tribes Hill, or Lock, Stock, & Barrel in Palatine Bridge, or can be downloaded a at www.fultoncountyny.org.

Deadline for entries is Nov. 16.

A portion of the registration fee will be allocated to the chamber scholarship fund, which awards several academic scholarships to area high school seniors each year.

All entries must be free-ranging white-tailed deer of New York State originating from any county.

All harvested animals entered must have been taken legally and tagged in accordance with the laws set by DEC.

The weigh stations will be located at Fuel-N-Food on 3006 State Highway 30 in Mayfield, Tuman’s Tavern at 373 Forest Ave. in Amsterdam, Loopie’s Pub at 410 Mohawk Drive in Tribes Hill, and Lock, Stock, & Barrel at 5794 State Highway 10 in Palatine Bridge.

If a station is unavailable, contestants are asked to contact Tom Georgia at 258-9448.

A banquet and game dinner will be held Jan. 5 at Tuman’s Tavern. All contestants who enter a deer will have a chance to win a rifle and door prizes.

For more information on becoming a sponsor or a participant, please contact Sharon Jenkins at 725-0641 or email events@fultoncountyny.org.