Iowa’s Biggest Big Buck Contest
2025 Results
1st Place – Bill Rauen – Dubuque – 176 5/8
2nd Place – William Richart – Urbana -173 2/8
3rd Place – Connor Van Zee – Montezuma – 172 1/8
4th Place – Michael Wilson – Ottumwa – 170 7/8
5th Place – David Holder – Winterset – 168 2/8
Firearm Typical
1st Place – Eli Hogan – Muscatine – 176 6/8
2nd Place – Bryce Olson – Eagle Grove – 168 6/8
3rd Place – Kamron Kunkle – Stuart – 165 5/8
4th Place – Don Bomkamp– Clarinda -160 6/8
5th Place – Kenny Van Der Pol – Urbandale -156 7/8
Muzzleloader Typical
1st Place – Michael Wilson – Ottumwa – 173 7/8
2nd Place – Josh Adams – St. Ansgar – 170 5/8
3rd Place – Wayne Caltrider – Stuart – 165 1/2
Ladies Archery Typical
1st Place – Heidi Jo Buxengard – Decorah – 173 3/8
2nd Place – Cassie Wright – Woodburn – 163 2/8
3rd Place – Denissa Cornick – Burlington – 155 6/8
Ladies Firearm Typical
1st Place – Stephanie Yarkosky- Knoxville – 156 4/8
2nd Place – Kylie Bergren – Fort Dodge – 156 3/8
3rd Place – Kara Muenchow – DeSoto – 147 7/8
Crossbow Typical
1st Place – Roland Spencer – Waukee – 158 7/8
2nd Place – Tasia Hulin – Marshalltown – 156 7/8
3rd Place – Shawn Brown – Arikeny – l55 3/8
Historical Typical
1st Place – Marl Moen – Ackworth – 173 1/8
2nd Place – Garth Loy -·Murray – 170 0/8
3rd Place – Brian Parkins – Polk City – 165 3/8
Youth Firearms Typical
1st Place – Cael Dop – Ackworth – 180 0/8
2nd Place – Kade Bodensteiner – Wauken – 175 6/8
3rd Place – Liam Logue – Runnells – 164 4/8
Youth Archery Typical
1st Place – Easton Ferrill – Danville – 151 7/8
2nd Place – Dalton Martin – Maxwell – 151 7/8
3rd Place – Jace Huegerich – Dallas Center – 149 6/8
Best of Show
Michael Wilson – Ottumwa – 170 7/8
1st Place – Pat Cady – Wellman – 216 7/8
2nd Place – Dalton Nicholson – Corning – 215 1/8
3rd Place – Cole Erickson – Burlington – 212 7/8
4th Place – Logan Smith – Moravia – 204 3/8
5th Place – Zeb Adreon – Pleasantville – 199 3/8
Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – Ethan Cretsinger – Coon Rapids – 223 5/8
2nd Place – Leeman Nelson – Clarinda – 190 3/8
3rd Place – Macklin Conrad – Sigourney – 179 4/8
4th Place – Kelton Fisk- New Sharon – 179 0/8
5th Place – Gary Vroegh – Oskaloosa – 178 3/8
Muzzleloader Non-Typical
1st Place – Tyler Thye – Wapello – 200 4/8
2nd Place – JD Goode – Milo – 191 4/8
3rd Place – Brett Morris – New Sharon – 186 6/8
Ladies Archery Non-Typical
1st Place – N/A
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – Emi Olson – Saint Charles – 189 3/8
2nd Place – Laney Glendening – Burlington – 185 2/8
3rd Place – Mandy Halverson -Decorah – 177 4/8
Crossbow Non-Typical
1st Place – Brian Thompson – West Des Moines – 224 3/8
2nd Place – Andrew Wilson – Glenwood – 177 5/8
3rd Place – Charles Farris – Rembrandt – 147 3/8
Historical Non-Typical
1st Place – Ken Morris – Earlham – 213 1/8
2nd Place – James Mertz – Milo – 208 7/8
3rd Place – Grant Watson – Iowa Falls – 195 4/8
Youth Firearms Non-Typical
1st Place – Lane Anderson – Story City – 212 1/4
2nd Place – Maxwell Pivit – Dubuque – 200 7/8
3rd Place – Macey Sidles – Emmetsburg – 190 1/8
Youth Archery Non-Typical
1st Place – N/A
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Most Unique
Ben Kolo – New Sharon – 154 1/8
6 Point Buck
Mason Oldenburger – Janesville – 74 4/8
8 Point Buck
Brice Taylor – Bagley – 160 7/8
9 Point Buck
William Richart – Urbana – 173 2/8
10 Point Buck
Eli Hogan – Muscatine – 176 6/8
11 Point Buck
Patrick Parks – Winterset – 180 2/8
12 Point Buck
Joe Jensen – West Des Moines – 182 5/8
2025 Iowa’s Biggest Big Buck Contest
sponsored by 
There are two options for bringing your deer.
1. From 5th Ave
Enter the NW corner of the building-this is the Upper Level. Go through the glass entrance doors.
2. From 3rd Street
This is on the street Level – Proceed UP the stairs or down the corridor to the Escalator-UP.
Proceed down the skywalk, then right to the entrance.
Dropping off or entering on 5th Ave is a shorter route.
The Big Buck Contest and Display, the Antler Measuring, Hall of Fame, Shed Antler Contest and Display are all on the Upper Level of the Iowa Events Center.
One of our most popular attractions at the Iowa Deer Classic is our Big Buck Contest which typically brings in over 350 trophy whitetails for scoring and display! Leader Boards are rotated for the many categories and on Sunday an Awards Ceremony showcases the biggest Iowa bucks of the year and awards the lucky Iowa hunters. Our first class display of entries is truly a sight to see!
Hawk Helium XL tree stand, Muddy cell cameras and more!
How To Enter:
Bring your trophy to the Iowa Deer Classic Big Buck Ticket location at the east end of the upper level.
-
- 1. From 5th Ave Enter the NW corner of the building-this is the Upper Level. Go through the glass entrance doors.
- 2. From 3rd Street This is on the street Level – Proceed UP the stairs or down the corridor to the Escalator-UP. Proceed down the skywalk, then right to the entrance. Dropping off or entering on 5th Ave is a shorter route.
Purchase a $20 Big Buck Contest entry ticket which includes a 3-day Show Pass (a $45 value) and official scoring of your whitetail. You will be asked to fill out a complete registration form and receive a numbered claim check which correlates to a 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 put on display at the show and may be picked up Sunday afternoon after 3:30 PM
Big Buck Special Awards
Best of Show
Most Unusual
Biggest Scoring Bucks (6 pt, 8 pt, 9 pt, 10 pt, 11 pt, 12 pt)
Big Buck Contest Awards Divisions
Top Five (5) Archery Typical
Top Five (5) Archery Non-Typical
Top Five (5) Firearm Typical
Top Five (5) Firearm Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Muzzleloader Typical
Top Three (3) Muzzleloader Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Youth Firearm Typical
Top Three (3) Youth Firearm Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Youth Archery Typical
Top Three (3) Youth Archery Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Historical Typical
Top Three (3) Historical Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Ladies Archery Typical
Top Three (3) Ladies Archery Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Ladies Firearm Typical
Top Three (3) Ladies Firearm Non-Typical
Top Three (3) Crossbow Typical
Top Three (3) Crossbow Non-Typical
* AWARD PLAQUES
Our plaques are laser engraved and made from Iowa White Oak.
They can be customized to add information and pictures.
CLICK HERE for more information.
To go to the Wilson Custom Tree website. CLICK HERE
Big Buck Contest Rules of Entry:
- Contest open to hunters who legally harvested an antlered whitetail deer in the State of Iowa.
- Entries will be accepted starting 2:00 pm on Friday March 7, 2025 and close at 11:00 am on Sunday March 9, 2025. Sunday antlers accepted starting at 9:00 am, show opens at 10:00 am.
- Antlers do not need to be mounted. Antlers must have a solid skull plate. 60-day drying period applies. ie: harvested before January 9, 2025 to be scored March 9, 2025.
- If your deer has been previously scored, you MUST bring a copy of the official score sheet. It will not be re-measured.
- Entry Fee is per Trophy and contestants will receive a FREE three-day pass (a $45.00 value), and entry in the prize drawing.
- Bucks must have been harvested in the Fall 2023/2024 or the 2024/2025 Iowa Hunting seasons to enter the Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, Crossbow, Ladies Archery, Ladies Firearm or Youth categories.
- Bucks harvested prior to Fall 2023 hunting season must be entered into the Historical category.
Found Deer (deadheads) can be entered in 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 birth date may be required.
- No previous Iowa Deer Classic winners are eligible for an award with the same trophy deer in the same category.
- Female entrants can choose whether to complete in the Ladies Archery category, Ladies Firearm category or in the appropriate method specific category (Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, Youth). Once entered, the category cannot be changed.
- Deer from Game Farms or deer harvested in high fence areas may NOT be entered in the contest and they will not be measured.
Awards and Judging:
- Awards will be given at 3:00 Sunday in the Big Buck Registration area.
- Plaques and Deluxe Place Ribbons are given for the top five (5) entries in four (4) categories: Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Firearm Typical & Non-Typical.
- Plaques and Deluxe Place Ribbons are given to the top three (3) entries in the following fourteen (14) categories: Muzzleloader Typical & Non-Typical, Crossbow Typical & Non-Typical, Youth Firearm Typical & Non-Typical, Youth Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Historical Typical & Non-Typical, Ladies Archery Typical & Non-Typical, Ladies Firearm Typical & Non-Typical.
- Plaques and Deluxe Ribbons are given to the biggest 6 pt, 8 pt, 9 pt, 10 pt, 11 pt, and 12 pt bucks entered in the contest.
- Entries eligible for one Award only and must be present at the Awards Presentation to win.
- Award Ribbons are awarded to all entries meeting, Pope & Young Record Book, Boone & Crockett Record Book or Long Hunters Society 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. Bucks that qualify will be entered in the Iowa DNR record book for no charge.
- 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 3:00 pm on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
- Awards will be determined based on the Boone & Crockett score and/or Pope & Young score. Trophy deer must be present to win an award. Net score used for awards. Gross and Net scores listed.
- 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.
SCORE ONLY:
We offer the option to have your deer officially measured by our certified scorers. It will NOT be entered in the contest or displayed. It will NOT be eligible for awards. Antlers may be picked up after they are scored. Priority is given to deer entered in the contest first. Cost $20.
BIG BUCK REGISTRATION:
Please print and fill out the Big Buck Registration Form to expedite the check in process.
for a registration form CLICK HERE
All Deer meeting Boone and Crockett All-time Book requirements will be added to our Hall of Fame list and will get an invite to future shows with free admission in return for displaying the deer.
