2026 Iowa’s Biggest Big Buck Contest
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Iowa’s Biggest Big Buck Contest
2026 Results
1st Place – Mason Burkett – Grand Junction – 184 5/8
2nd Place – Jason VanVactor – Clarinda – 179 1/8
3rd Place – Rich Kann – Garnavillo – 175 3/8
4th Place – Eric Rolek – Grimes – 173 3/8
5th Place – Jeremy Krueger – Exira – 169 7/8
Firearm Typical
1st Place – Adam Funke – West Des Moines – 170 6/8
2nd Place – Austin Pruitt – Stuart – 163 5/8
3rd Place – Steve Mahnke – Des Moines – 160 1/8
4th Place – Trent Strouf – Oakland – 160 0/8
5th Place – Justin Larsen – Malcom – 156 3/8
Muzzleloader Typical
1st Place -Blake Naeve – Bradgate – 165 2/8
2nd Place – Kris Logue – Runnells – 152 3/8
3rd Place – Keegan Pace- Marne – 152 2/8
Ladies Archery Typical
1st Place – Kirsti Edwards – Oskaloosa – 144 2/8
2nd Place – Jess Johnston – West Des Moines – 133 5/8
3rd Place – Tasha West – Lehigh – 116 0/8
Ladies Firearm Typical
1st Place – Catie Johnson- Mediapolis – 166 7/8
2nd Place – Brynn Mueller – Granger – 156 4/8
3rd Place – Krysten Dean – Lisbon – 147 4/8
Crossbow Typical
1st Place – Judson Ollinger – Humbolt – 148 6/8
2nd Place – Jerry Gallmeyer – Waterloo – 143 3/8
3rd Place – Larry Linn – Fort Dodge – 141 5/8
Historical Typical
1st Place – Logan Marks – Redfield – 195 0/8
2nd Place – Alex Halsey -·Urbandale – 173 7/8
3rd Place – Andres Bianco – Iowa Falls – 170 3/8
Youth Firearm Typical
1st Place – Jager Fuller – Montrose – 167 1/8
2nd Place – Kolt Heatherington – Winterset – 161 6/8
3rd Place – Lucas Sieck – Fayette – 160 1/8
Youth Archery Typical
1st Place – Cameron Cook – Haverhill – 158 5/8
2nd Place – Kash Heatherington – Winterset – 145 7/8
3rd Place – Milo McAtee – Waukee – 140 6/8
Best of Show
Mason Burkett – Grand Junction – 184 5/8
1st Place – Jacob Scieszinski – Norwalk – 212 5/8
2nd Place – Tim Radcliff – Burlington – 210 4/8
3rd Place – Shane Havenstrite – Elgin – 209 2/8
4th Place – Chris Stokes – Ainsworth – 205 5/8
5th Place – Logan Kelly – Solon – 205 0/8
Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – Gregory Leonard – Correctionville – 192 2/8
2nd Place – Marty Berns – Dubuque – 191 1/8
3rd Place – Zack Westendorf – Clarksville – 189 0/8
4th Place – Matthew Watson- Glenwood – 180 7/8
5th Place – Jacob Flummerfelt – Ames – 175 3/8
Muzzleloader Non-Typical
1st Place – Steve Weiss – Nevada – 112 1/8
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Archery Non-Typical
1st Place – Elyssa Mills – Nichols – 161 2/8
2nd Place – Shelby Stechcon- Chelsea – 159 6/8
3rd Place – N/A
Ladies Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – Aimee Dean – Lisbon – 196 4/8
2nd Place – Sydney Boyle – Earlham – 166 0/8
3rd Place – Cassandra Hagen -Carlisle – 159 3/8
Crossbow Non-Typical
1st Place – Tim Cort – Runnells – 185 4/8
2nd Place -Brian Laux – Brighton – 174 3/8
3rd Place – Vic Kray – Monticello – 114 2/8
Historical Non-Typical
1st Place – Hank Williams – Carlisle – 226 1/8
2nd Place – Nathan Huddleston – Ottumwa – 187 0/8
3rd Place – Mason Oostenink – Boone – 185 6/8
Youth Firearm Non-Typical
1st Place – Caleb – Rice Lake – 206 6/8
2nd Place – Ryan Cownie – Des Moines – 197 6/8
3rd Place – Kolden Beukolman – Hull – 192 0/8
Youth Archery Non-Typical
1st Place – N/A
2nd Place – N/A
3rd Place – N/A
Most Unusual
Cole Ollinger – Lehigh – 131 4/8
6 Point Buck
Adam Johnson- Des Moines – 78 2/8
8 Point Buck
Chris Janis – Coralville – 159 6/8
9 Point Buck
Brandon Weilbrenner – Leon – 153 0/8
10 Point Buck
Mason Burkett – Grand Junction – 184 5/8
11 Point Buck
Logan Marks – Redfield – 195 0/8
12 Point Buck
Jacob Flummerfelt – Ames – 175 3/8
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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!
How To Enter:
Bring your trophy to the Iowa Deer Classic Big Buck Ticket location at the east end of the upper level.
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- 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 6, 2026 and close at 11:00 am on Sunday March 8, 2026. 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 8, 2026 to be scored March 8, 2026.
- 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 2024/2025 or the 2025/2026 Iowa Hunting seasons to enter the Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, Crossbow, Ladies Archery, Ladies Firearm or Youth categories.
- Bucks harvested prior to Fall 2024 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 8, 2026.
- 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.
