2024 - Some nice bucks shot in the area!
Jeff Thompson, Gary Kullhem and Tyler Kaspari were among the big winners in area Big Buck Contests recently
November 26, 2024 • Voyageur Press
Jeff Thompson took first place in the Mississippi Landing Big Buck Contest with a 214-pound buck harvested near Jacobson.
Thompson hunts with the Maki group, a tradition started many years ago by George Maki. Today, Thompson is helping carry that tradition forward by passing it down to his sons.
“The Maki family 100% always attends the Carmel Lutheran Church Harvest Dinner,” Thompson explained. “We also attend the Jacobson Community Center Spaghetti Dinner.”
For Thompson and the group, deer season is about more than time in the woods. Community gatherings have become part of the annual hunting tradition as well.
Kullhem Takes First at Bann’s
Gary Kullhem has participated in the Bann’s Big Buck Contest for the past six years. This year, he harvested a 196-pound buck between McGregor and Palisade, earning first place in the weight category.
Kullhem was hunting with his brother, Greg; his son, Carson; and a friend.
“It was a good year,” Kullhem said. “It was fun. We hunted every day.”
Ashlynn Isaacson was another successful participant in the Bann’s contest, taking the prize for most points with an impressive 11-point buck harvested in the Savanna State Forest.
“The tradition hunting this region started with my grandfather, Lowell, and then my dad, Chris, who has taken me the past 30 years,” Isaacson said. “I was told this was the biggest buck, horn-wise, over the years.”
Isaacson harvested the buck at approximately 2:30 p.m. on opening Saturday.
“I heard him come in, and he started moseying around,” she said. “I shot him at about 20 yards with my .30-30 lever-action rifle given to me by my grandfather.”
Getting a deer out of the woods can be one of the more challenging parts of the hunt for the Isaacson family.
“Where we hunt, there is no motorized vehicle access for a quarter to a half mile,” she explained. “We walk to the deer stand, and we have a cart to help transport the deer.”
Kaspari Wins Country Corner Contest
Tyler Kaspari took the top spot in the Country Corner Big Buck Contest with a buck weighing an impressive 222 pounds.
Sheets Takes Second at Village Pump
Roxanne Sheets earned second place in the Village Pump Big Buck Contest with a 189-pound buck.
Sheets has been hunting for approximately 45 years, but this season brought a first—her first 10-point buck.
“I’ve been hunting with my dad, Darrell Peterson, since I was little,” Sheets said. “My dad enjoys going to the meat raffles at the Village Pump.”
For many of this year’s hunters, the Big Buck Contests were about more than the size of the deer. From rifles passed down through generations to longtime hunting groups and community traditions, another deer season brought plenty of stories and memories to share.
BANN’S WEIGHT
1. Gary Kullhem (9-pointer) 196.0
2. David Dahl (8-pointer) 195.6
3. Mike Kruse (8-pointer) 193.2
4. Brad Haussner (8-pointer) 183.6
5. Tim Pierce (8-pointer) 168.7
6. Aaron Masloski (8-pointer) 163.7
7. Jared Hutar (9-pointer) 163.5
7. Greg Kullhem (10-pointer) 153.6
8. Ashlynn Isaacson (11-pointer)152.7
9. Cole Miska (8-pointer) 145.4
10. Jim Tidball 136.8
11. Scott Christianson (4-pointer)124.3
BIGGEST RACK
1. Ashlynn Isaacson 11-point
YOUTH
1. Cooper Dodge (Spike) 120.1
2. Henry Pierce (Spike) 106.5
COUNTRY CORNER WEIGHT
1. Tyler Kaspari 222.0
2. Dustin Follett 210.0
3. Michell Devine 200.0
4. Dawson Maki 171.0
5. Brad Olesiak 170.0
6. Justin Hall 159.0
7. Tim Kobes 112.0
BIGGEST DOE
1. Dayton Follett 138.0
VILLAGE PUMP WEIGHT
1. David Dahl 195.5
2. Roxanne Sheets 189.0
3. Clint Meld 187.5
MISSISSIPPI LANDING WEIGHT
1. Jeff Thompson (8-pointer) 214.0
2. Jacob Swing (8-pointer) 167.0
3. Jordan Swing (8-pointer)