Sheriff Sam Dowies is keeping his promise to encourage young people to enjoy our part of Sportsman’s Paradise here in Claiborne Parish. Saturday, October 12th, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office hosted its 5th Annual Youth Hunt Contest with record breaking entries.
There was no competition in the big hog contest this year. Chance Goodwin brought in the winner. Nobody else even came close.
Briggs Killgore was the big buck contest winner. Briggs brought in the first buck of the day. It was a bruiser seven point. He weighed 170 pounds. His horns were 15 ½ inches wide and 12 ½ inches tall. Joey Kuba also brought in a nice buck that was a 160-pound eight point. His horns were 14 ¾ inches wide and 10 ½ inches tall. Gunner Guillory brought in a nice seven point. He weighed 160 pounds with 12 inch wide and 11-inch-tall horns. Gunner Dickson and Ryder Beach both brought in spikes that weighed 90 pounds each. Five-year-old Riley “Rooster” Salmon brought in his first deer. It was a 105-pound spike.
The youth hunters really showed out this year in the bid big doe contest. 23 does were entered for a new record. Bryce Merritt brought in the first contender in the big doe contest at 128 pounds. Ryder Buckner topped that when he brought in his 130-pound doe. It looked like the Buckner Boys were going to dominate the big doe competition yet again. Knox Goodwin had something to say about that with a late entry coming in at a whopping 143 pounds. Knox blew away the competition with a comfortable 13-pound victory. Knox released a statement to the media through his agent. “I knew nobody could beat me as soon as she stepped out.”
Other entries in the big doe contest included Ryan Sibley 117, Kase Holloway 111, Matthew Lawley 95, Harley Goodwin 105, Gunner Griffith 108, Gunner Guillory 106, Jewelyn Hays 116, Madison Salmon 117, Cason Gorman 100, Gunner Dickson 95, Brant Kyle 111, Jaxson Vansickle 108, Hays Glasscock 106, Jason Gerald 103, Beaux Blanchard 110, Brooks Lewis 91, Pete Hudson 100, Haven Lester 112, Michael Yarrington 108, and Drake Brown 110.
Youth hunters were able to enter drawings for door prizes that were donated by sponsors this year. Bella Salmon won a 20-gauge shotgun that was donated by Phillip Verdin with TB&L Lawn Care. Phillip also cooked a delicious jambalaya. Ashton McDade won a Ruger 10-22 donated by Zack Buckner with Peterson Construction. Bryce Merritt won a game camera and a box of 22 bullets donated by Jim Colvin and Daniel Bays with the Colvin and Bays Law Firm. Colvin and Bays also donated another game camera and a Caldwell Tack Driver shooting rest that was won by Jaxson Vansickle. Collier Voorhees won two sets of binoculars donated by Keith Lee with Barnette and Benefield Construction. Ryder Beach won a rice bran trough that was built by and donated by Claiborne Parish Detention Center Trustees. Evan Harmon won a ton of corn donated by Dubach Deer Factory. Honey’s on the square donated six gift certificates to be awarded to the first and second place finishers in each category. Gibsland Bank & Trust (GBT) brought their cook trailer and prepared some delicious food. GBT also helped the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office by teaming up and providing orange caps and vests.
