• Whitetail Deer Trophy Contest & Display (& Board of Honor)
• Two Photo Contests – Outdoor & Trail Camera
• State Turkey Calling & Owl Hooting Championship

2010 MILLER HIGH LIFE TROPHY DEER CONTEST & DISPLAY

SPONSOR OF TROPHY DEER CONTEST

THE 2009 RULES AND FEES:

GENERAL RULES (Contest & "Measure-Only" Non-Contest)

• There is no advance entry; just bring your trophy to the Classic.

• Entry Times: Noon Friday until 10:00 am Sunday.

• Entries do not need to be mounted, but they must have a solid skull plate.

• No trophies released between noon and 3:00 pm Sunday. Scores are being checked. Filing is being checked. Winner notifications are being posted. There is no time for trophy release.

• Trophy measuring/scoring by measurers certified by the Illinois Big Buck Recognition Program (Attn: Constituency Services, Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources, Springfield, IL 62702 — 217-782-4963, http://dnr.state.il.us/legislation/bbrp/default.htm), with the xassistance of certified Pope & Young Club and Boone & Crockett Club measurers.

• TROPHY ENTRANCE -- Contest entry and display are in the West Expo Building, far west side of the Interstate Center grounds. Entrance is on the south side, facing the parking lot. Look for an orange identification banner near the front door.

TROPHY CONTEST RULES

ENTRY FEE

Fee for the first entry is $15. With this, you get a weekend pass. Pre-scored additional entries are $7.50 each with written proof of official score, or $15 each if the entry has not been officially scored or the person entering the trophy does not have proof of official score.

Do not buy an admission ticket. However, everyone else with you MUST buy a general admission ticket.

TROPHY CONTEST CATEGORIES

ONE CONTEST

• Illinois whitetail deer (taken during hunting season, hunter known)

FOUR ENTRY CATEGORIES

• Firearms - Typical Antlers & Non-Typical Antlers

• Archery - Typical Antlers & Non-Typical Antlers

• Black Powder - Typical Antlers & Non-Typical Antlers

• Crossbow - Typical Antlers & Non-Typical Antlers

Divisions in Each Entry Category

• Archery – Current Year (2009 season), Historical (2008 season and earlier)
• Firearms – Current Year (2009 season), Historical (2008 season and earlier)
• Black Powder - all years together
• Crossbow - all years together

Two antler brackets in every divisional category:

• Typical Antlers (8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, 12- and 13+-point classes)

• Non-Typical Antlers (all antlers in one class regardless of points)

ADDITIONAL RULES

• First Place winners in Current Year Category at last year's Classic are eligible to be entered in the Historical Category this year.
• First Place winners in Historical Category from any and all previous Classics are not eligible for re-entry.
• All First-Place winners in Black Powder and Crossbow divisions at previous Classics are not eligible for re-entry,
• All previous first-place winners not eligible for re-entry are automatically invited to display on the "Board Of Honor".
  The above rules keep each year's contest fresh.
• Second- and third-place winners in all divisions and categories at previous Classics are eligible for re-entry.
• All contest entries will be hung on display boards.
• All contest trophies must remain on display until released Sunday at 3:00 pm.
• EARLY CHECK-OUT RULE: Early check-out (before noon Sunday) – there will be a $10 charge per trophy. Early check-outs disrupt the measuring process and on Sunday disrupt the checking of entry lists to determine accuracy of filing, production of winner lists, and all other necessary wrap-up paperwork.
• There are no check-outs whatsoever of any trophies between noon and 3:00 pm Sunday.

Contest Awards

• Award presentations begin at 4:00 pm Sunday in Seminar Area A.
• Trophy must be present to win.
• Awards based on antler score.
• Awards proportional to entries:
  • 1-3 entries in class = 1 award;
  • 4-8 entries in class = 2 awards;
  • 9 or more entries in class = 3 awards.
• Award trophies and participation ribbons given. No cash or merchandise prizes.

Click here to see 2009 Trophy Contest Winners.

BOARD OF HONOR

Background Information

The Board of Honor recognizes those trophies retired from further trophy competition. Retired trophies are those that won a first place award at a previous Classic in one of the following categories:

• Archery Deer / Historical category (any typical antler-point class & non-typical)
• Firearms Deer / Historical category (any typical antler-point class & non-typical)
• Black Powder Deer / All Years category (any typical antler-point class & non-typical)
• Crossbow Deer / All Years category (any typical antler-point class & non-typical)

Here are the details:

• You have FREE entry to the Classic all weekend. There is no registration fee. You do not need to buy a ticket, but anyone with you will need to do so.
• Bring in your trophy animal any day, but no later than 10:00 am Sunday.
• Please bring proof of your winning entry and categorical details. This will make registration much easier.   Do not bring the award you received; we have no way to display it properly and securely.
• Take your trophy to the contest registration area in the West Expo Building. Look for an orange banner at the entrance.
• You will receive registration and identification paperwork from contest registration personnel on-site. The paperwork will identify your trophy as "Non-Contest / Board of Honor Special Display".
• Your trophy will immediately be placed on display as soon as the registration paperwork is completed.  The display boards will be identified with orange-and-black Board of Honor signs.
• Your trophy does not need to remain on display the entire weekend, although that would be appreciated by attendees and management.
• You may take your trophy with you when you leave, but not between noon and 3:00 pm Sunday. As you no doubt recall, no trophy heads are released during that time Sunday.
• If you have questions, please email: glenn@deerinfo.com

NON-CONTEST "MEASURE-ONLY" TROPHIES

• Attendee must purchase a general admission ticket to the Classic.

• Measuring fee is $15. The same work must be done as with contest entries. This fee is returned if the trophy has not yet been measured when the attendee is ready to leave.

• There will be no weekend pass.

• Trophy will be measured only after all trophy contest entries have been measured. There shouldn't be a problem getting all "measure-only" trophies measured. Measuring crews in the past have been able to do so.

• No check-outs between noon and 3:00 pm Sunday.

TWO PHOTO CONTESTS – OUTDOOR, TRAIL CAMERA

General Rules for both photo contests

• You must purchase a show general admission ticket before you can enter either photo contest.

• Entries may be made from 2:00 pm Friday, February 26, to 10:00 am Sunday, February 28.

• The contests are open to amateur photographers only.

• Bring your entries to the show. No mail-in entries are accepted. Entries are to be made in the event office on the central hallway of the main exhibit building.

• Entry fee is $5 for up to three photos. There is an additional $5 fee for each additional group of one to three photos entered. The photographer’s name, address, telephone number (with area code), and choice of contest category must be on the back of each entry.

• Judging will begin at noon Sunday.

• There may be up to three awards per category.  Awards will be given by an expo staff person Sunday at 3:00 pm at the contest display boards.

• Photos must remain on display until 3:00 p.m. Sunday.  Photos can be picked up at the contest display boards after that time. Photos not picked up will not be returned.

• For admission before 3:00 pm Sunday, you must buy a general admission ticket. After 3:00 pm, each photo contest entrant can get in free to pick up his/her photos. You must show a contest entry receipt to pick up your photos.

1) Outdoor Photo Contest rules:

• Five categories -- 1) Wildlife - (North American only); 2) Flora; 3) Scenic; 4) People in the Outdoors; 5) Miscellaneous/Novelty.

• No ‘hero’ photos of game or fish taken; no pets.

• Black-and-white or color prints. Image size can be 5"x7" to 11"x14".

• Photos must be mounted unframed on cardboard and cannot include glass.

Matting is permitted but discouraged because it takes up too much space.

Click here to see 2009 Photo Contest Winners

2) Trail Camera Photo Contest rules and guidelines:

This is where you see unusual wildlife scenes and activities.

• Categories: 1) Deer/Bucks, 2) Deer/Other, 3) Turkeys, 4) Predators, 5) Miscellaneous.
• Black-and-white or color prints. Image size can be 4”x6” to 8”x10”.
• Photos must be mounted unframed on cardboard and cannot include glass.

Matting is permitted but discouraged because it takes up too much space.

Click here to see 2009 Trail Camera Photo Contest Winners.

STATE TURKEY CALLING & OWL HOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Conducted by the Illinois Chapter - National Wild Turkey Federation.

• NWTF rules. Sanctioned event. Call Gary Eichelberger at 309-454-6502 evenings for details.
• Contest held Saturday, February 27.  Sign up at the NWTF booth in the lobby.

Click here 2009 Illinois State Turkey Calling Contest Winners