Classic delivers on expectations

Now in its 20th year, the Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic is not exactly filled with surprises.

Attend the show and you’ll smell almonds roasting, get sticker shock at prices of some hunting gear and be reminded just how blessed we are as deer hunters in the Prairie State.

Of 499 deer measured, 362 were displayed in the Big Buck contest and 32 qualified for the Boone and Crockett Club’s record books. While that’s not a Booner record, it’s more than other states can brag about.

One thing lacking among those big bucks was a real surprise on the Best of Show list. Once upon a time, guys walked into the Classic with unknown 230-inchers. Cell phones and the Internet make that harder than ever to pull off.

For instance, all the Best of Show non-typicals at the Classic were already featured on Prairie State Outdoors.com. That included Chris Kiernan’s 2686/8-inch Kendall County archery kill, Cory Clendenen’s 238-inch Greene County firearm buck and Heath Kinder’s 2094/8-inch blackpowder buck from Randolph County.

One area that revealed some unexpected news was in the typical antlers category. Joe Kocher of Toluca led the typical category with a 1814/8-inch Jasper County buck killed during firearm season. Top bow kill went to Robert Kizer of Capron and Daniel Raube of Metamora for bucks that scored 1802/8 inches. Kizer’s Cass County buck was from 2007 while Raube shot his last fall in Tazewell County.

Amazingly, the 12-point Booner was Raube’s first bowkill and made an offseason of practice worthwhile. Raube had failed to bag a deer during the 2008-09 bow season, but his luck changed for the better the evening of Oct. 7.

Even so, Raube’s reaction after his buck dropped was not immediate elation.

“I was quite choked up and not going anywhere for a while. I lost my dad, my lifelong hunting buddy, about a year ago to the day. I realized at that moment he would not be able to see my first bow kill,” he said. “Then after a while of feeling sorry for myself, the thought came over me that just maybe he saw the whole thing. Maybe he had a hand in it. Maybe that’s why I had a nice buck standing only 18 yards away broadside.”

That’s when Raube started celebrating. And who wouldn’t celebrate a Booner?

Or the Classic returning to Peoria, for that matter? Ten years of parking in and wading through mud around the Interstate Center came to a thankful end last weekend.

The overall vibe among showgoers was eagerness for a switch to Peoria’s Civic Center. Vendors apparently agree. Before last weekend exhibitors had reserved 122 booths for the 2011 show, held March 25-27.

“That’s the most we’ve ever had for any individual show,” said promoter Glenn Helgeland, who puts on deer classics in four states. “So it looks like everyone is cranked up about the move back to Peoria.”

Here’s hoping the Peoria show next Marsh will break this year’s attendance record of slightly more than 22,000.

Classic winner’s list

WINNERS – Miller High Life Trophy Deer Contest —2010 Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic

TYPICAL ANTLERS—FIREARMS
181-4/8 Joseph Kocher, Toluca Jasper 2009
TYPICAL ANTLERS – ARCHERY
180-2/8 Robert Kizer, Capron Cass 2007
180-2/8 Daniel Raube, Metamora Tazewell 2009
TYPICAL ANTLERS – BLACK POWDER
166-0/8 Scott Hill, Stockton Jo Daviess 2009

NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS – FIREARMS
238-0/8 Cory Clendenen, Jerseyville Greene 2009
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS – ARCHERY
268-1/8 Christopher Kiernan, Morris Kendall 2009
  (new state record)
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS – BLACK POWDER
209-4/8 Heath Kinder, Nashville Randolph 2009

ARCHERY CURRENT YEAR (2009 season)
Score Name, Home Town County Taken
8 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
161-5/8 Barry Jones, Morrisonville Christian
144-4/8 John Morthland, Decatur Fayette
144-0/8 Bradley Lundsteen, Elgin DuPage
9 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
159-2/8 Bryan Hoggins, Lexington Logan
154-5/8 Austin Volk, Meredosia Morgan
154-1/8 John Georgean, Bensenville McHenry
10 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
172-1/8 Travis Admire, Galesburg Knox
161-4/8 Douglas White, Woodhull Henry
156-6/8 Jason Kenney, Aledo Mercer
11 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
170-4/8 Gerald Cruse, Bartonville Peoria
164-3/8 Derek Burns, Mt. Vernon Jefferson
160-0/8 Stewart Riedle, Mt. Pulaski Logan
12 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
180-2/8 Daniel Raube, Metamora Tazewell
177-4/8 Chuck Thome, Peoria Fulton
161-2/8 Dennis Cloninger, Bethalto Montgomery
13+ pts TYPICAL ANTLERS
177-7/8 Jeff Weller, Coal Valley Mercer
175-2/8 Quinn Reiher, Carlinville Macoupin
172-7/8 Alan Jenkins, Warsaw Hancock
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS
268-1/8 Christopher Kiernan, Morris Kendall
228-5/8 Nate Campbell, Montrose, CO McDonough
212-7/8 Robert Rice, Aledo Warren

FIREARMS CURRENT YEAR (2009 season)
Score Name, Home Town County Taken
8 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
155-7/8 Alec Story, Brimfield Peoria
150-4/8 Mark Bell, Dowagiac, MI Schuyler
9 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
154-5/8 Blythe Denny, Metamora Pike
154-1/8 Skyler Linafiltet, Yale Jasper
144-6/8 Rachel Wright, Oakland Coles
10 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
165-2/8 Brandon Smith, Springfield Peoria
132-6/8 Evan Zimmerman, Eureka Woodford
11 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
176-3/8 David Davis, Astoria Fulton
166-2/8 Larry Derossett, Wolf Lake Union
12 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
181-4/8 Joseph Kocher, Toluca Jasper
176-7/8 Bradley Ruholl, Effingham Clay
169-7/8 Kale Wallace, Saint Joseph Vermilion
13+ pts TYPICAL ANTLERS
176-5/8 Danny Hinkle, Greenville Bond
174-5/8 Ricky Hochstetler, Pekin Tazewell
164-5/8 Michael Christianson, Oakley Macon
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS
238-0/8 Cory Clendenen, Jerseyville Greene
211-6/8 Mike Belshaw, Carthage Hancock
208-4/8 Jeffery Walen, Chicago Kendall

ARCHERY HISTORICAL (2008 season or earlier)
Score Name, Home Town County Taken Year
8 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
159-5/8 Inman Alcorn, Centralia Washington 2003
156-6/8 Brandon Francis, Newton Jasper 2008
147-3/8 Steven Del Fetzer, Mahomet Champaign 2008
9 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
150-3/8 Gary Edenburn, Potomac Vermilion 2008
145-7/8 Brian Beck, Princeville Stark 2008
10 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
162-1/8 Brock Decker, Amboy Lee 2003
159-2/8 Jerry Gifford, Fairfield Wayne 1997
158-7/8 Corey Gist, Decatur Macon 2008
11 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
162-2/8 Frank Lyerla, Bethalto Greene 2008
148-7/8 Justin Haley, Mackinaw Tazewell 2008
12 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
153-2/8 Dale Hess, Quincy Adams 2008
13+ pts TYPICAL ANTLERS
180-2/8 Robert Kizer, Capron Cass 2007
156-7/8 Darin Opel, Worden Calhoun 1996
154-0/8 Darrin Coffey, Lincoln Logan 2008
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS
209-7/8 Leslie Gordon, Pinckneyville Perry 2006
203-3/8 Steve Newingham, White Hall Greene 2008
201-1/8 Earl Immormino, Saunemin Grundy 2005

FIREARMS HISTORICAL (2008 season or earlier)
Score Name, Home Town County Taken Year
8 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
151-0/8 Jeffrey Brown, Elwood Wayne 2008
149-6/8 Mike Bielema, Dunlap Peoria 2005
149-1/8 Ryan Vick, Delavan Tazewell 2008
9 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
157-3/8 Kevin Waller, Morton Fulton 2004
141-6/8 Tom Russow, Pontiac Livingston 2008
10 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
150-7/8 James Taylor, Tuscola Coles 2006
148-6/8 William Yoder, Bloomington McLean 2006
11 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
168-5/8 David Steele, Toluca Putnam 2008
161-0/8 Roland Wagmann, Pekin Tazewell 2006
155-0/8 Gary Schlabach, Atwood Douglas 2006
12 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
159-3/8 Gary Gifford, Albion Wayne 1992
147-0/8 Kenneth Moreau, Bloomington Warren 1995
13+ pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
176-1/8 Dalton Williams, Rinard Wayne 2008
167-6/8 Ray Holohan, Ashkum Iroquois 2008
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS
215-2/8 Mike Belshaw, Carthage Hancock 2008
208-7/8 John Georgean, Bensenville DeKalb 2003

BLACK POWDER (All Years)
Score Name, Hometown County Taken Year
8 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
141-6/8 Craig Bartels, Downs De Witt 2009
9 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
164-1/8 Joseph Barnhouse, Viola Mercer 2009
152-1/8 Brian Scharringhausen, Belleville Monroe 2009
10 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
149-0/8 Richard Chudoba, Chana Ogle 2009
11 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
161-3/8 Brandon Francis, Newton Jasper 2009
152-3/8 Elmer Crum, Wyoming Stark 2009
12 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
152-6/8 Joseph Chasteen, Pekin Mason 2009
13+ pts TYPICAL ANTLERS
166-0/8 Scott Hill, Stockton Jo Daviess 2009
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS
209-4/8 Heath Kinder, Nashville Randolph 2009
192-7/8 Jerry Hanlin, Quincy Adams 2005

CROSSBOW (All Years)
Score Name, Hometown County Taken Year
8 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
No Entries
9 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
No Entries
10 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
No Entries
11 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
No Entries
12 pt TYPICAL ANTLERS
142-1/8 Garry Binnicker, Decatur Macoupin 2009
13+ pts TYPICAL ANTLERS
156-0/8 Larry Vanmiddlesworth, Lewistown   Fulton 2008
NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS
No Entries

WINNERS—Outdoor Photo Contest / 2010 Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic

Wildlife
1) Bre Callear, Metamora
2) Steve Renner, Pontiac
3) Steve Renner, Pontiac

Scenic
1) Kevin Wonders, Stanford
2) W. Tom Lewis, Coal City
3) Justin Foutch, Cuba

People in the Outdoors
1) Matt Zulz, Wenona
2) Kimberly Griffith, Cornell
3) Jery Schweigert, Hopedale

Flora
1) Garrett David, East Peoria
2) Kimberly Griffith, Cornell
3) Miriam Poulson, Hopedale

Novelty
1) Bre Callear, Metamora
2) Kimberly Griffith, Cornell
3) Terrie Owens, Charleston

2010—____ photos entered / ___ people w/ entries
2009—207 photos entered
2008— Unk photos entered
2007—264 photos entered