• Whitetail Deer Trophy Contest & Display
• Illinois Turkey Calling & Owl Hooting Championship
• Trail Camera Photo Contest
• Outdoor Photo Contest

 

2011 WHITETAIL DEER TROPHY CONTEST & DISPLAY

GENERAL RULES

• 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 assistance of certified Pope & Young Club and Boone & Crockett Club measurers.
• TROPHY ENTRANCE -- Fulton Street entrance at northeast corner of building. Look for an orange trophy entrance identification banner on or above the doors. There is plenty of surface-lot parking right across the street.

TROPHY CONTEST RULES

ENTRY FEE

Fee for the first entry is $20. With this, you get a weekend pass. Pre-scored additional entries are $7.50 each with written proof of official score, or $20 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
• Muzzleloader - Typical Antlers & Non-Typical Antlers
• Crossbow - Typical Antlers & Non-Typical Antlers

Divisions in Each Entry Category

• Archery – Current Year (2010 season), Historical (2009 season and earlier)
• Firearms – Current Year (2010 season), Historical (2009 season and earlier)
• Muzzleloader - 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 archery and firearms deer at last year's Classic are eligible to be entered in the Historical Category this year.
• First Place winners in Historical Category archery and firearms deer from any and all previous Classics are not eligible for re-entry.
• All First-Place winners in Muzzleloader 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 FEE: 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 2010 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)
• Muzzleloader 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. Enter from Monroe Street. 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

 

MEASURE-ONLY NON-CONTEST TROPHIES

• Attendee must purchase a general admission ticket to the Classic.
• Measuring fee is $20. 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.

 

ILLINOIS 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, March 26. Sign up at the NWTF booth.

Click here 2010 Illinois State Turkey Calling Contest Winners

 

TWO PHOTO CONTESTS -- TRAIL CAMERA & OUTDOOR

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 to 10:00 am Sunday.
• 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. Enter from Monroe Street & look for Show Office ID banner.
• Entry fee is $5 for up to three photos. There is an additional $5 fee for each additional group of up 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.

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 2010 Trail Camera Photo Contest Winners.

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 2010 Photo Contest Winners

PHOTO JUDGE

• Photo contest judge is Glenn Helgeland, the Expo’s producer. He says, "We tried a committee once, but it took forever and was impractical."
• Credentials: Helgeland has 40 years in magazine editing and 40 years of concurrent professional photography experience. From 1968-1970 he was associate editor of NATIONAL WILDLIFE magazine and editor of WATERSPORT, a quarterly coffee-table publication that was mostly photos. He notes, "I edited all the photos in the first National Wildlife EQ Index, more than 1,000 photos in five days.  My eyes were twirling when I finished."

From 1970-1980 he edited Archery World magazine (now Bowhunting World) and was the editorial director of a magazine publishing company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  During that time he also edited the 2nd Edition of the Pope & Young Club record book and wrote "Archery for Beginners" with John Williams, 1972 Olympic archery gold medalist.

 Since 1980, he has published, through his own company (Target Communications) 21 books and a trade magazine, and done considerable freelance writing, mainly on deer hunting and bowhunting. He has done the photography for his own publications and freelance articles.

Since 1990, Target Communications has published Deer & Turkey Show PREVIEW magazine, for which Helgeland did all editing (copy & photos) and much of the photography. The magazine is now produced on-line as, naturally, the Deer & Turkey Show ONLINE PREVIEW. One issue is produced for each expo; each issue is posted one month before the respective expo.

PHOTO JUDGING

Helgeland notes, "I don’t split judging into percentages, at least, not consciously.  I’ve edited enough photos to do it all together quickly.  Basically, I begin with the Rule of Thirds and go from there -- overall composition, framing, lighting, creativity of the topic and the photographic unit as a whole.  All factors are importants."

Critique

• Photo guideline notes will be produced, laminated and posted on the photo display boards prior to the opening of the Expo.
• There will be a short live critique/wrap-up at 2:45 pm Sunday at the photo display area just before the awards are presented.  Signs at the photo contest display site will announce this.  Judge’s decisions will be explained to the extent possible in the time available, and various photos (winners and non-winners) will be used for comparative purposes to give photographic tips.  Sometimes a near miss is more informative than a winning photo, particularly when coupled with explanations.

AWARDS

Awards are plaques only.  Cash prizes are beyond the intent or goals of the outdoor photo contest.  This is for fun and the sharing of your enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoors and all the beauty it has to offer ... and to be recorded photographically.

WINNER RECOGNITION

Winning photographs are posted on the Expo’s website, for all to see and enjoy, as soon as the photographers provide them (see last year's winners in Illinois Trail Camera Photo Contest & Illinois Outdoor Photo Contest Winners pages).  The previous year’s winner list and photos also are included in the following year’s ONLINE PREVIEW magazine (see Illinois Deer & Turkey Preview On-Line Magazine page).