Hunting
Welcome 2025-26 Deer Hunters!
We welcome you to the Cistern Country Store’s 60th Annual Big Buck Contest and the 8th Annual Youth Buck Contest!
Licensed hunters in Fayette and bordering counties are welcome to enter our white-tail buck contest.
Registrations are being accepted between Noon and 8:00 pm daily at the Cistern Country Store located at 10308 N State Hwy. 95, between Smithville and Flatonia at FM 2237. The registration fee is $20 for Adult and Youth Contests. Youth and adult contests are for low fence hunting, with rifle or bow. Field dressed bucks must be brought to the Cistern Country Store for official measurements to qualify for prizes.
FREE KETTLE STEW will be served on Friday, October 31st, at 8pm, to kick off the season. Hunters and their families are welcome. Contest registrations will be taken up until midnight on the 31st.
ADULT CONTEST SPECIFICS:
- Adult registration deadline is Friday, October 31 at midnight.
- Adult season: November 1, 2025 – January 4, 2026.
- There are three cash winner categories:
1) Most Points
2) Widest Inside Spread
3) Heaviest - All registration money becomes the prize money, except for $30 per deer brought in for measurement, which is paid to the official.
YOUTH CONTEST SPECIFICS:
- Youth registration deadline is Friday, October 23, 2025, at midnight.
- Youth Season: October 24-26, 2025 and Nov. 1, 2025 – Jan. 18, 2026.
- The total sum of youth registration fees will be given for prizes. Officials fees will not be withheld from the youth contest.
- Winners will be determined by: number of points + inside spread + length of the longest tine on either side of middle main beam = their score.
- Prize awards:
– One winner for 10 or less entries.
– Two winners for 11 or more.
If score is a tie, the longest tine, on either side of the middle main beam will determine the winner. - Cash prize distribution if there are two winners:
– First Place 60%
– Second Place 40%
PHOTOS ON WEBSITE AND ON OUR DEER BOARD:
Thanks for entering our contest. Be blessed, be safe and we wish you happy hunting!
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2024-25 ADULT CONTEST WINNERS
Congratulations to the following Adult Contest Winners!
Congratulations! CHARLES OTTO – MOST POINTS WINNER!
11/20/24, 7:35 pm, 12 points, 15″ inside spread, no weight, #59 on Deer Board.
Congratulations! GRANT PEASE – WIDEST INSIDE SPREAD WINNER!
Dec. 5, 7:45pm, 9 points, 20 1/8” inside spread, 139.7 lbs., #56 on Deer Board.
Congratulations! CANDICE McDANIEL – HEAVIEST WINNER!
Candice McDaniel, 11/08/24, 9AM, 10 points, 15″ inside spread, 148.5 lbs., #18 on Deer Board.
2024-25 Big Buck Contest
Buck #1 – Mason Ermis
Mason Ermis, 11/02/24, 9:05 AM.
9 points, 13” inside spread, 102.2 lbs., #27 on Deer Board.
Buck #2 – Ryder Kallus
Ryder Kallus, 11/02/24, 1:25 PM.
10 points, 18” inside spread, did not weigh, #4 on Deer Board.
Buck #3 – Ryan Hanzelka
Ryan Hanzelka, 11/-3/24, 9:45 AM.
8 points, 15 ¾” inside spread, 140.6 lbs., #7 on Deer Board.
Buck #4 – Mark Hofferek
Mark Hofferek, 11/05/24
7PM, 10 points, 13″ inside spread, 141.27 lbs., #47 on Deer Board.
Buck #5 – Candice McDaniel
Candice McDaniel, 11/08/24, 9AM
10 points, 15″ inside spread, 148.5 lbs., #18 on Deer Board.
Buck #6 stats: Jeff Fricke
11/16/24, 11:30 AM
11 points, 13 5/8″ inside spread, 115.4 lbs., #15 on Deer Board.
Buck #7 stats: Allen Lastovica
11/16/14. 6:25 PM
11 points, 15 5/8″ inside spread, 142,6 lbs., #51 on Deer Board.
Buck #8 stats: Brock Otto
11/20/24, 7:35 pm
12 points, 15″ inside spread, no weight, #59 on Deer Board.
Buck #9 stats: Mike Honohan
11/29/24, 8:35am
8 points, 14 1/2″ inside spread, 122.7 lbs, #42 on deer board.
Buck #10 – Kyle Lockett
11/23/24, 9:15 am
9 points, 14 3/8″ inside spread, 105.8 lbs., #1 on Deer Board.
Buck #11 – Grant Pease
Dec. 5, 7:45pm
9 points, 20 1/8” inside spread, 139.7 lbs.,
#56 on Deer Board.
Buck #12 – Douglas Lehmann
Dec. 7, 5:45pm
10 points, 15 ½” inside spread,
132.2 lbs., #14 on Deer Board.
2023 YOUTH DIVISION BUCKS:
Congratulations to Denton Michalec for winning the 2023 Youth Buck Contest!
Buck #1: Denton Michalec
Denton Michalec, 11/26/23, 6:15 PM,
8 points, 13 6/8″ inside spread, tine length 7 7/8″, Score 29 5/8, weight 122.7, #6 on Youth Board.
ADULT CONTEST WINNERS
- Congratulations to Allen Lastovica, Buck #1, winning two categories: Most Points (13) and Heaviest Buck (150.7 lbs.)!
- Congratulations to Glen Harmon, Buck #6, who had the widest inside spread (17 1/4 inches)!
Buck #1 Allen Lastovica
Allen Lastovica, 11/04/23, 9:20 AM,
13 points, 15 5/8″ inside spread, 150.7 lbs., #48 on Deer Board.
Buck #2 Patrick Opela
Patrick Opela, 11/04/23, 9:45 AM,
10 points, 13 1/4″ inside spread, 116.8 lbs., #27 on Deer Board.
Buck #3 Joey Theriot
Joey Theriot, 11/04/23, 10 AM, 7 points,
15 1/4″ inside spread, 130.9 lbs., #40 on Deer Board.
Buck #4 Amanda Miller
Amanda Miller, 11/04/23, 10:25 AM,
8 points, 17″ inside spread, 106.7 lbs., #52 on Deer Board.
Buck #5 Sarah Futschik”
Sarah Futschik, 11/05/23, 10:50 AM,
10 points, 15 1/2″ inside spread, 98.7 lbs., #4 on Deer Board.
Buck #6 Glen Harmon
Glen Harmon, 11/05/23, 11:20 AM, 11 points,
17 1/4″ inside spread, 123.4 lbs., #32 on Deer Board.
Buck #7: Dillon Michalec
Dillon Michalec, 11/08/23, 4:40 PM, bow,
10 points, 15 1/2″ inside spread, 119.4 lbs., #57 on Deer Board.
Buck #8: Doug Lehmann
Doug Lehmann, 11/09/23, 6:10 PM,
10 points, 13 3/4″ inside spread, 134.7 lbs., #2 on Deer Board.
Buck #9: Mike Honohan
Mike Honohan, 11/11/23, 7:50 PM,
9 points, 14 1/2″ inside spread, 128.9 lbs., #22 on Deer Board.
Buck #10: Miguel Murillo
Miguel Murillo, 11/12/23, 5:30 PM,
8 points, 16 1/2″ inside spread, 110 lbs., #15 on Deer Board.
Buck #11: Corry Childress
Corry Childress, 11/26/23, 7:35 pm,
11 points, 15 1/2″ inside spread, 111.1 lbs., #29 on Deer Board.
Buck #12: Doug Harris
Doug Harris, 12/02/23, 5:15 pm, 8 points, 17″ inside spread, no weight-not field dressed, #3 on Deer Board.
Buck #13: Bill Srubar
Bill Srubar, 12/19/23, 6 pm, 7 points, 16″ inside spread, 116.6 lbs., #23 on Deer Board.
2022 ADULT DIVISION BUCKS:
FIRST BIG BUCK: Terra Machacek
Terra Machacek, 11/05/22, 9 AM,
10 points, 16″ inside spread, 97.4 lbs., #27 on Deer Board.
Terra won two categories: Most Points and Inside Spread
SECOND BIG BUCK: Jimmy Laake
Jimmy Laake, 11/20/22, 11:35 AM,
8 points, 14″ inside spread, 116.4 lbs., #49 on Deer Board.
Jimmy won the heaviest category.
THIRD BIG BUCK: Doug Lehmann
Doug Lehmann, 11/25/22, 5:20 PM,
8 points, 13 1/8″ inside spread, 113.7 lbs., #22 on Board.