the Atlanta 
Chamber of Commerce 
proudly hosts
 
 

the 
2012 
Atlanta 
Elk Pole Contest
Dec. 8th & 9th

Always the first 2 days 
of the December Elk Hunt.

FIRST IN - Joe Soomers of Marquette was the first to come in at 10am to the contest with this fine 6x6 550lb Bull that had a wide 35 1/2" inside spread and both beams were nearly semetric with the left beam measuring 35 1/4" and the right 35 1/2". 
Bruce Keskine of Jo-burg was Joe's guide that helped him plug his bounty with a 270 Weatherby at about 275 yards.  Joe took a trophy for 1st In.
A couple days after getting back to Marquette, Joe bagged a 125lb 10pt Buck with a 16" spread out in his neck of the woods with his Black Powder 50cal.. Seems like luck is still with him indeed!.

Dave Wolfe of Twining brought in this 6x7 510lb Bull at 11:20am on Saturday, day #1 of the contest. Dave took LARGEST RACK trophy winner with his bulls massive rack that had a 40" left beam, 42 1/2" right beam and a  32" inside spread!  Ralph Mayer was Dave's guide out at Canada Creek Ranch. He popped his bounty using a 7mm Remington Mag at 80 yards.

Dave had been putting in for the elk license for 26 years. The DNR outta give these Quarter-Century lottery participants a nice patch or somthing to at least say "thanks' for sticking to it & 'doing their time' feeding the change drawer so consitently. 
After all, these bucks (pun) generated are instrumental in helping the DNR do what it needs to do as managers and stewards of our Great North Woods and all it's children living within.

Thank you to: the Baklava Shop, Dinner Table, Elk Crossing Café, JD’s Pizza Place & Thunder Bay Deli for the gift certficates to present to the contestant-hunters at time of check-in. They could go grab a bite to eat after coming in from their successful hunt.
Pole workers got a foot-long coney at lunchtime Compliments from the Thunder Bay Deli. Nothng like a happy tummie. 

were ice-grip cleats from Canada Creek Ranch members Tom & Carolyn Williams (dedicated long time prize donors), several pair of leather gloves by the Carigon Family, Elk Velvet Antler Skin Lotion & Elk Velvet Antler Extract from the Atlanta Hardware, a set of
125 yr Anniversary cocktail tumblers with a 1 year subscription from our local Montmorency Tribune,  Miller™ caps and kozi’s from Alpena Beverage Company & a Leanin’ Tree™ ass’t Christmas Card pack from Northwoods Services and Construction. 
    Last and certainly not least were the Grand Prize for Largest Rack and Heaviest being (1) CVA 50cal. Black Powder Rifle donated by Roy Turay of R&J Guns in Atlanta. A special "thank you" to Roy for his generosity of years of donating our Grand Prize to the  Elk Pole Contest and hte community of Atlanta.  Another Grand Prize was (1) CVA 50cal. Black Powder Rifle w/Camo Stock made available with very special pricing by
A-1 Woods and Waters in Hillman and donations from Elk Crossing Cafe, Complete Meter Service and Kevin's Meter Testing.

Ed Retherford  of Alpena brought in this 5x5 - 545lb Bull at 11:45am Saturday. It's crown bore a 37" left beam, a 37 3/4" right beam with a 37 3/4" inside spread! Ed used a 300 Remington UltraMag at about 200 yds to bag this big boy.
Kieth Huff guided Ed and got what they came out for. The herd was out in the Vienna area. Ed too, had to take down early to beat the snows late Sunday afternoon.  Thanks for hanging this beauty up for all of us to see Ed! Ya done yourself proud!

Chamber President, Mike Schwartz hooks up the chains at the bem while Mark Bowen pulls on the lift chains of the 'chain-fall' used to hoist these big boys up. This is Ed Retherford's 5x5 Bull getting lifted.  This is around a quarter to noon on Opening Day, day #1 of the 2 day contest. 

Dave Wolfe up at the Atlanta DNR Check Station.   Dave came down and entered this beauty at the Elk Pole Contest. Dave was #2 at the pole and took LARGEST RACK GRAND PRIZE!  A pair of 40" beams with a 32" spread got him a Trophy & a 50cal.CVA Black Powder Rifle! It was worth the coaxing? You betcha. Although, his true prize and trophy has got a massive antler rack!

Joe Sommers with his trophy for FIRST IN. Joe entered his 550lb  6x6 Bull at 10am Opening morning on Saturday, December 8th.  This elk got our blood a-brewing in excitement being one heck of a good way to start off the contest! We had 2 days to show off his Elk to mesmerized eyeballs of the passer-by. 

Dave Wolfe with his Trophy and 50cal. CVA Black Powder Rifle he won LARGEST RACK  for his 510lb 6x7 Bull that had a 40" left beam, a 42 1/2" right beam with a 32: inside spread. Congratulations Dave!  You put in for 26 years, was it worth it?  You betcha!

Eugene Bischer of Ruth took trophy for the Oldest Hunter Trophy placement.   He bagged his 475lb, 5x5 Bull the day after his birthday!  Talk about one heck of a birthday present.  I'll call that a "God wink". Happy Birthday to you Eugene! Thanks for letting us check out your present!

Last and only contest entry who came in at 9:15am Sunday was Randy Baughman who bagged a  340lb Cow after 25 years of putting in to the Elk Lottery. Sure looks like his patience had paid off pretty darn good. Bet it's tasty good too.  Randy used a 7mm Remington with the help of guide Jim Douglas to bag this cow. Though Randy didn't place for any trophy's, he did receive some prizes for his participation. Thanks for allowing us to put on a good show at the Elk Pole Randy!

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