If you’ve ever spent a frosty November morning in a climbing stand somewhere in the Mississippi Delta or the piney woods of North Louisiana, you know the feeling. It’s that quiet, heart-thumping anticipation. But for hunters in this part of the country, the thrill doesn't actually end when the deer hits the ground. That’s because, for decades, the next stop isn't just the processor—it's Bastrop. Specifically, it's the back porch of a legendary retail footprint.
The Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest is basically the Super Bowl of Southern deer hunting.
It isn't some corporate, nationwide gimmick run by a brand that doesn't know a scrape from a rub. This is deep-rooted. Honestly, it’s a cultural touchstone for thousands of hunters who grew up walking through those doors. Simmons Sporting Goods itself is a massive 70,000-square-foot temple to the outdoors, and their big buck contest has grown into one of the most prestigious—and high-stakes—events in the hunting world. People don't just enter for the prizes, though the prizes are ridiculous. They enter for the bragging rights. They enter because having your name on that leaderboard means something in the hunting camps from Arkansas to Mississippi.
What Makes This Contest Different?
Most big buck contests are small-time. You win a hat. Maybe a $50 gift card to a local feed store. That is not how Simmons plays the game.
We are talking about a prize pool that routinely crosses the six-figure mark. They’ve given away trucks. They give away ATVs, high-end optics, and enough camo to outfit a small army. It’s a massive logistical undertaking that mirrors the scale of the store itself. But the real kicker is the scoring. They use the Boone and Crockett system, which is the gold standard, but the atmosphere at the store during the contest is what really sets it apart. It’s a community.
Imagine pulling into a parking lot filled with mud-caked trucks, the smell of woodsmoke lingering on everyone's jackets, and seeing some of the most massive whitetails ever pulled out of the Southern woods. It's a spectacle. It’s also a reality check. You might think that 140-class eight-point you killed is a monster—and it is—until you see a 190-inch giant from a Mississippi river bottom sitting on the scale.
The Scoring Reality
Simmons uses gross scores for most of their rankings. This is a big deal for hunters. Why? Because net scores are for record books, but gross scores are for hunters. Nobody likes "deductions" on a deer. If the deer grew the bone, the hunter should get credit for it. That's the Simmons philosophy.
They have categories for everything. You've got:
- Typical and Non-Typical Archery
- Typical and Non-Typical Gun
- Youth Divisions (where the real magic happens)
- Ladies' Divisions
- Muzzleloader categories
This variety ensures that a kid with a 120-inch buck has just as much of a chance to feel like a rockstar as the seasoned pro with a massive non-typical. It keeps the sport alive. It keeps families coming back to Bastrop year after year.
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The Economics of the Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest
You can't talk about this contest without talking about the impact on the local economy. Bastrop, Louisiana, isn't exactly a metro-hub, but during deer season, it becomes a destination. The Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest drives an incredible amount of foot traffic.
Think about the "Simmons effect." A hunter drives three hours to bring a deer in for scoring. While they’re there, they realize they need a new pair of LaCrosse boots. Then they see the new Sitka gear. Maybe they need more Hornady ammo. By the time they leave, they’ve spent money, the local gas stations have sold out of diesel, and the diners are packed. It’s a masterclass in how a local business can anchor an entire region’s seasonal economy.
But it’s not just about the money. It’s about the data.
Biologists and serious deer managers look at the results of contests like these to gauge the health of the herd. When you see a spike in high-scoring deer from a specific parish or county, it tells a story about the mast crop, the weather patterns, and the success of local management practices. The contest serves as an informal "State of the Union" for whitetail deer in the South.
Why People Drive Hundreds of Miles to Enter
I’ve talked to guys who pass up five or six local shops just to get their deer to Simmons. It’s about the integrity of the weigh-in. When you enter the Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest, you know the measurement is going to be fair. You know the competition is fierce.
There's also the "Wall of Fame" aspect. Walking into that store and seeing the massive mounts from previous winners is intimidating. It’s inspiring. It makes you want to go back out into the woods and hunt harder.
Honestly, the contest has survived the transition into the digital age because it offers something the internet can't: a physical gathering. In a world of "likes" and "shares" on Instagram, there is still no substitute for standing around the bed of a truck with a group of strangers, admiring a buck that took three years of scouting to harvest. That’s the soul of the Simmons contest.
Common Misconceptions About the Rules
People often get confused about who can enter and when.
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- The Entry Period: You can't just kill a deer and show up three weeks later. There are strict windows for entry that usually align with the various state seasons (Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas).
- The Receipt Rule: In many years, entry has been tied to a purchase. This is a common practice in the industry—it ensures the people winning the prizes are actually customers supporting the store. Always check the current year’s specific rules, because they do tweak them.
- Fair Chase: This isn't a high-fence game. The contest is built on the principles of fair chase. If there’s a whiff of a deer being shot in a pen, it’s out. Period.
The Evolution of the Prizes
Back in the day, a "big" prize was a new rifle. Today, Simmons has upped the ante to a degree that is almost hard to believe for a family-owned business.
The partnership with brands like Chevrolet or Polaris has historically allowed them to offer grand prizes that change lives. Imagine going out to fill the freezer and coming home with a $40,000 truck. It happens. This level of sponsorship speaks to the respect the industry has for the Simmons family—specifically Jeff Simmons, who built an empire out of a small-town shop.
The contest also heavily emphasizes the youth division. This is intentional. By giving away high-quality gear to kids, they are essentially "growing" their future customer base. It’s smart business, but it’s also good for the heritage of hunting. A kid who wins a prize at Simmons is a hunter for life.
How to Actually Win (Or at Least Place)
If you're serious about the Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest, you need to understand that the "Top 10" is a moving target.
- Know the big deer counties: If you're hunting in the Mississippi River batshure or the rich farmland of the Delta, you’re in the right spot. The soil quality there leads to massive antler growth.
- Don't wait to score: Antlers can shrink slightly as they dry out. While it might not be much, in a contest where half an inch can be the difference between a new ATV and a gift card, every 1/8th counts.
- Document everything: Make sure your tags are legal and your story is straight. The Simmons team are experts; they can tell a "truck buck" from a mile away.
The Cultural Weight of the Leaderboard
There is a specific kind of fame that comes with being at the top of the Simmons leaderboard. Your name gets printed in regional papers. Your photo goes on the website. For a few months, you are the most famous hunter in the parish.
It’s a throwback to a time when hunting was the primary social currency of the South. Even now, with all the distractions of modern life, the Simmons Big Buck Contest manages to stop time for a bit. It forces people to get off their phones and get into the woods.
What the Future Holds
As we move deeper into the 2020s, the contest faces new challenges. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has changed how deer can be transported across state lines. Simmons has had to adapt to these regulations, ensuring that hunters are following the law when they bring their trophies in for scoring. They’ve been proactive about education, which is another reason they remain the authority.
They also lean heavily into their online presence now. You can see the leaderboard updates in real-time on their site. This has turned the contest into a season-long soap opera. You see a name at the top in October, and you watch to see if they can hold on until January.
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Actionable Steps for This Season
If you're planning on entering the Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest, don't just wing it.
First, go to the store or their official website at the very start of the season. Read the rules for the current year. I'm serious. Every year, someone gets disqualified or misses out because they didn't have the right receipt or they missed an entry deadline.
Second, get your deer to the store as soon as humanly possible after the harvest. Not only does this help with the scoring accuracy, but the energy at the store is best when the deer is "fresh."
Third, take high-quality photos before you get there. While the store will take pictures, having your own "hero shots" from the field is part of the legacy.
Finally, even if you don't think your buck is a world-beater, enter it anyway. The prize tiers are deep. You don't have to kill a 200-inch monster to walk away with something valuable. Plus, you get to be part of a tradition that has defined Southern hunting for a generation.
The Simmons Big Buck Contest isn't just a competition. It’s a testament to the fact that in certain corners of the world, a heavy set of antlers and a good story still carry a lot of weight. Whether you're hunting a thicket in Tensas or a bean field in Arkansas, the road to glory eventually leads through Bastrop.
Go ahead and make sure your gear is ready. The next name at the top of that board could be yours. Just make sure you've got enough room in the truck for a trophy—and maybe a few boxes of extra shells you "accidentally" bought while waiting for the judge to pull the tape.