Many of us struggle to locate mature public-land bucks during the preseason, but our Week 8 winner is wearing a knowing smile.
Locating outsized mature bucks on public lands is rarely an easy task. But despite focusing his scouting and hunting efforts on lands that are accessible to all of us, West Virginia’s Marc Lowe, 31, seems to have things figured out. For sending in some very impressive 2020 game cam photos of a trio of bragging-sized public-land bucks, Lowe is the Week 8 winner of our 2020 Big Buck HIT LIST contest. The weekly win scores Lowe a Wildlife Research Center scent and scent-elimination prize package valued at more than $87, and also makes him eligible for our September drawing to win a Wildlife Research Center prize package valued at more than $180. Enter today! 
“The first three photos are of the same public-land 11-point; all of the time and date stamps are accurate, and they show the progression of growth from the end of June to late July, and finally to the middle of August,” Lowe wrote.
“This buck is new to my inventory because this is an area I haven’t hunted, or run a camera, in the last four years. What a surprise! This is public land in southern West Virginia; the setup is a mineral site I created at the end of a thick point with two flats/benches circling around it. The bucks generally like to travel from the bottom of the hollow/drainage, up this point to the main ridge.
“The photo above is an 8-point in the same location as the 11-point—it’s another buck that’s new to my inventory for 2020. This image was captured Aug. 11; things are definitely looking up.
“The photo above is of a different 8-point that I have history with, taken July 24th; he’s another public-land buck in southern West Virginia. I had him on camera two years ago as a 2.5-year-old. Last year he developed into a borderline Pope-and-Young recordbook buck, but I was unable to connect with him during hunting season. My brother ended up finding his shed less than 200 yards from my stand. This setup is a mineral site at the end of a logging road that was timbered five years ago. This area is so thick you can barely walk through it; luckily at the end of the logging road they made a small clearing so they could turn their equipment around. There are many deer in the area, but this one is the dominant buck.”
To enter the 2020 Big Buck HIT LIST Contest, simply send us a few clear, high-res. digital trail cam photos (three to five) of a buck (or bucks) TAKEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 (Day or night images, photos accepted NOW THROUGH SEPT. 6).
Be sure to include the dates and state where the images were taken, and a few sentences detailing the type of terrain/area where the images were captured (i.e. funnel leading to soybean field, favorite stand site near wooded creekbed, etc.) and some info on the buck(s) pictured. Do you have any history with the buck? Is the buck a likely newcomer to your area? Is the deer somehow unique or unusual for the area? What weapons/seasons will you use to hunt the pictured buck(s)?
Along with your photos, include your full name and age, and also be sure to include your mailing address. Your e-mail subject line should read: Big Buck HIT LIST! Send photo(s) and requested info to: [email protected] 
We’ll choose 10 weekly winners that we began showcasing July 3rd. Each weekly winner will receive one of several different prize packages from scent and scent-elimination specialist Wildlife Research Center; our Week 9 Winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $87 (see image above) that includes a Magnum Scrape-Dripper w/4 oz. Golden Scrape (w/Scent Reflex Technology), a 1-oz. bottle of Golden Estrus (with Scent Reflex), an 8-oz. spray bottle of Active-Scrape scent, and a Scent Killer Gold 24/24 Combo.
At the end of the 10 weeks, all weekly winners will be placed in a drawing to receive a Grand Prize Package of Wildlife Research Center products (see image above) valued at more than $180. Included is a Scent Killer Gold 24/24 Combo, Field Wipes, Scent Killer Body Wash, Shampoo, and Antiperspirant/Deodorant, as well as Laundry Detergent, Dryer Sheets, a Magnum Dripper with Golden Scrape, Key Wicks and a variety of Special Golden Estrus Scents.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get outfitted with the some of the best scent and scent-eliminating products available, gear that will help you get the drop on your favorite Hit List buck. Enter today!
