Getting Your Buck Scored in Lakeland
To have your buck scored and entered in the Big Buck Recognition & Award, just bring the mount or rack with you when you come. The scoring of the first buck is free; additional racks may require a $5 admin fee.
When you get to the Lakeland Center, simply ask for the “Deer Scoring Area”. One you reach the area you’re deer will be registered in and you’ll receive instructions as to when and how to pick up your trophy. Your trophy does not have to be mounted. We will score just the antlers on a skull or skull plate. We will score sheds if time permits but cannot guarantee they’ll get scored and they will not be eligible for any awards.
Please have a photo ID with your current address. You will be asked When you took the deer, where (State & County), and How (gun, bow, muzzleloader, car, etc.). If you are a youth hunter (16 or under) or a female there are special categories for your entry. It is not necessary to have and forms from the presiding wildlife agency where the deer was taken. You will be asked to sign the entry form, attesting to the fact that the animal was taken under the guidelines of fair chase.
In general, during the heaviest crowd times on Saturday, it may take up to two hours for your trophy to be scored and the placed on display on the "Bragging Boards". It should be displayed by the category under which it was scored; i.e. GUN Typical, Bow Non-Typical, Youth, etc. After the trophy is placed on display, it is also available for you to pick up and depart. We do ask that you not check out the deer head until just before you are ready to depart. Carrying it around in the crowd can be potentially dangerous, so be extra careful.
Periodically trophies will be placed on the "Leader Board" just to the left of the Check-In Counter. The heads placed here are the potential category winners. To be considered as a winner, the trophy must be entered for scoring prior to 6 PM on Saturday, and must be present for the Awards on Sunday afternoon at 4 PM. Category leaders are determined strictly by the scores attained by the trophy. The primary purpose of the STH Whitetail Records is to show case deer taken in the Southern states. Except for the ALL States categories, only deer from the Southern States/regions listed by the ** below are eligible for awards:
The categories for this year are:
** NC, SC, VA, TN, GA, AL, MS, FL, LA & Eastern KY (Counties East of I-75 and South of I-64) Should your trophy score high enough to qualify for the Boone and Crockett Record Book or the Pope and Young Record Book, there will be officials from both groups on hand to assist you in filing the proper paper work to get it entered.