By Billy Davis

With only a month left in the Big Buck Contest, deer hunter Eric Patterson has jumped into the lead with 68 total points.

Patterson said he bagged the 11-point in Quitman County on December 21.

Patterson’s score put him ahead of Joel Williams, whose own Quitman County buck put him in the lead in early December with 66.75 points. 

At Batesville Gun and Pawn, Patterson’s buck measured an inside spread of 22 inches and a main beam length of 28 inches. The base circumference measured seven inches.

Williams’ buck had sported an inside spread of 23.50 inches and a main beam length of 25.25 inches. The base circumference measured six inches.

Patterson said he bagged the buck with a .270 rifle at about 5 p.m.

“We had seen him on the game camera. He was coming through every two days,” Patterson said.

Williams bagged his Quitman County buck December 3 during a muzzleloader hunt.

Patterson’s point score brings him close to the Big Buck man-to-beat, Kenny Crockett. Crockett’s 18-point earned him 68.75 inches in the 2006-2007 contest.

The Big Buck Contest is open to hunters in Panola County and counties that join Panola: Tunica, Tate, Lafayette, Yalobusha, Tallahatchie and Quitman.

The Big Buck Contest ends January 31.