By Billy Davis

Quitman County deer hunter Totten Hamilton jumped into first place in The Panolian’s Big Buck Contest after bagging a 13-point during primitive weapon season. 

The buck scored 63.75 points when it was measured at Batesville Gun and Pawn, the contest co-sponsor.  

Hamilton, 25, said he was sitting in a tripod stand, on private land in Quitman County, when the buck walked into a field at about 4 p.m.

The hunter said he made a broadside shot at 200 yards using .35 Whelen cartidge.

And it was pure luck.

No game camera.

No food plot.

No scrapes or rubs.

Hamilton just sat down. And waited. Then shot.

 “So it was just dumb luck?” a reporter, overcome with envy, asked the first-place hunter.

“Pretty much,” said Hamilton.  “I was just sitting there hoping something would run by.”

The trophy buck sported a 21-inch inside spread with a 24 and a ½ inch main beam. The base measured 5 and ¼ inches.

The 60-plus points easily pushed Hamilton into first place, displacing Batesville deer hunter Bryan Martin. (See the buck, page A12).

Martin’s eight-point buck, which he bagged on November 20, earned him 56.75 points early in the contest. But he predicted a “big Delta buck” would dethrone him from first place.

It took a while, 16 days in fact, but he was right.

The contest ends January 31, 2011.