By Myra Bean

A new season starts this weekend. Youth deer hunt opens around the state.

Youth 15 and under can hunt either-sex deer with a gun on private and authorized state and federal lands.

This is a good time for parents who hunt to introduce their children to this sport.

The Panolian and Batesville Gun and Pawn, along with Farm Bureau, are bringing back the Big Buck contest this year.

The contest was cancelled last year, but the rules of the past years are still in tact.

First place will be awarded to the biggest buck brought in for the season through January 31, 2019.

Second place and youth prize will be awarded based on a drawing.

Farm Bureau will award special weekly prizes that will be announced as the contest goes along.

Batesville Gun and Pawn, 135 Highway 51 South, Batesville, will measure and score the deer using the following criteria: 1.  INSIDE SPREAD: widest inside point on each rack

2.  MAIN BEAM LENGTH: from base of antler to tip of the

     main beam

3.  TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS:

     count all points over one inch from the antler

4.  BASE CIRCUMFERENCE: largest base circumference.

No measurements will be taken at The Panolian. For more information, call Batesville Gun at (662) 563-2224. They are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.