Denham Springs man scores Yamaha ATV in Louisiana Sportsman Big Buck Contest

Category titles also named during Louisiana Sportsmen's Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Andy Crawford

Louisiana Sportsman Big Buck Contest winners were (back, left to right) Ron Holden, Donald Waddell, Mark Caruso, Logan Sewell and Elizabeth Halpin Smith; (front, right to left) Alton "Tadpole" McLeod and Josh Alford.

Not too many people alive are as lucky as Ron Holden.

A decade ago, the Denham Springs resident won $10,000 in a church raffle, but that was nothing compared to what Holden hauled away from the 2012 Louisiana Sportsmen’s Show – a brand-new Yamaha 350 Grizzly.

Holden entered a lopsided rack with four points on one side and a single spike on the other into the annual Louisiana Sportsman Big Buck Contest, but the quality of the rack didn’t matter in the general drawing for the ATV.

“I almost didn’t bring my rack in,” he said. “I was kind of embarrassed.”

That embarrassment faded when Holden heard his name called from the stage as the winner of the Grizzly.

“He looked like a kid at Christmas,” said Holden’s son Britton.

The contest drew 102 entries, easily eclipsing last year’s total of 18. Quality of the racks was remarkable, with many of the entries qualifying for Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young recognition.

Category winners were:

Louisiana Gun
Ron Anderson, 164 1/8 Typical, East Feliciana

Louisiana Bow
Alton “Tadpole” McLeod, 204 5/8 Non-Typical, Tensas NWR

Out-of-State Gun
Mark Caruso, 167 1/8 Typical, Kansas

Out-of-State Bow
Donald Waddell, 150 5/8 Typical, Ohio

Ladies
Elizabeth Smith, 165 6/8 Non-Typical, Texas

Youth
Josh Alford, 165 1/8 Typical, Mississippi

Muzzleloader/Crossbow
Logan Sewell, 196 3/8 Non-Typical, Illinois

Each category winner took home a Nikon Rangefinder and other Nikon gear as well as a spectacular trophy. In addition, Anderson and McLeod won executive hunts at Mississippi’s McKenna Hunting Ranch.