EVERY SET OF horns has its own circumstances.
That’s what makes the Quilcene Antler Show such a special event for organizer Mari Phillips.
“It’s just amazing because every set is different,” the lifelong Quilcene resident said.
“And with that you get the story, and the story is what it’s all about. It’s just really neat.”
Tales, tall or not, are sure to be flying at the event, which will gather for the second year in a row at the Quilcene School Gymnasium on Highway 101 on Sept. 18-19, the same time as the Quilcene Fair.
There were 167 exhibits at last year’s inaugural gathering, drawing 1,011 visitors. Phillips said she expects a third more exhibits this time around.
Submissions run from the impressive — one Puyallup hunter will bring trophies from across the globe — to the inane (think: jackalopes).
Each is the subject of scrutiny by the antler show committee, with selections eligible for entry into “Records of North American Big Game,” by the Boone and Crockett Club.
Scoring will be done in accordance with the Boone and Crockett scoring sheets by knowledgeable volunteers.
That includes official Boone and Crockett scorers, who will also explain what goes into the scoring system in a presentation.
“It was really informative for the audience [last year], what goes into that,” Phillips said.
“It probably takes 45 minutes to an hour to score each set of antlers, depending upon how many points there are . . . and demerits, things that actually subtract from the score.
“There’s a lot that goes into it.”
Antlers can come from any region, age group or (legal) time frame, with several different categories. (Last year’s event included horns from as far back as the 1940s.) Fish and bird mounts are also welcome.
“We really stress, it’s good to hunt, but you’ve got to use what you get,” Phillips said. “You can’t just be shooting for antlers.”
Added Phillips, “We believe in fair hunt, fair chase. That’s why we call it the art of hunting. There’s a lot more to it than just riding around in your pickup and blasting away at things.”
In addition to all the horn happenings, there will also be several vendors and presenters on hand.
Among those expected are reps from the Quilcene National Fish Hatchery, the state Department of Natural Resources and Jefferson County Gun Club.
PDN columnist and avid outdoorsman Pat Neal will also give a presentation entitled “Are Environmentalists Bad for the Environment?” on Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.
The show is open from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept.18, and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19.
To arrange an antler display, contact Phillips at 360-765-0688, or bring the submission to the gym between noon and 6 p.m. on Sept. 17.
Antlers can be submitted for scoring on a first-come, first-serve basis all the way through Sunday until 1 p.m.
Admission is $1 for adults, while children 12 and younger get in for free.
For more information, visit www. quilceneantlershow.org.
Hunting seasons
With several hunting seasons fast approaching, here’s a quick rundown of seasons for this fall/winter:
• Forest grouse — Peninsula hunters followed up an awful 2008 grouse campaign with quite the 2009.
While Clallam hunters posted their highest harvest numbers (6,350 grouse) since 2004, the Jefferson set had its best season (3,839) in more than 10 years. Let’s hope for more of the same in 2010.
The season lasts from Wednesday through Dec. 31 throughout the North Olympic Peninsula, with hunters limited to three a day.
• Ducks — Duck hunting continued to improve steadily in recent years on the Peninsula.
Clallam County harvests have increased each of the last three years, with 2009’s take (8,166) the second best of the past 10 years.
Jefferson County, meanwhile, is coming off its best duck season (4,330) since 1999.
Hunters can break out the decoys beginning with an early hunt Oct. 16-20 statewide. After a brief closure, the ducks will be fair game once again Oct. 23 through Jan. 30.
There is also a youth hunt on Sept. 25-26.
• Cougar — For the second straight year, the state matched the dates and regulations with those of early deer and elk seasons.
Cougar hunting begins with a statewide archery-only season Sept. 1-24, followed by a muzzleloader-only season Sept. 25-Oct. 15.
From Oct. 16 to March 31, Peninsula hunters may use any legal weapon to target cougars.
• Archery deer — Archers get their first shot at the blacktails on Wednesday in all nine GMUs (game management units): the Hoko (601), Dickey (602), Pysht (603), Sol Duc (607), Goodman (612), Clearwater (615), Matheny (618), Olympic (621) and Coyle (624).
The season lasts through Sept. 24 in the Hoko, Pysht, Clearwater, Olympic and Coyle GMUs, while the Dickey, Sol Duc, Goodman and Matheny close after Sept. 19.
A late season set for Nov. 25 through Dec. 15 in the Hoko, Sol Duc, Goodman, Matheny and Clearwater GMUs.
There also will be a late season in Coyle and Pysht that will go from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31.
• High buck season — Those looking to apply for this hunt better bring their Davy Crockett card.
Hunters must not only backpack into remote locations, they must also haul out whatever they run into. Good luck with that one.
There’s only 10 days for this specialty hunt, from Sept. 15-25, with both the modern firearm and muzzleloader seasons overlapping in Peninsula wilderness areas.
• Muzzleloader deer — As is usually the case, the muzzleloaders are batting second on the bucks.
The early season will go from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3 in the Pysht, Sol Duc, Goodman, Clearwater and Coyle GMUs, while the late season hits the Dickey GMU only from Nov. 25 to Dec. 15.
• Modern firearm deer — The most popular hunt of the fall arrives in mid-October, going from Oct. 16-31 in each of the Peninsula’s GMUs.
Blacktail bucks can be targeted again Nov. 18-21 in all nine GMUs for the late season.
Just in time for the rut.
• Archery elk — Archers can hit the trails Sept. 7-19 in Hoko, Dickey, Pysht, Sol Duc, Goodman, Clearwater and Matheny GMUs.
There also will be a Sept. 7-19 hunt in the Coyle GMU with the exception of elk area 6071.
The late archery season is set for the Pysht, Goodman and Clearwater GMUs from Nov. 24 to Dec. 15.
• Muzzleloader elk — Muzzleloaders get Oct. 2-8 in the Dickey, Pysht and Sol Duc GMUs. The late season is set for Nov. 24 to Dec. 15 in the Hoko and Matheny GMUs.
• Modern firearm elk — This season goes from Nov. 6-16 in the Hoko, Dickey, Pysht, Sol Duc, Goodman, Clearwater, Matheny and Coyle (except for elk area 6071) GMUs.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays.
He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.