Big Buck Pole
November 15th — The legendary big buck pole — hang your biggest buck and see where it stacks up.
What it is.
The legendary big buck pole. Bring in your biggest buck of the season, hang it on the pole, and see where it ranks against the rest of the area's hunters.
This year it's a little different — we've made a whole night of it. Buck Pole Night, Sunday, November 15, 2026, brings live music, the Buck Pole Chili Cook-Off, s'mores and treats for the whole family. Weigh-in closes at 8 PM.
But the heart of it hasn't changed: bring in your buck, hang it on the pole, and see how it stacks up against the area's best. Same tradition, just a bigger night.
Bring the whole family.
- Refreshmentscoffee, hot cocoa, soda & water
- Donutsfresh from Haan's Bakery
- S'mores bar
- Kids' activitiesbounce house & more
- Chili cook-offenter yours or come taste
Playing live on Buck Pole Night, Sunday, November 15. Grab a coffee or a s'more and stick around.
Know before you hang it.
- 1
Eligibility
Contest is open to all hunters with legally harvested bucks taken during Michigan’s 2026 firearm deer season.
- 2
Entry Requirements
Deer must be tagged according to Michigan DNR regulations.
- 3
Weigh-In Process
- All bucks must be weighed at the official contest location.
- If your deer is not field dressed, 28% of its total weight will be subtracted to calculate its hanging weight.
- 4
Scoring
- Deer will be judged based on hanging weight.
- In case of a tie in weight, number of points will determine the winner.
- 5
Registration Deadline
Deer must be presented for weigh-in by 8 PM on November 15, 2026, to qualify.
- 6
Fair Chase
All entries must be harvested using fair chase principles. Deer taken using illegal methods or during closed hours are disqualified.
- 7
Hunter Presence
The hunter who harvested the deer must be present during weigh-in to verify the entry.
- 8
Prizes
Winners will be announced after all entries have been scored. Prizes are non-transferable.
- 9
Photography Release
Contest participants agree to allow Hilltop Sports to use photographs of their entries for promotional purposes.
- 10
Judges’ Decision
All decisions by the contest judges are final.
Here's how.
No sign-up ahead of time. Bring your tagged buck to Hilltop Sports for the official weigh-in by 8 PM on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The hunter who took the deer has to be there.
Buck Pole Chili Cook-Off
Sunday, November 15 at 5 PM. Free to enter, 15 spots — trophies and $100 gift cards.