By: Chelsea Bacon
Hunting season in Northern California just got a little more exciting with the return of the Buck N’ Bull Contest, hosted by Modoc Family Optometry. Now in its second year, the contest is quickly becoming a beloved tradition for local hunters who are proud to showcase their legal harvests — and maybe even win a prize while doing it.
Inspired by Passion, Built for the Community
The contest was born from one local hunter’s deep love for the outdoors. “I’m a big hunter myself,” said the Modoc Family Optometrist Dr. Kyle Dearing. “I thought it would be cool to bring my love for the outdoors to the people of Alturas and the surrounding areas.” With no similar contests currently offered nearby, this event fills a meaningful gap for outdoorsmen and women across Modoc County and beyond.
Growth from Year One
Last year’s contest brought in 12 entries, all of them buck deer harvested during rifle season. It was a solid start, but the organizers have higher hopes for 2025. “We’re looking to double that number this year,” Dearing said, noting the goal of attracting more archery hunters and hopefully seeing some bull elk entries added to the mix.
While many hunting competitions focus on the size of the animal, this contest is deliberately different. “This is not a ‘Biggest Buck’ contest,” Dearing emphasized. “Any legal harvest of a buck deer or bull elk can be entered at no cost. We just want it to be a fun, community-centered contest.”
How It Works
Participation is simple — hunters can bring their 2025 buck deer and/or bull elk to Modoc Family Optometry (located at 1201 Thomason Ln, Alturas, CA) to enter the drawing. Submissions must meet a few criteria: animals must be legally harvested, fall within the 2025 hunting season, and have antlers attached to the full skull. Only one entry per species is allowed per person, and hunters must show a valid 2025 hunting license and big game tag.
If they choose, participants can even have their trophy photo posted to the event’s Facebook page, giving the community a chance to admire and celebrate the harvests.
Win Big — Just for Playing Fair
One lucky participant will walk away with a $200 gift card to Sportsman’s Warehouse, drawn at random. The contest is free to enter, and the deadline to submit an entry is December 16, 2025, with the drawing to be held on December 19.
A Local Tradition in the Making
As the community gears up for another hunting season, the Buck N’ Bull Contest stands as a proud reminder of Modoc County’s outdoor spirit. “We’ve got a large population of people here who love the outdoors,” Dearing said. “This is just a fun way to bring attention to the area through the legal harvest of big game.”
With its blend of enthusiasm, local pride, and open invitation, the Buck N’ Bull Contest is more than just a drawing — it’s shaping up to be a tradition the community can rally around for years to come. Check out our website at modocfamilyoptometry.com for more details.
