It was one of those years for deer hunters.Â
âThere seemed to be a little kill off from last winter, so it took people a lot more time and effort out in the field to find them,â said Lenny Heglin, organizer and Big Rayâs store manager. âThe majority of the people said it was a tough year to find them.â
Odlinâs wife filled the family freezer with elk meat, so he had the luxury of passing on several bucks until he found one he liked. He knew it would be a contender in the contest. His thought was confirmed on Jan. 7 when the winners were announced at Big Rayâs, the contest sponsor that has been a staple for Kodiak hunters for three decades.Â