CHILLICOTHE – “If you have been waiting to find out if that big buck you bagged qualifies for record book status, you can easily get the answer and you can do it for free on March 22!” said Steve Shoot, president of the non-profit North Missouri Sportsman’s Alliance, exhorts local and area hunters in north-central and northwest Missouri.

The event provides free deer measuring services in which certified Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett and Missouri Big Bucks scorers will participate in the judging of the big bucks.

For the second consecutive year, the NMSA-sponsored free event will be held at the Celebrations Events Hall in north Chillicothe, in the south end of The Fast Lane Family Entertainment Center building (near Chillicothe High School) which also houses Jersey’s Sports Grill, in addition to the bowling alley and arcade. The precise address at 2870 Grand Drive.

“We will be accepting racks from around 8:45 a.m. to 12 noon,” says Shoot. “Racks will continue to be measured throughout the afternoon, ending around 4 p.m.”

When hunters arrive at the Celebrations Hall, there will be a sign-in process, he elaborates.

Antlers will be given a number in the order they are registered. Scorers are separated from the hunters while the antlers are scored. The antlers will be measured in the order in which they arrive at the facility, Shoot notes, with the only exception being those antlers which must be scored for Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young eligibility.

“The folks bringing in the deer to be scored are welcome to sit in the scoring room while the racks are being measured,” said Shoot. “Hunters will also be asked some basic information on how the deer was taken, their name and address, and so on.”

The NMSA is working with the Missouri Department of Conservation to provide this free event.

“We would also like to thank Kevin Murray and Blake Keller at Jersey’s Sports Grill for all of their assistance in our ability to conduct this unique event at its Celebrations facility,” stresses Shoot.