Sullivan County - While the deer hunting season started out warmer than usual, some hunters got a hot hand and took some impressive bucks across Sullivan County.

Coincidentally, two Grahamsville area residents, Jake Yager and Walter Garigliano, are leading our big buck and heaviest deer contests respectively.

Yager, a standout pitcher for the Tri-Valley Bears who has signed a letter of intent at St. Bonaventure University, took his big 10-pointer at Frog Hollow Hunting Club in Livingston Manor. The big buck had 24 and 23.5-inch beams and a 18.75-inch spread.

He leads the 47th Annual Sullivan County Democrat Big Buck “Biggest Rack” contest by two points over Tim Mills of Livingston Manor and 2.25 points over third place Kevin Delaney.

Walter Garigliano took down a massive 8-pointer which tipped the scales at a new Democrat Heavy Deer Contest record 224 lbs.

John Garigliano is in second place with a 194.5 lb. buck.

Since the three-point antler restriction rule was implemented 14 years ago by the New York State DEC, hunters have been harvesting more mature and bigger deer throughout the Wildlife Management Units where the rule applies - including Sullivan County's 3K and 3H.

The Sullivan County Dem­ocrat's two Big Buck contests end on Sunday, December 13.