By Myra Bean

With the return of cooler weather, hunters are seeing more deer action. This week alone 10 hunters have registered in The Panolian/Batesville Pawn Shop Big Buck Contest.

Taking the lead is Joel Williams of Batesville whose 14-point buck scored a 63.50. Williams got his buck Sunday.

He replaced Jasper Cobb who scored a 61 in the opening week of the season.

This week  hunters have been hunting without dogs and that will continue through Sunday, December 23.

There was a lull in deer harvesting for about two weeks when no one took a deer to be entered in the contest.

On Monday, December 24, gun with dog season will start back and go through January 17.  Primitive Weapons will close out the deer hunting season January 18 through 31.

To register for the Big Buck Contest, go to Batesville Pawn Shop on Highway 6 West. Next week, they will be closed on Christmas Day but open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Hunters of all ages are welcome to enter the contest. Restrictions include deer must be Mississippi deer and hunters must reside in Panola or a county touching Panola. Those counties are Tate, Lafayette, Quitman, Yalobusha, Tallahatchie and Tunica.