Beulah’s Big Buck Contest: Precision & Pride Beyond the Harvest

The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines cultural tourism as “ … an activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience, and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions and products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products … encompasses … the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.”

From August through January, Beulah is a hunter’s haven for big game, furbearers, upland, and small game. Beulah’s Big Buck Contest has been a cultural staple since 2004. Join us on February 7, 2026, for our 22nd milestone, where we will celebrate the season’s biggest and best of Mercer County’s hunting heritage. Supported by the community, the Big Buck Contest brings together hunting enthusiasts from throughout North Dakota and surrounding states.  

Unfilled Tag Drawing

This year, we’re celebrating the hunt regardless of the harvest. In addition to offering cash prizes for adult winners in both the Mule Deer and Whitetail categories and hunting essentials for youth contestants, Beulah Convention and Visitors Bureau (Beulah CVB) added the Unfilled Tag Drawing! This competition gives hunters who didn’t fill their tags a chance to still participate and possibly win a $300 gift card to The Meat Shop, while ensuring the spirit of the hunt is appreciated.

Scoring Made Easy

As stated on the website, “The Rackulator is the only electronic big game scoring device that makes scoring trophies simple, fast, and accurate.” Fun fact: This gadget was invented by Mercer County residents, Scott and Sherry Wolff, and Blair and Kathy Trout of Golden Valley, about 15 minutes from Beulah.

As the invention story goes, the idea came to Blair while in a tree stand in Alberta, Canada. The next day, he shared his idea with Scott, and the partnership was born. In January 2001, the Trout and Wolff team began the patent process for the unnamed piece of technology. Following two years of:

• Extensive collaboration with engineers
• Post-9/11 shipping woes
• Revisions to the marketing aspect by Kathy and Sherry
• Permission challenges with scoring systems

… the Wolffs’ son, JD, named the device, and 19 Rackulators were market-ready by January 2003.

The Rackulator is also a testament to the power of family working together. Scott Wolff and Kathy Trout are siblings, making Blair and Scott brothers-in-law, and Kathy and Sherry sisters-in-law. Family bonding is one thing. Adding a business into the fold creates a stronger bond of trust and dedication, which is the fabric of the quality of life in Mercer County.

Beulah’s Big Buck Contest 2004 was the first for the county, accompanied by the Rackulator. This handy-dandy device is a must-have for Beulah and throughout the country, offering hunters fair, accurate, and fast scoring results. The Rackulator and Big Buck Contest are true cultural marks of Mercer County’s hunting heritage. 

Make Beulah Your First Vacation of the Year

If you haven’t planned your first vacation for 2026, come to Beulah for our 22nd Annual Big Buck Contest. Beulah is the 2nd safest city in North Dakota and the 3rd largest reservoir in the United States. Along with enjoying the Big Buck Contest, you can consume more culture and enjoy other Beulah adventures, such as:

-Preserved History & Culture - Four museums highlighting Beulah Beginnings
-Freedom Mine Tour - Largest lignite mine in the country

You don’t want to miss experiencing Beulah in the winter just after hunting season ends. It’s a one-of-a-kind moment in time.