Dixie Deer Classic award winners

Rick Nightengale won the Best by Muzzleloader Typical Male Award, as well as Best of Show. (Photo by Brian Cope)

Rick Nightengale wins Best of Show Award

The 2024 Dixie Deer Classic was held March 1 – 3, and 19 award-winners from North Carolina were crowned.

Rick Nightengale won the coveted Best of Show Award for his Stokes County buck that officially scored 170 inches. Nightengale, of St. Matthews, SC, was hunting his friend Jonathan Humprey’s property when the big buck stepped into range back in early November.

Youth Awards

Ransom Summers won the Best by Crossbow Typical Male Youth Award for his Orange County buck that scored 1402/8 inches.

Levi Parker won the Best by Muzzleloader Typical Male Youth Award for his Stanly County buck, which scored 1505/8 inches.

With a 1496/8-inch buck from Rockingham County, Gavin Phillips won the Best by Gun Typical Male Youth Award.

Brianna Turner took the honors for Best by Gun Typical Female Youth category with a 130-inch buck from Randolph County.

Ivah Litwin’s Anson County buck that scored 1492/8 inches won the Best by Gun Non-typical Female Youth Award.

Ransom Summers won the Best by Crossbow Typical Male Youth Award. (Photo by Brian Cope)

Female Awards

Chesney Luck won the top prize for Best by Bow Typical Female category for her Moore County buck that scored 1363/8 inches.

Patricia Cole won the Best by Bow Non-typical Female Award. Her Vance County buck was scored at 1447/8 inches.

Ansley Vaughan took top honors for the Best by Muzzleloader Typical Female with her Durham County buck that scored 1231/8 inches. Vaughan not only shot the buck, but also mounted it.

Lauren Cain’s 1455/8-inch buck from Rockingham County netted her the Best by Gun Typical Female Award.

Jadyn Featherstone won the Best by Crossbow Typical Female Award, along with a President Award, for her Stanly County buck in velvet that scored 1561/8 inches. This deer is also the possible world record velvet buck.

Male Awards

Aside from winning Best of Show, Rick Nightengale was also awarded the Best by Muzzleloader Typical Male Award for his Stokes County buck.

Grayson Clayton took top honors for the Best by Crossbow Typical Male category. His Forsyth County buck scored 163 inches.

Michael Skipper hit the stage, winning the Best by Bow Typical Male Award for his Cumberland County 1581/8-inch buck.

The 175-inch Davidson County buck taken by David Kiefer took the Best by Muzzleloader Non-typical Male Award.

Carson Reese killed a Vance County buck that scored 1637/8, good for the Best by Gun Typical category.

Alan Webb and BJ Richardson won President’s Awards. Webb’s award was for his Orange County buck that scored 1721/8 inches. Richardson’s award-winning buck scored 1747/8 inches.

Chris Douglas’ Gates County black bear won top honors for the bear category. (Photo by Brian Cope)

Chris Douglas wins Bear Award

For the past several years, the Dixie Deer Classic has welcomed bear hunters to the party, officially scoring and recognizing the Best of Show award winners.

Chris Douglas of Sanford, NC took the top spot in the bear category at the 2024 show. His Gates County bear was scored at 218/16 inches.

Aside from his Dixie Deer Classic award, Douglas is also now a member of the Boone and Crockett Club.

“I’m honored to have taken a bear of this caliber and all the special circumstances surrounding it,” said Douglas, host of the Carolina ALL OUT television show.

“First of all, this bear came from my beloved home state of North Carolina. Second, this wouldn’t have happened without my friends Wade and Doug Temple and their highly specialized hounds. And third, this hunt was documented on an episode of Carolina ALL OUT!” he said. “I love our state and all its wonderful resources.”