In the weeks before deer hunters headed into the woods this fall, Bob Bastey – owner of Bob’s Kozy Korner in Orrington – came up with an idea to spice up the season.

This wasn’t going to be your typical “big buck” contest, either. This one was just for the kids.

Bastey said he had noticed an alarming trend and wanted to address it.

“I’ve seen such a decline in hunting in this area in the last few years,” Bastey said. “I thought [it would be good] if we promoted [participation by young hunters] and got them active, back out with their parents.”

So Bastey ran out and bought a .308 Savage rifle with a scope, hung it on the wall of his store, and put up some posters.

Any junior hunter who tagged a deer at the Kozy Korner would have a chance at winning the rifle. And even those who didn’t would receive a free contest hat.

On Tuesday, Bastey proudly handed over the rifle to 13-year-old Nick Ireland of Orrington, who tagged a 110-pound deer Nov. 22.

“You should have seen him,” Bastey said. “[His father] said, ‘It looks like someone won that rifle.’ Nick said, ‘Oh, really? I wonder who that was,'” Bastey said.

That’s when the store-owner walked up behind Ireland, tapped him on the shoulder and told him the good news.

“I said, ‘That would be you, young man,'” Bastey said.

In all, 19 young hunters entered the contest. Bastey said he got a lot of positive feedback from Orrington schools, who said the contest hats became a conversation-starter for many when hunters began proudly wearing them to school.

“When they went to school, they had the hat on. It was like, ‘Oh. Did you get a deer? How big was he?'” Bastey said.

Bastey said he thinks getting young hunters involved in the sport can reverse a trend, and a new generation can start educating increasingly reluctant landowners to allow access to prime deer-hunting areas.

“I think if we can get the youth back involved in it and show [landowners] that they are respectful, they aren’t going to destroy things, [that’s a positive thing],” Bastey said. “That was the whole process behind it.”

The largest deer entered in the contest was a monstrous 245-pounder tagged by Christian LaCouture of Orrington.

Bastey initially bought the rifle himself, but received an unsolicited donation of $200 from members of the Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club in Bucksport to help defray the cost of the gun.

Bastey said the contest was a huge success, and he looked forward to holding a similar promotion next year.

“We’ll do it again next year,” Bastey said. “It’s really a lot of fun. It’s great. I saw more kids [during hunting season] this year than I did in previous years.”

SnoCross set for Rumford

Over the past several years, the sport of SnoCross has gained tremendous popularity, thanks in part to the emergence of ESPN’s Winter X Games.

This weekend, Mainers will get the chance to witness the sport in person at Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford.

SnoCross riders race snowmobiles on a closed course consisting of turns, bumps and jumps.

More than 200 racers are expected to participate in this weekend’s Rock Maple Racing SnoCross Series. The event also serves as New England’s only Winter X Games qualifier, whereby the first two riders in a special race will become eligible to compete in this year’s games in Aspen, Colo.

Spectator gates at Black Mountain open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, while racing begins at 9 a.m. each day.

Admission is $12 per adult, with weekend passes available for $20. Children age 10 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes are available for an additional $10 and satellite parking with a free shuttle is available.

Food, beverage, apparel and equipment vendors will be on hand, and Black Mountain officials say the course is set up to provide great visibility for spectators.

Races will be held in pro, semi-pro, sport, women and junior divisions.

For more information, go to www.skiblackmountain.org.

Winter solstice celebration on tap

People of all ages are invited to the Merryspring Nature Center in Rockport Dec. 21 to celebrate the winter solstice with Native American traditions.

The event will run from 3-5 p.m.

For more information go to www.merryspring.org or call 236-2239.

John Holyoke may be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or 990-8214.