The lucky number in the first NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year contest is 17.

That’s how many points each of the winners’ bucks had: Rob Potter’s Clarion County trophy and Bill Wiltse’s Crawford County non-typical.

Potter, of Erie, received the most votes in online balloting from Dec. 12-31 and earned inaugural Deer of the Year honors in the Erie Times-News/GoErie.com-sponsored contest. He wins a prize pack including a 145-pound Camo Poly Rope by SecureLine; “Steelheader’s Journal,” signed by author John Nagy; four GoErie.com camp mugs; a GoErie.com bottle opener; and a game tag protector donated by James Wolfgang, owner of Wolfgang Products in Saegertown and a contest entrant.

Wiltse, also of Erie, was named the Editor’s Choice winner after a review of the entries. He wins a prize pack including a 110-pound Camo Poly Rope by SecureLine; “Beyond Catch & Release: Exploring the Future of Fly Fishing,” by Paul Guernsey; four GoErie.com camp mugs; a GoErie.com bottle opener; and a Wolfgang game tag protector.

There were 28 photos uploaded, and 98 people registered to vote. The photos were viewed more than 80,000 times during the duration of the contest, and are still available at GoErie.com/deeroftheyear.

For even more images of successful hunters, visit the NWPA Outdoors Hunting and Fishing gallery.

Bob Lewis, of West Springfield, shot a 10-point near his home. The deer was the largest in his 48 years of hunting; it had a 17 1/2-inch and 20-inch outside spread, and the rack was more than 15 inches high.

Jared Dikeman, of North East, shot a gorgeous 9-point while hunting in Wattsburg.

Dikeman’s deer was one of the finalists for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year. Voting ended Dec. 31; watch for the public vote winner and an editor’s choice winner Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News sports section and at NWPAOutdoors.com.

Monday is the final day to cast your vote in the NWPA Outdoors 2012 Deer of the Year contest.

The Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

Deer legally harvested during any 2012-13 seasons were eligible; photo submission ended in Dec. 10. The contest was open only to individuals who were 18 years or older at time of entry. Entrants must have either harvested their deer in the Northwest Region or reside in the Northwest Region and have harvested their deer in Pennsylvania.

The public vote winner will get a prize pack including a 145-pound Camo Poly Rope by SecureLine; “Steelheader’s Journal,” signed by author John Nagy; four GoErie.com camp mugs, and a GoErie.com bottle opener

The editor’s choice winner will receive a prize pack including a 110-pound Camo Poly Rope by SecureLine; “Beyond Catch & Release: Exploring the Future of Fly Fishing,” by Paul Guernsey; four GoErie.com camp mugs, and a GoErie.com bottle opener.

George King, of Girard, used his crossbow to shoot an 11-point trophy buck in East Springfield during archery season. The deer weighed 198 pounds field dressed and had a 21 1/4-inch outside spread.

Vote for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year at goerie.com/deeroftheyear. Voting ends Monday, and the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

You can still submit your deer photo to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery.

Glenn Barthelson Jr., of Erie, shot a crab-claw 10-point buck in the Allegheny National Forest, Forest County.

Barthelson’s deer is among the candidates for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year. Vote for your favorite at goerie.com/deeroftheyear. Voting ends Dec. 31, and the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

You can still submit your deer photo to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery.

Eric Thompson, of North East, shot an 11-point in Marshburg, McKean County. The deer has a likely green score of 130-140.

Vote for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year at goerie.com/deeroftheyear. Voting ends Dec. 31, and the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

You can still submit your deer photo to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery.

Bradford Watson, of Fairview, shot a 12-point buck Dec. 1 on State Game Land 314 in West Springfield.

Vote for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year at goerie.com/deeroftheyear. Voting ends Dec. 31, and the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

You can still submit your deer photo to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery.

James Partridge, of Sandy Lake, shot a 15-point trophy on opening day while hunting with his two sons in Mercer County. Partridge said the deer scored in the 160s.

Vote for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year at goerie.com/deeroftheyear. Voting ends Dec. 31, and the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

You can still submit your deer photo to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery.

Jamie Gawlinski, of Union City, shot a 10-point in Oil City. The buck’s rack had a 21-inch spread.

Vote for the NWPA Outdoors Deer of the Year at goerie.com/deeroftheyear. Voting ends Dec. 31, and the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

You can still submit your deer photo to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery.