According to the poll taken on when to close the contest 52 votes were cast. Results of the poll were:

When should we close the contest?

December 31st 17% (9)

January 15th 17% (9)

January 31st 50% (26)

February 15th 5% (3)

February 28th 9% (5)

As seen above from my copy/paste the last date to "hunt for the contest" was January 31st according to votes. That means January 31 received as many votes as the other options combined. But I have not read where it was made official, unless I am missing reading a thread. I do know there were posts made about making it the last day of the last state's season, which was February 15. I guess we need a ruling.