Michigan's deer hunting season means busy days at Dexter store's buck pole
Since Michigan's firearm season started on Thursday, 38 deer have hung from the buck pole at Mill Creek Sports Center in Dexter.
Lisa Carolin | For AnnArbor.com
A total of 38 deer made their way to the Mill Creek Sports Center buck pole in Dexter by late afternoon Saturday. The group included one of the largest store employees had ever seen: A 220-pound, 14-point buck.
The buck pole is a long-time tradition at the store. This year it started on Thursday, opening day of firearm season, and ended Saturday.
Dexter resident Max Laski proudly hung his 8-point deer at the buck pole.
"I took it at 25 yards as soon as the sun came up," said Laski, who was hunting in Dexter Township.
That's also where Jerry Evans of Dexter was hunting.
"I killed an 8-pointer this morning," said Evans. "We have a full freezer."
This time of year is always busy at Mill Creek Sports Center.
"The buck pole is like Christmas at the store," said Cassie Purdy, a clerk. "Hunters have to be silent while they're out, but they love to tell their stories when they're here!"
"We have to chain up the bucks so people don't try to steal them," said Glen Bolling, a gunsmith at the store.
"We have to make sure everyone gets the right buck back," added clerk Lauren Creason.
The store also receives venison donations that staff cooks in a caldron so they can offer stew every day during the buck pole.
It added to the ambience for hunters Dave Boyko and Oscar Foust, from Detroit.
"I've been out for two days and am going out again tomorrow morning," said Boyko, who was surprised at how few hunters he'd seen.
Saturday was Faust's first day of hunting for the season.
"It was like a barnyard out there," said Faust. "We saw tracks everywhere."
But the soon-to-be 67-year-old came back empty handed.
"I've been hunting since I was 12," he said. "If I'd have got one today, it would have been the first one I ever got."
Deer firearm season runs through Friday, Nov. 30.
Watch a live-stream of the buck pole.
Are you a hunter that had success in the field this year? Send us a photo of you and your deer using the form found here and we may feature in an upcoming gallery.
Comments
John
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
Let's put aside the fact that hunting is as old as mankind and look at some realities. Deer would be overpopulated causing a major nuisance, especially to our local farmers. Food banks and individual freezers would have less meat, and remember meat that is free range and free of hormones. And finally, we were not meant to be vegetarians. Well at least I'm not?
jcj
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 2:10 a.m.
A2 .com should run a poll asking how many think the whiners are getting boring?
Themadcatter
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
AA.com should run a poll on the pole with questions like: The pole shows disrespect for life and should be abolished. The pole should be private and not in public view. I love the pole, I love to see dead deer. I don't care.
arborani
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
How about a "no-hunt license" for those who find the DNR's mission worthwhile, but don't choose to kill anything? I think I'd spring for that.
arborani
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
Kyle and Rork: Thanks for the excellent suggestions.
Rork Kuick
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
1) Buy the recreation passport when you renew your car registration. $10 option. Maybe up to a whopping $11 soon. Gets you into all state land. 2) Support that the recreation passport be mandatory, and just rolled into car registration. It could then be $5 (or even 4) per car per year and still be more money - and nobody would ever have to check if you've got the permission on a car ever again (I propose that out-of-stater's get in free, as our guests - that actually sounds very polite to our tourists).
Kyle Mattson
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
Hi arborani- I do believe the state does accept donations to specific departments of the DNR ie: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-30301_30505_40936-140172--,00.html
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
Thank you for purchasing a Michigan hunting license. Your hunting license dollars help restore and improve habitats for wildlife species, advance research on wildlife and wildlife-borne diseases, foster programs that help ensure access for public hunting, support hunter safety education and much more. We encourage you to keep hunting and to share your experiences with others. In doing so, you can do your part to keep our state's hunting heritage alive for future generations.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
For the ANTI"S from the DNR web page. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act places an excise tax on firearms, handguns, ammunition and archery equipment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service apportions these funds to state wildlife agencies to be used for wildlife management, research, habitat acquisition, game area and shooting range development and hunter education. Since its inception in 1937, Michigan's share of the Wildlife Restoration funds has reached almost $150 million. Facts You Should Know One of every six Michigan residents hunt or fish. Hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing contribute more than $3 billion annually to our economy. Recreation related to fish and wildlife conservation is vital to Michigan's economy, directly supporting more than 33,000 jobs. More than 76 percent of the DNR's budget comes from funds that are restricted by law on how and why they can be spent. One of those funds is the Game and Fish Protection Fund (hunting and fishing license fees) that provide nearly one-third of that total. The DNR receives little money from general tax dollars (General Fund). In fact, out of the DNR's total budget, only 9 percent comes from the General Fund - and half of that 9 percent goes to local governments, with only the remaining 4.5 percent to conservation. In contrast, just 10 years ago, 23.3 percent of DNR's budget came from the General Fund. The last time hunting trapping and fishing license fees were increased by Legislature was in 1996. The DNR has initiated $8 million in program reductions over the past three years. Cuts in conservation programs not only threaten our fish, wildlife and public land resources, they also threaten Michigan's economy. Learn more: Conservation Funding Trends and Implications
John J Hubbard Jr
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.
I am from Dexter. I grew up there my whole life. I love to hunt, I use to ride my bike up to the buckpole when I was a kid, I lived in town. I don't know If anyone remembers Fred Trost? He past away a few years ago. He had a t.v. show and every year, the day after opening day, he would come out to the buck pole in town. The buck pole was up on opening day and there would always be 10 or so bucks hanging. But all in all it was pretty normal. Until day 2. The animal activists would show up on day 2, only because there were tv cameras there. They showed up wearing their fur coats and leather coats waiving their signs about animal cruelty. But where were they at on opening day? But stop talking about how barbaric it is to display the deer on the pole. They do similar things everywhere in the country and not just to deer. I have been deepsea fishing in Texas, sailfish get put on a hook, so do sharks, anything that is big gets displayed so everyone can get a look and picture. Look at pictures from early 1900's in small farming towns, buck poles are part of Americana. If you don't want your children to see it, keep them inside in front of the tv playing violent video games. But remeber this, the next time you see a pick up truck with a bumper sticker on that says"Hunt With Your Kids, Not For Them" Stop and think about the meaning of it. Then maybe it will sink in.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
Called "BIG BUCK NIGHT" on MICHIGAN OUTDOORS if I remember correctly.
Jeffersonian Liberal
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Nailed It!
bethechangemm
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
It's only a "sport" if both sides know they're playing. Just saying.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
You have never witnessed a buck trying to sneak past you. Deer live in the wild all their lives hunters just ocasionaly , who do you think knows their way around the best> The hunter or the hunted.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
There's a big difference between hunting for food and getting a thrill on the kill.
Sam S Smith
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
I'm vegetarian too by choice, the only one in my family. I respect others even if I don't agree.
tdw
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
I didn't know meat was that bad for you.I guess someone forgot to tell my 77 year old grandfather with black lung, my 96 year old grandfather, my 98 year old grandmother and my 100+ year old grandmother that before they died.I'll have to tell my 80 year old dad and my 78 mom that.Thanks for the scientific info
Themadcatter
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
Something being decades old in tradition does not make it right. There have been many, many, things that have gone on for long periods of time that finally were ended because it was wrong and finally made right. This, although low on the should be stopped agenda, IS one of them. I am aware of the disease in deer this year that has reduced the number of deer allowed to be killed in some areas. This is an anomaly - not the norm. I already said the DNR should thin does not bucks to reduce the population. The DNR must keep the population high so the hunters will have game. The DNR is controlled by the agenda of the hunters. (And yes, I am a vegetarian and I do not condone factory farming And by now we all know that the consumption of animal products causes a battery of human health issues some eventually resulting in death).
tdw
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
Sam actually they used to run it every year when it was in print.Therma...if you don't like it don't look at it or drive around it.Who are you to say that a decades old tradition should stop ? Dexter does not nor will it ever revolve around you
Sam S Smith
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
Thank you again tdw, I feel the same way about you. I'm sure you do get tired of defending hunting -- I know I would too. My friends don't see it so much as a sport but as a survival skill. My friends count on this meat, are happy they got it and are environmentalists despite what others think. They don't like killing and they would never hunt anything endangered. You're right about the few jerks that make it worse for others. Yes I think you're right about the deer pole being there for decades which is why I never drive out that way at this time of year. I think I get triggered and upset when I see anything that was once alive hanging and the concept of thrill kill. Perhaps A2.com in the future could run a story on it with a link to see photos of it should one would like to see it. Or set up a photo gallery with the first picture being something else. I think it's only been the past couple of years A2.com has been running this because I don't recall this in the past.
Themadcatter
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
It's hard to stay away from something you don't know is there. I rarely find myself in Dexter and have no idea where this pole is...but if I happened to drive past it it would be extremely upsetting to me and I would probably spend several days haunted by the site. It should not permitted to be in public view. If hunters must gloat - do it privately.
tdw
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 12:55 a.m.
Well, I feel better about you now.But really,if it upsets you ( I guess I can understand in a way ) that much just avoid it.I've seen a lot of upseting things in my life so I try not to get upset about the little stuff.Actually, if someone was to decide to put up a buck pole where there had never been one I COULD understand people getting upset.But like I said that pole has been there for decades
Sam S Smith
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 12:39 a.m.
Thank you tdw. No, I've never hunted myself. I have several male friends and three female friends who hunt and pose in photos with holding up the "rack" but they don't use a deer pole. I think what you're saying that it's a source of pride? OK that's a bit different than enjoying killing. I have my own sources of pride some of which you or others may not choose. But while it may not bother hunters who are used to it, it can be a little upsetting to someone like me.
tdw
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
Ok......It would take a lot of time but basically I have never met or known ( and I know plenty ) a hunter that does it just for a thrill.All hunters I know use the meat in fact,it is illegal to waste it.It must be harvested be it take it home or donate it.If you look at my link for TruBlu you can see where the vast majority of the DNR's monies come from.And yes,a nice rack is a bonus hunters just like fishermen like to brag and show off what they've gotten.The Buck pole has been there for decades it's a tradition.I guess if you've never been hunting with family and/or friends it's hard to explain.Have you ever been fishing with friends ? if you have it's a lot like that.Sorry if I took you wrong but it gets real old listening to people who know absolutely nothing about hunting or hunters spew their ignorance.And yes there are some jerks out there just like any other sport ( when was the last time you heard of hunters getting into fights in front of kids ) but they are in the minority
Sam S Smith
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
Yes this reminds of hangings that's why it's so painful for me. But to those who have no problem with it, at least try to understand other's viewpoint.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 11:58 p.m.
And I'm sorry you feel giving more info to me is a waste of time. Convincing me or you of anything is not the point. I respect your opinion even if you don't respect mine. Just trying to understand that's all.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
And I guess I don't understand your comment "same applies to you." What in the world are you trying to imply? I'm not crawling in your head like you accused others of doing, why are you doing this to me? I'm trying to have an intelligent discussion. Your comments are intelligent for the most part, no need to get defensive with me. I just have an opinion that this isn't what I consider appropriate but I'm not leading a protest to remove this. I just want more info to understand better.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
tdw maybe that's just your opinion or cop out or don't you have an explanation. I really want read what you have to write on this. Not against hunting for food just this spectacle. Hey why don't the hunters get together on one of their property and do this in the privacy of their home?
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
Sam trying to explain it to would be like a atheist trying to convince a Christian there is no God.Waste of time
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Sam....same applies to you ^
Themadcatter
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
What is sick is glorifying killing - any killing. This pole is akin to lynching. Think about it. Kill if you must. Eat not waste. But realize this was a life that was taken. (Same goes for fish, etc. by the way - but it's deer we're discussing at the moment). What if an animal shelter/humane society that euthanizes cats and dogs were to hang the animals outside the building for all to see - would you agree to this as being an acceptable practice? After all - those animals need thinning too - right?. Would you want your children to witness that? I can only hope the vast majority of you will say no (the rest need therapy and perhaps institutionalized). This is all about "sport" killing - period. It is NOT about the need of meat. (The poor do not NEED your kill - you only donate the carcasses because you obviously are only killing for the thrill of killing and the meat is secondary). As far as over population of deer - the DNR purposefully keeps the deer population artificially high for hunting. It is not managed in a way to reduce the herd. If it were, it would be the does that would be thinned not the bucks. The the main argument I have here is the disrespectful display of life and death. One must be of a deranged mind that has to glorify the killing of any creature. If we allow our children to accept this derangement as normal - then, of course, they will grow up with this deranged mindset too. What would we expect after we have desensitize our children. It's not something to be proud of.
jcj
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:20 a.m.
themadhatter What I failed to add is that when you think of this remember that YOU are the cause of one more animal being harvested!
Mitch
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
I like to eat venison. It is completely organic. I will not hide it as your suggested. I will sponsor more safety classes to keep the accidents in the woods down. Of course the poor do not need it, but the still accept it, I have not heard of anyone rejecting it. If otherwise please site where you heard it. More than one county has had a large population decline this summer and little if any will be harvested because of a fever running through the deer population. IF they are keeping the deer population high, how do you suggest that they are doing that?
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 10:03 p.m.
Look....You know NOTHING about hunting ,hunters or their motivations or intentions period
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.
tdw I'll listen (or read) enlighten me. What is the purpose of it?
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
It must be nice to be able to crawl into peoples heads to read their minds and intentions
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
It's amazing (and dangerous) for anyone to substitute their pet ideology (e.g. vegetarianism, etc.) for actual Science. For example, how "energy efficient" is it to be jetting grapes and strawberries from Chile to Ann Arbor for the "delectation" of spoiled softies ?? Just a fact: it takes more fuel energy to transport a strawberry from Chile to Ann Arbor than there is food energy IN that strawberry. :-) It's amazingly ignorant for some people to be touting their pet ideologies as "morally superior" when those people lack any knowledge of the character of their hunting neighbors. Any ideology tries to make some feel superior to others - is a perfect formula for generating unnecessary conflict. The financial contribution to wildlife conservation by hunters and fishers outstrips that of "Nature lovers." There would be no salmon in the great lakes if not for the funding by fishers. The excess deer population wouldn't exist if not for the financial contribution of hunters. If all we had was ideological fans of nature: all of natural conservation would be as it was in 1912. "Organic" - fruits and vegetables: the practice of charging more (due to inefficiencies) for LESS. If the "ideal" of 100% organic products is ever achieved: it will bring food shortages and possible famine to the lower economic strata of our society. Hunting is mostly a social activity - requiring of the individual an understanding of social rules and socially acceptable behaviors. The actual harvesting of game constitutes but a fraction of the time spent on social interaction and social cooperation. Pride in showing evidence of one's skill is hardly 'anti-human' - it's the very core of human efficacy and survival.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Tru2Blu.....I'll get thumbs down here for bringing up facts but who cares http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10363-170963--,00.html
Jojobubbajr.
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 6:21 p.m.
To all the haters/anti's, etc...: barbaric treatment of the deer (and all the other species hunted) population would be taking over their habitat with strip malls and housing developments and NOT managing their population. Would you rather starve to death, die slowly in a ditch on the side of the road after being struck by a car, or be humanely dispatched by a hunters bullet? These are really your only choices. Deer populations are monitored closely by DNR and harvest guidelines are developed accordingly. And you know all those really cool state parks we have here in Michigan? Those are funded significantly through hunting license fees. Whether you choose to hunt or not is irrelevant; if you think it's unnecessary or barbaric, you're just simply wrong.
5c0++ H4d13y
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:59 p.m.
Just imagine how many Priuses (Prii? what the plural of Prius?) are saved from destruction by thinning the heard? People of ann arbor would rather have deer trying to limp off the highway rather than take one to the chest.
huh7891
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
Lame argument ....and it's herd.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
I'm shutting down for a while.All these moronic comments are giving me a headache.Besides I got a bunch of deer meat I have to trim for jerky
OLDTIMER3
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
In my 50 plus years of hunting I have never taken mine to be put on display. I take pictures insted. @A2comments have you never heard of bagged ice.
Fred Antler
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
This is the reason why Us as americans cant travel anywhere in the world because we are not very well liked anywhere period, so we take it out on Hunting, still able to get our anger and agressions out but with out retaliation. Proud to be American in a Bankrupt country. Lets make change people for the better of peace and the world!
motorcycleminer
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
Time for Mr. antler to form his " love circle " and start singing goom by ya....
jcj
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:08 a.m.
What a bunch of hogwash! "This is the reason why Us as americans cant travel anywhere in the world" Where is it EXACTLY we can't travel? How Stupid!
Fred Antler
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.
Bad enough people share this on social networks too. The kids should not be exposed to this. There are food banks out there to support food shortages with families which my family and including my children contribute to regularily. What does this show? Someone with a powerful tool (gun) can take out a defenceless beautifull animal that our children know as Santa's sleigh pullers. typical of our USA style of Media bullying.
John J Hubbard Jr
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:14 a.m.
Santa's sleigh, if you must know is pulled by REINDEER, a memeber of the Caribou family. NOT WHITETAILED DEER. Caribou are also the only species of deer that both male and female have antlers. Also, alot of hunters also contribute to soup kitchens with extra venison that can used to feed the homeless at shelters and such.
jcj
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
" beautifull animal that our children know as Santa's sleigh pullers" Some of our children live in the REAL world!
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
I don't know. Kind of reminds me of hanging gallows. I wonder how the hunters would feel if they were the hunted and strung up like in the movie "Predator." Who knows? Maybe someday we'll find out when some human hungry aliens will land here and do this...
motorcycleminer
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
Sam..watch " men in black " and then walk around OZ ( ann arbor ) they're here....they just havent started eating yet...
jcj
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:05 a.m.
Sam S " I wonder how the hunters would feel if they were the hunted and strung up like in the movie "Predator." That is as goofy a question as we willhear1
huh7891
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
Reminds me of some of the Far Side cartoons I've seen.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5 p.m.
Sam I'm gonna answer by not wasting my time answering
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
tdw... You do realize there is a difference in showing respect and brutality don't you?
Sam S Smith
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
What if the aliens thought of us as animals?
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
Sam....You do realize that there is a difference between animals and humans don't you ?
zip the cat
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
All you whiners and complainers of being inhumane to kill deer,I guess don't eat meat or poultry or eggs or bacon or eat fast food. If you think killing deer is so wrong you might want to tour a meat or poultry processing facility. I've been thru 2 of them and its not for the faint of heart. Cattle and hogs are stuned with a steel bolt to the head and hoisted up by there hind legs with there throats slit to drain the blood,chickens the same way. Cattle and hogs and chickens live in such confined areas they cannot hardly turn around. At least deer have free range to roam. Get your ducks in a row before spewing all your venom about being so wrong to kill deer
OLDTIMER3
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.
They now electricute chickens I am told instead of slicing their throats.
A2comments
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
I often wonder about people handing deer in 50+ degree weather, then removing the meat and eating it...
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
A2.....Once it's gutted and skinned the meat can take a little warm weather ( It takes a while for the meat to cool down )Most commonly it will be hung in a cool place like a garage.Once it's cooled down it will be quartered and put in cool place like a fridge and aged ( just like beef ) before consumed.This time of year a garage will stay cool enough ( depending on said garage ) Once gutted and the blood is drained and washed off, the meat keeps quite well ( think of it jerky is made by drying it )If this offends anyone to bad that's the way it is
jcj
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
It is amazing that there can be so many ignorant comments about hunting. It is obvious that most of them are from people that have never been close enough to hunting to know what it is really about. They just mouth the words of other uninformed anti's like a ventriloquist's dummy. My 6 year old granddaughter was out yesterday and she told me what she saw. A fox squirrel, three squirrels, a woodpecker, and three deer. Not to mention the 1/2 mile walk to get to the deer blind. I will put my little granddaughter's experience up against your 6 year old who know nothing more than watching Sponge Bob on TV or the ballet lessons twice a week.( not that there's anything wrong with that). My granddaughter does do or has done gymnastics, swimming, soccer all worthwhile experiences. But DO NOT discount the worth of her time in the woods with her Dad! My other granddaughter was hold the light for her dad at 5 years old while he field dressed a deer, got her first at 13 and went on to become a National Honor Society member.
Jeffersonian Liberal
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Where will all the vegan eating citiots be with out the hunters trying to maintain the natural balance of life. Good luck with the deer jumping through your living room window and your Prius windshield.
drewk
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
tdw... I agree with everything you have stated, Except baiting is now legal again.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
Thanks for the correction.The law was changed in June of last year.I guess I missed it
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
I just have a question to the anti's ( I'm sure I won't get a answer ).Where does the DNR get its funding ?
mohomed
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
That's funny stuff.
mohomed
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
AA is a progresive and enlightened city that has evolved beyond hunting for food unless its hunting for ovexpensive organic products at wholefoods. I bet all these hunters have global warming causing pickup trucks too and not the typical honda with a coexist bumper sticker on it.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
AA us progressive and enlightened?? Hah! How progressive and enlightened is it to consciously separate oneself from "dirty reality" which - for all of human history - has been the ever present norm. Your false characterization is laughable: how about the jetting of grapes and strawberries from Chile to Ann Arbor for the "delectation" of spoiled softies like you? It takes more fuel per strawberry to deliver it to your overloaded off-season larder than there is food energy IN each strawberry. :-) So who's the energy-wasting polluter now?? Phony ideologues make it a point to substitute their pet ideology for Science: how "enlightened" is that?
Anonymous
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
How very "mines bigger than yours" of you. Hunters disgust me when it's done for manliness. I bet they all sounded like a bunch of Tim Taylors out there. For meat, to thin the heard etc, have fun. Bait it in your back yard and shoot it, lame and very unmanly.
Rork Kuick
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
tdw: the baiting regs have changed. Legal this year around here. Not sure how many people bother.
Anonymous
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
And I could survive just fine. I have a hunting license and am quite skilled if needed. What you're not getting is its not the hunting I object to, it's the ridiculousness of showing off. My "rack" is bigger than your rack mentality. I commend the hunters that hunt with integrity, teaching their sons and daughters to hunt with integrity. Baiting (regardless of its legal status), showing off, etc is not integrity.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
What species do you belong to?? It certainly can't be human because humans have at least 60,000 years of hunting and cooking killed prey on which they base their survival and success. The extra food energy provided by cooked meat allows the parasite-critics to sit around posting unscientific, totally subjective nonsense as is they are the "morally superior" ones. You wouldn't even exist if not for the advancements provided by the extra food energy discovered my real humans over 60,000 years ago. :-) Enjoy your free ride - just back off the criticism or some day the hunter-achievers might decide to let you try surviving on your own.
Anonymous
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
I say what I say because I HAVE been around hunters, a lot. I know of many I respect and do it for the love of the sport. But I know many others who do it for pride, bragging rights and this lovely display of trophies. I said "I bet" because I wasn't standing at this buck pole. I have heard Tim Taylor echos at others. Silly boys.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Anonymous.....I know of NO hunters that do it for " manliness " you have the mentality of " well that,s what my opinion is therefore its true".As for Tim Taylor have you EVER been around hunters ? No because you said " I bet " you are just flat out wrong BTW....Baiting is illegal
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
My guess is that most of the people who whine about this are people have the mentality of " Oooo I want to move to the country.Oh Dexter...here's a nice house built on farmland ( I don't want to see anymore houses built now ).Now that I'm here things need to change to please me.Get rid if that decade old tradition buck pole.I'm here now.Now I'm gonna go eat a nice hormone, anti biotic filled, factory farmed steak.Gezz hunters are so inhumane "
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
mermaid....Most hunters will report.We don't like slob hunters ( that is the term used ) screwing up our sport.I have not only done it I took the DNR officer in my boat across the way to the slob
mermaid72
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
tdw- sorry I was gender specific calling hunters male. Male, female, or anything in-between should have been indicated. As far as looking at the "pole", I avoid it at all costs.... go out of my way so not to drive by it. And I do pay attention to those hunters who do not follow the rules as they are precisely the ones who warrant it. May I suggest that all you good law-abiding hunters police your own fellow hunters as they give you all a very bad name, & as you know there are not enough DNR officers to go around.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
Mermaid.....Those " hunters " that you refer to are in the minority.It sounds like that those are the only ones you pay attention to.And you are being kinda sexist,what ? you don't think females don't hunt ?.And yes just it's bragging rights just like when someone gets a trophy fish.It goes with the territory like it or not that how it is.Most hunters have more respect for wildlife than non hunters,I'm talking real respect not " Ooo it's so cute " respect.If someone does not like the pole there is nothing that prevents them from going around it
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
Elaine.....Ooops sorry I left out the s in decades
mermaid72
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
tdw, I live in the country & have lived in the country for many years. In fact I live near state land, huntin' land and see what goes on every hunting season. If hunters were all law-abiding guys who didn't drink, throw trash in the woods, and shoot everything that moved in their path, then brag about how manly they are, you wouldn't hear the "whines". It has absolutely nothing to do about whether or not one eats meat, or even what kind of meat. It has to do with RESPECT of the land and the animal that you killed. Hanging a deer that you shot on a pole for others to see is hardly respectful or manly. It is simply a very large brag.
Elaine F. Owsley
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
Way more than a decade. Hunting in the area is one of Dexter's support activities. There are way too many deer, and if you can use them for food, perhaps that's what God intended.
motorcycleminer
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
Always interesting to read the yearly blather from anti hunter anti firearm anti, anti ,anti, anti everything except their own perverted causes crowd...
huh7891
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 11:53 a.m.
Have to agree on this one.. disgusting. I couldn't even look as I drove by.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 11:33 a.m.
Was wondering when the haters would be posting. Made it in 2
Themadcatter
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 7:19 a.m.
This is a sick event that AA.com should not be covering year-after-year, especially with pictures. This should not be a public event. Children should not be witness to the insensitivity of life of other inhabitants of our planet. If one must kill for food - you don't show it off. If the herd must be thinned for whatever reason - you don't show it off. To show off dead animals for the sheer"sport" showing off antlers is just plain sick!. Wow, I'm so impressed. Put out some female deer scent and/or food, sit in a chair made in China set up in a tree, drink beer, and when a buck comes along, aim and fire. I just hope these deer died immediately without fear. I do feel sorry for those that are injured but manage to run off to suffer a slow, painfuldeath. Hunters are a pathetic bunch.
jns131
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 3:47 a.m.
My eyes just rolled into the back of my head when I read your comment. Get real. This is a fact of life and has been for thousands of years. How on earth do you think we would have survived without this. My child wants to do turkey. Never did, it'll be fun, but need an experienced turkey person to do this. So chalk it up next you eat something on that table on Thursday. Turkey or Pig?
Jojobubbajr.
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.
To all the haters/anti's, etc...: barbaric treatment of the deer (and all the other species hunted) population would be taking over their habitat with strip malls and housing developments and NOT managing their population. Would you rather starve to death, die slowly in a ditch on the side of the road after being struck by a car, or be humanely dispatched by a hunters bullet? These are really your only choices. Deer populations are monitored closely by DNR and harvest guidelines are developed accordingly. And you know all those really cool state parks we have here in Michigan? Those are funded significantly through hunting license fees. Whether you choose to hunt or not is irrelevant; if you think it's unnecessary or barbaric, you're just simply wrong
Fred Antler
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 5:08 p.m.
I totally agree with this. Bad enough people share this on social networks too. The kids shuld not be exposed to this. There are food banks out there to support food shortages with families which my family and including my children contribute to regularily. What does this show? Someone with a powerful tool (gun) can take out a defenceless beautifull animal that our children know as Santa's sleigh pullers. typical og our USA style of Media bulliyng.
Walter
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
"the insensitivity of life of other inhabitants of our planet"...oh, please get over yourself. Plenty "other inhabitants of our planet" were treated insensitively to feed, cloth, and otherwise keep your ignorant arse breathing. So save your disdain for companies like Walmart and their kind, who create an economic climate where producers/manufacturers are forced to churn out food and merchandise of poor quality or go out of business. Other inhabitants of our planet, other humans working in poor conditions, and the planet as a whole all suffer considerably more at their hands than the deer humanely killed in the woods of Michigan.
Candy
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Amen, Themadcatter, amen! And regarding the aggressive driving comment, I know some hunters who are among the most aggressive drivers out there! It fits in with their "manliness" theme! (And yes, this applies to women hunters, too!).
mermaid72
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
You will get many nasty replies, but not from me. There are many of us who feel just like you. It is a barbaric custom.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 1 p.m.
" Children should not be witness.........." I'll tell you what YOU worry about what YOUR children witness and I will worry about what MY children witness.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
Are you a vegan ? I hope so
Tom Todd
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
in my opine, aggressive driving and or texting while driving is worse.
tdw
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:30 a.m.
Got some good looking racks.The one in front of the kid in the red shirt is really nice ( this may get interesting )