Firearm deer season kicked off on Tuesday
Kurt Campbell shoots an 11-point on Opening Day of firearm deer season
NORTHERN MICHIGAN -- The stories are already pouring in on opening day of firearm deer season. We found one man who shot a possible trophy buck and another who shot her first deer ever.
For many, Tuesday ranks up there as one of the most coveted days of the year.
We sent 7&4's Andrew Keller out in the woods Tuesday, yes he was wearing “hunter’s orange,” to see how firearm deer season is going and to talk to the DNR about what hunters need to remember.
"I’ve been hunting here ever since I was 15 years old, I’m 77 now," said longtime hunter Ronald Sehl.
For some hunters, it's all about family tradition. The Sehl family has been doing this for a very long time. The family will spend two weeks in this Pigeon River Country spot.
“If I get one, fine if I don't, but it's peace and quiet," said Sehl.
Hundreds were out in the state forest looking for the prized buck.
"10 years ago, there was way more deer, way more, not now," said Ryan Watters, who is a hunter from Gaylord.
Some came up empty handed early, others, like 15 year-old Alexis Holmes, made a memory of shooting their first deer, and in her case, a 5-point buck.
"It was a little scary, I didn't want to miss, it was a skittery bug," said Holmes.
As you can imagine, the Department of Natural Resources is going to be extremely busy over the next 15 days. I caught up with one conservation officer today who tells me the most common ticket he writes is for hunters not wearing the proper "hunter's orange." He says if anyone goes out into the woods, make sure you're marked.
"I would say 95 percent of the hunters in the field are very good hunters, been hunting for a long time, know what they're supposed to do, and comply with the law," said Conservation Officer Eric Bottorff.
Officer Bottorff makes sure deer are properly tagged and guns are being transported safely. I followed him around for a little and luck has it we came across one of the biggest bucks of the day. As part of the deal with the Kurt Campbell who's up north from Big Rapids with his dad, I can't tell you where this 200 pound 11 point was shot, but I can attest, it is a monster.
"I let him walk to me a little bit, I took a shot, and he went down right after the first shot," said Campbell.
“He's good to go, it's a legal kill here, the tag is on it, so he's good to go," said Officer Bottorff after he inspected the deer.
Campbell says this is the biggest deer he, and any of his friends, has ever killed in Michigan.
“I've already got a spot on the wall for him," he laughed.
And Officer Bottorff says he did everything by the books.
Over the next 15 days, the tradition continues, and of course, more memories will be made.
