Flushing View

Cold weather, snow hamper deer hunters

Buck poles still celebrate big bucks





LAPEER COUNTY – Deer hunters awoke to very cold temperatures Thursday to begin the annual Opening Day of firearm deer hunting season across the state. A brisk southeast wind sent a bone-chilling blast across the area making it feel more like 23 degrees. The day also marked the annual buck pole contests, which saw slow numbers by mid-afternoon.

The annual Genesee County pole at Madden’s Lounge on State Road was won by John Bradburn with a 14-point buck. Bradburn took home the first-place prize of a 450 Bushmaster from The Gun Barn in Otisville. Jon Jensen won the second-place price of a 450 Bushmaster from Madden’s and third place was won by Dawn Debuck, who received a $300 gift card for The Gun Barn. By the end of the day, only 13 bucks were entered into the contest with each entry receiving a $100-minimum gift card from one of the sponsors, including The Gun Barn, Coho Ridge Archery in Davison, Fishing Tackle Grab Bag in Davison and William’s Gun Sight.

“It was a beautiful Michigan night to be out talking to everyone and we had hundreds of visitors despite the weather. It was a good time to be had by all,” said Marty Madden of Madden’s Lounge.

The Lapeer pole at Ray C’s Harley Davidson had 11 by mid-day with just a handful of onlookers as the weather took a turn for the worse, while the North Branch pole had six deer and very few people admiring the deer at 2:30 p.m. when the County Press swung by for a photo. Two different groups of three stopped for brief look and then headed back to the comfort of their vehicles.

Campbell’s Local Harvest in Imlay City had an empty pole around 2 p.m. and Kings Mill had three deer on display. In neighboring Davison at the Genesee County pole, seven bucks were on display by mid-day.

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