MI Deer Opener In 4 Days

[MI-Cans]

It's that time again. Even though I'm no longer able to do so, hunting season was always synonymous with Thanksgiving and the Michigan - Ohio State game. I can remember driving up to the UP with the game on the radio. Like everything else, that's changed.

I was clearing out old crap to get rid of and came across one of my successful hunter patches. Only earned three in all those years. Not important as each visit to the UP was a memory to cherish.

Michigan started using the patches to encourage hunters to have their game checked by the DNR for survey and management purposes. Now-a-days anybody can supposedly just buy them.

I looked up the collection of patches for deer, bear, turkey and elk. They even produced a series the promote conservation and non-game species called Michigan's Living Resources. As always, click to enlarge.

Here's the deer patches.

Here's the turkey patches.

Here's the bear patches.

Here's the elk patches.

And finally, the Living Resources patches.

I know other states and Canadian provinces have similar projects. Feel free to post any patches you've earned or are aware of. Hope you can appreciate the post...

In my search for the patch images I ran across people selling complete sets on eBay for thousands!

(MI-Cans)

[beerhunter14]

Those are cool !! What I find interesting is the Grey Wolf pack. There is most wolves now than back in 1991-1992 in U.P. Michigan.

[MI-Cans]

@beerhunter14

Those are cool !! What I find interesting is the Grey Wolf pack. There is most wolves now than back in 1991-1992 in U.P. Michigan.

From a Michigan DNR posting online:

Michigan’s gray wolf population was almost eliminated by the mid-1970s. Today, Michigan has a wolf population close to 700 in the Upper Peninsula. Gray wolves in Michigan were again removed from the federal endangered species list in early 2021, but a federal court decision in February 2022 returned them to federal protections.

(MI-Cans)

[dwaugh]

This handsome devil showed up in the back yard this morning

View at hi resolution and with accurate color: http://www.vintagecans.com/buck_2022.html

[MI-Cans]

@dwaugh

This handsome devil showed up in the back yard this morning.

Thanks for posting! Yes, real nice deer. Amazing how the main beams are so tall.

(MI-Cans)

[dwaugh]

@MI-Cans

Here's another shot that gives a better view of the rack...

[Alaska Chris]

Very Nice Deer dwaugh.....I shot 2 buck in Mecosta county Michigan this year. A 7 pointer and a 8 pointer. Then shot 6 gun clubs at trap and sporting clays . Then went duck hunting on ST. Clare Lake near Troy. Shot Ruddy and Buffelhead ducks before heading home. pic of 8 pointer.

[Alaska Chris]

I collect a patch from each gun club i shoot at. Here is my collection so far. Have more that i didnt add yet from this Michigan trip.

[MI-Cans]

@Alaska Chris

Nice deer, Chris! Glad you were able to enjoy some of what Michigan has to offer. Hardly think about it anymore but your mention of trap shooting rekindled some old memories. A group of us from work used to get together to shoot trap and socialize. The guy that got us together used to compete in the Grand American in Vandalia, OH. We were no match for him. He enjoyed ribbing us when we missed a bird. It was just a fun get together that lasted a few years.

Looking forward to seeing the Michigan patches added.

Thanks for sharing...

(MI-Cans)

[Alaska Chris]

I don't think they shoot at Vandalia anymore. At least the big shoots. There is a facility real close to there called The Cardinal center. It is in Morengo, Ohio. It has 52 trap houses about a half mile long. I shot there last year.

[MI-Cans]

@Alaska Chris

I don't think they shoot at Vandalia anymore. At least the big shoots. There is a facility real close to there called The Cardinal center. It is in Morengo, Ohio. It has 52 trap houses about a half mile long. I shot there last year.

I dug this up from the ATA History page - https://shootata.com/About-Us/Grand-Ame ... d-American

Debuting in 1900 at the Interstate Park in Queens, New York, the Grand American was originally a four-day tournament contested in June. For the next 20 plus years the Grand American was staged in cities such as Chicago, St. Louis and Columbus until it made its home in Vandalia, Ohio from 1923 until 2005.

In 2006, the Grand American moved to its new home at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL. This state of the art facility features 120 trap fields extending for 3.5 miles making it the worlds largest trap line. To find out more about the WSRC please visit their website.

Since its inception, the Grand American has grown from a mere 20 competitors in 1900 to more than 5,800 participants in 2006. Over the years, the likes of Annie Oakley, Roy Rogers and John Philip Sousa have participated in the Grand American.

In its current format, the Grand American consists of 24 events spanning over an 11 day period. The first 5 days of the tournament are referred to as "Preliminary Days" in which competitors may fine-tune their skills prior to competing in the championship events of "Grand Week."

Not only is the Grand American the largest shooting tournament in the world, but it also offers competitors the opportunity to explore the most advanced products and services in the shooting industry. The WSRC is a spectacular site in itself. With more than 1,000 camping sites, 100+ exhibitors, and thousands of competitors, the Grand is more than a championship. It's a celebration of the sport.

(MI-Cans)

[Alaska Chris]

Some Michigan patches added, Barry County Conservation Club - Freeland Conservation Club - South Kent Sportsmen Club - Isabella Sportsmen Club - West Walker Sportsman Club - Red Flannel Cedar Springs Rod & Gun Club