The information below are the results from the buck pole, NOV 15, 2007, held at Pinckney True Value Hardware, 114 W. Main Street, Pinckney, Michigan 48169, 734-878-2000.

Opening Day
2007 Results

BIG WINNERS

First Place

MICHAEL KUZMA

• 10 POINT BUCK
• 170 LBS.
• 122 5/8 RACK SCORE

Second Place

YORICK ZACHARCZUK

• 6 POINT
• 160 LBS
• 91 4/8 SCORE

Third Place

CHUCK FUSON

• 4 POINT
• 150 LBS.
• 41 4/8 SCORE

Youth:

JOHN HESS AGE  14   (FIRST DEER EVER)

• 4 POINT
• 130 LBS.
• 32 5/8 SCORE

First Time Entry :

DAVID VOMELL

• 2 POINT
• 140 LBS.
• 11 1 /8 SCORE

DOE :

ROB SMILEY

• 140 LBS.

2006 WINNER

Bryan Woods Sr. of Pinckney

• Deer Weight 192 lbs.
• 8 point Buck
• 141 1/8 score (Buckmaster Trophy Records Method)

2005 WINNER

Pinckney’s first buck poll offers bragging rights

By: Leanne Smith
News Staff Reporter

Part of the fun of deer hunting is getting to brag about the big buck you bagged.

At Pinckney’s inaugural buck pole Tuesday, that right went to Mark Merna of Hamburg Township, who bagged a 210 pound, 12-point buck in Green Oak Township earlier that morning, the second day of firearm deer season.

“You hunt your whole life for one like that,” said Merna, a lifelong area resident and avid hunter. “I had to hang it on a buck pole.”

He chose the one behind Pinckney’s True Value Hardware Store, 114 W. Main St., where the huge deer attracted a lot of attention and made many a hunter a little envious.

“I’d give a good bit for a deer like that,” said Gary Anderson of Dearborn. “After seeing it, I want to get back out there and try and get one of my own.”

Store owners, Kevin and Renee MacRitchie, hosted the buck pole to thank hunters for their business. It only attracted a few deer this year, but they hope to build on the excitement it stirred up.

“I think we’ll dot it on opening day and the day after next year and open it up to does and bucks,” Renee MacRitchie said. “Everyone has had a good time. They love hearing the hunting stories.”

Merna was happy to oblige.

“I was in a ground blind,” he said. “The deer stopped at about the only spot where I had a clear shot.”

After he took that shot, Merna tracked the deer about a hundred yards.

“I saw the horns poking up through the grass, but I though it was just brush sticking up because it was really foggy,” he said.

When he realized it was a big antler spread, he said he had the same reaction as nearly everyone who’s seen his prize.

“Wow,” he said. “This is better than Christmas. Opening day is the best day of the year.”

Dick Higgs of Pinckney stopped to see the buck pole and then called his brother to come over and see Merna’s buck.

“I think having this in Pinckney is a great idea,” he said. “A lot of people go to the one in Dexter, but this is right here. It’s great.”

Ladies brought in the pole’s next biggest deer. Mary Ann Walls of East Point was first with a 155-pound, 10 point buck, followed by Lisa Wellman of Pinckney, with an 11-point, 145-pound buck.

“I normally only bow hunt, so this is only my second buck with a gun,” Wellman said. “We visit a buck pole somewhere every year, so this is nice. I hope there are more deer next year.”

Wall’s buck was her first deer. While she was amazed, her friend Chris Comstock of East Point was thrilled and proud.

“I knew she’d get a buck, but never thought it would be like that one,” he said. “Holy cow.”