Several nice bucks laned in county during two-day youth hunt.

Dozens of youngsters took advantage of having the first crack at Leelanau’s growing deer herd, and made the best of their chances.

EUGENE HAMOCK, a 14-year-old Suttons
Bay student, downed a 6-point buck from
about 70 yards away. See more photos.

Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were bringing pictures into the Enterprise this week of successful youth hunters.

One was Millie Hamock, who accompanied her grandson Saturday while she took part in her first-ever hunt. Eugene Hamock, 14, a freshman at Suttons Bay High School, landed a 6-point.

“Well, he had to have someone with him,” explained Millie. State law requires an adult to accompany a youth hunter.

It was hard to say who had the most fun, especially after the deer walked into the open to munch under an apple tree.

“I loved it. I think that’s just great, it gives those kids a chance,” said Hamock.
Eugene made good on one shot at 70 yards from a 7 mm owned by the family.

Greg Julian is president of the Cedar Rod and Gun Club, and a volunteer with the loose-knit Leelanau Whitetails organization that pressed for quality deer management rules. He collected data from deer brought to Buntings Market in Cedar that will be provided to the DNR.

“There were several nice bucks and does brought in, and one doe I aged at 51⁄2 years,” said Julian of the youth hunt, which was held Saturday and Sunday. “The kids were real excited — it was good to see them out for the hunt.”

The youth hunt is a relatively new program in Michigan, initiated by the state Natural Resources Commission in large part to encourage recruitment to the shooting sports. Fewer youths are taking up hunting as older hunters pass on.

But it has been controversial to some hunters, who feel youths have an advantage in getting first crack at the deer herd before bow hunting season. Archery season will begin Monday, Oct. 1.

Will Bunek, president of Leelanau Whitetails, has heard some of that grumbling from veteran deer hunters. Although his son is too old for the hunt, Bunek still shares his favorite hunting stands with young hunters.

“When my son was young and he did it, I thought it was great,” said Bunek. “I think it helps the kids get enthused. We have so many distractions nowadays.”

Dale Lingaur took advantage of the youth hunt to introduce his daughter Mary to the sport — or at least to the fun parts of deer hunting.

Dale and Mary saw no deer Saturday morning, then glassed six does that evening. By Sunday morning, it was time to take a deer for the table and worry about the trophy later.

When the does came out, Mary picked out a big one that was eventually aged at 41⁄2-years, and touched off the .30-.06.

And then it was time for the messy part of deer hunting.

“I asked her if she wanted to gut it, and she said ‘no’,’” said Lingaur. “I made her clean her first fish, and she hasn’t gone fishing since.”

Fourteen-year-old Aiden Keilty had some scouting help from his younger sister Grace, 10, before he took a dandy 9-point that is now at the taxidermist. Father Tim Kilty and Grace saw some does, a 6-point and the bruiser emerge from the woods late Friday night.

“She saw the same buck I shot Friday night. She was sitting in the truck with dad,” said Aiden, who as a member of the Suttons Bay junior varsity football team was watching the Norsemen play.

After seeing nothing to shoot Saturday morning, Aiden set up with family friend Bill Wright for the evening hunt. At 5 p.m., a spikehorn emerged.

“But we kept seeing him look behind him, so we knew more deer were back there.”
Eventually three does, the 6-point, and “all of a sudden a large 9-point came walking up the gorge,” said Aiden. He plans to be in a tree stand during archery season aiming for the smaller buck, or one he has not seen.

Why will Aiden continue to hunt even after taking a buck any hunter would be proud to claim?

“You’re in that woods, and it’s quiet. it’s just you and nature. Your senses become part of the woods. If you hear a squirrel, it could be 200 feet away, but it sounds like a Mack truck coming through,” he said.