DEER HUNTING SEASON BEGINS TODAY---A MICHIGAN TRADITION

I really love this old picture of my Dad posing with his deer.  Dad loved to hunt and fish.  I was wondering to myself why do I find this picture such a favorite.  A dead deer isn't the most pleasant thing in a picture.  Then I thought about how this picture represents what a father is suppose to be.  Traditionally a father was the provider and protector.  My Dad has meat for the family and a sidearm to protect the family.  He was our provider and protector and such a fantastic Dad. 

Thinking back to those days when my Dad would bring deer home tied to his car.  I would cry because the deer was dead.  What did we do with all that meat?  I remember eating venison, but our freezer was in the refrigerator and was about 12-inches by 4-inches.  It was just large enough for a couple of ice cube trays and a couple of rolls of my Mom's icebox cookies.

I have no memory of what was done with the venison, and no one to ask as they have all passed away.

 

 

November 15th is the start of the annual gun season for deer in Michigan.  Look closely and you will see a spike horn deer getting up from his bed in the beach grass.  He is very close to my deck and doesn't care if Izzy or I yell at him to go away.  Grand Haven has a terrible problem with deer living in the city.  The deer destroyed my garden that my Dad had started in the 1940's.  All the bushes and trees on 5-Mile Hill have no leaves on them until they are above the height of a deer standing on its hind legs.  In the mountains they have the tree line or snow line.  Here we have the deer line.