Orangecoat Round-up event to help kick off firearm deer hunting season
Tue, 11/08/2022 - 1:04pm
caleb
Hunters can win prizes and display their deer on the buck pole at Skip’s Sports Shop on November 15-16
By:
Caleb Casey | Managing Editor
Grayling’s Orangecoat Round-up – an event that will give hunters an opportunity to win cash prizes and display their deer at the buck pole at Skip’s Sport Shop – will be held next week on the first two days of firearm deer hunting season, Tuesday, November 15, and Wednesday, November 16.
Hunters must have an Orangecoat Round-up button to participate in the buck pole competition. Buttons are available at Skip’s Sport Shop (located at 5765 W. M-72 in Grayling). Cost is $3 apiece.
The 2022 Orangecoat Round-up will feature the same prize categories as in years past: first deer, first 10 deer, first female hunter, youngest hunter, oldest hunter, heaviest buck, and largest rack. Cash prizes will be awarded in those categories on both days of the buck pole event.
The grand prize for this year’s Orangecoat Round-up – awarded to the hunter whose buck has the largest rack over the course of the two-day competition – will be a scoped rifle, according to Jack Millikin of Skip’s Sport Shop.
The archery deer season is currently underway. Millikin said hunters are seeing signs that deer are active.
“Bow season guys have been doing pretty good. The guys are just now seeing some scrapes and some rubs on the trees. Definitely getting into the pre-rut right now. I’ve got some guys seeing some bucks,” Millikin said.
Millikin said he expects the firearm deer season opener to be busy – weather permitting – even with a mid-week start on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It’s such a big deal – the firearm deer season – they plan for it year after year, the day is not as important,” Millikin said.
Last year’s Orangecoat Round-up featured 26 deer on the buck pole (13 on each day). The 2020 firearm deer season opener in Grayling featured 25 deer on the buck pole. The 2019 Orangecoat Round-up featured a total of 30 bucks. The 2018 buck pole event featured 18 bucks.
Millikin said there is still an ammunition shortage right now but it’s not as bad as last year.
“Ammo supply is still limited. It’s way better than it was a year ago. Finally got some ammo sitting on the shelf,” Millikin said.