What the Heck is This Popular Buck Pole Contest in Swartz Creek, MI?

Firearm deer hunting season happens in Mid-November every year in Michigan. Swartz Creek, MI celebrates the season in a unique way each year, too.

The number of excited men, women and kids (under 17) getting to hunt is in the thousands around the state.

See Also: When will the new Swartz Creek Quiznos open for business?

What exactly is a buck pole?

A buck pole contest is where hunters show off their "prize," so to speak. That prize is: dead deer on the first day of firearm season. Then, the "prize" could win the hunters actual prizes.

People bring their dead deer, hang it up by its tied hind legs or antlers from a wire or horizontal pole and celebrate the opening of deer hunting season.

Kids can participate in buck pole contests in Michigan.

Properly licensed kids aged 17 and under are allowed to show off their catches from the first day of Michigan's firearm hunting season.

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Michigan Deer Hunting Season 2023

Information from Michigan's DNR.

• Liberty Hunt: Sept. 14 – 15, 2024
  • Youth and hunters with disabilities hunt
• Early antlerless firearm: Sept. 21 – 22, 2024
• Independence Hunt: Oct. 19 – 22, 2023
  • Hunters with disabilities hunt
• Archery: Oct. 1 – Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 – Jan. 1, 2023
• Regular firearm: Nov. 15 – 30
• Muzzleloading:
  • Zone 1: Dec. 1 – 10, 2023
  • Zone 2: Dec. 1 – 10, 2023
  • Zone 3: Dec. 1 – 10, 2023
• Late antlerless firearm:
  • Dec. 11, 2023 – Jan. 1, 2024

When is Swartz Creek, Michigan's buck pole contest?

For the last three years the Swartz Creek Buck Pole contest has been held on opening day of Firearm Deer Hunting Season, November 15th.

As soon as we have final details for this season, we'll update here. One thing is for certain, they'll have heaters to keep you warm and delicious food, too.