Ranch deer in local contests

[Hamilton Reef]

This is probably done more often than has been discovered.

CO Reports for 11/16/2003
On opening day, CO Marc Pomroy observed a pick-up truck with a very large racked buck in the bed traveling at a high rate of speed. Upon contact with the hunter/driver CO Pomroy saw that the deer was tagged but noted that the eyes were sunken and the blood seemed old. The hunter stated that he had shot it that morning in Charlevoix County, and he was entering it in all of the big buck contests. With the assistance of CO Kevin Davis and Sgt. Duane Painter from District 6, CO Pomroy's investigation revealed that the buck was shot the day before season in a fenced private deer ranch near Rose City. The "hunter" used his Michigan deer tag and traveled throughout Northern Michigan entering his ranch deer in all the high-prized buck poles. Officers contacted most of the deer contests and advised them of the situation. Many buck pole contestants expressed appreciation for the officer's investigation.

[Fred Bear]

I often wondered how much something like that happens. With the prises they give away at the buck poles it's bound to have "cheaters"

[Hamilton Reef]

Ranchers keep afloat by pitching high-priced deer hunts on Web

Increasingly, the traditional deer hunt — which last year accounted for almost $1 billion in retail sales in Texas — is going 21st-century high tech, with ranchers who eschew the word "kill" for "harvest," using computers to market and sell hunting rights on their land.
Months before last year's high-stakes hunt, Vela photographed available bucks on the ranch, posting a photo gallery of them on the Internet — a practice that allows him to book dozens of hunts.

http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1092542

[Fred Bear]

just like shooting cattle. takes some of the fun out of it doesnt it?

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-

Too rich for my blood!

But even if I could afford it, I wouldn't. As others have said, this isn't hunting, it's shooting.

I imagine if some people could order a trophy buck off of the Web, they would.....:(

[WILDCATWICK]

Good point Trout. They should be charged with Fraud. I would never go to a cage to shoot a deer. But I have often thought about going for wild boar and having a big pig roast:D Has anyone ever shot and ate boar?