With only a few agonizing days until opening of the southern zone of the Mississippi deer season and the majority of all hunting seasons, the Deer Stand Outdoor Store is planning a Hunter Appreciation night this Saturday evening at 3pm. If you are looking for a great place to get together with many other sportsmen and women this will definitely be the place to be.

The night will kick off at normal closing time, 3pm, and will last until 8pm. Be sure to come in the store and sign-up and get your name in the hat for the door prizes. There will be many opportunities to win door prizes, shoot your bow for prizes and get some great information from world champion turkey caller and professional hunter Preston Pittman and a de-boning seminar from Kevin DuFrene owner of the Specialty Kitchen and a deer skinning and caping from Bert Beebe owner of Beebe’s Taxidermy.

Preston Pittman will be on hand to film one of the reality segments for his upcoming outdoor TV show, the Preston Pittman Challenge, to be aired next season. Preston will also be giving away some of his coveted autographed turkey calls that have made him a staple in the outdoor world for many years. If you are any kind of hunter, you would love to have one of these calls in your outdoor collections.

Preston may also have his bow in hand and give you a chance to shoot against him for prizes. Preston assures me that he has no problem taking aim at hair, but he said shooting dots is not his strong point. Be sure to bring your bow and join in the fun. The Deer Stand will have the archery range open for all ages to shoot and will also host a dot shoot for prizes.

The evening will also include a special seminar from professional meat processor Kevin DuFrene owner of The Specialty Kitchen. Kevin will be showing a short video and will be giving great information on de-boning your deer for processing. The work begins when the hunt is over and knowing the best way to cut up and de-bone your deer meat before taking it to the custom processor is crucial to completing the hunt.

Bert Beebe will be on hand to do a short seminar on caping deer that you intend to mount. Skinning a deer for meat and for mounting is different and knowing the amount of cape to bring and where to make the cuts can make or break your mount. Bert will also give tips on how to store your potential mount until you make it to the Taxidermist. Not only will Bert be talking about deer, but can answer questions about what to do with your duck, squirrel, fish or any game that you intend to mount.

This will be a great time to sign up for the 9th Annual Southern Sportsman Big buck contest. The sign-up for the contest is open only until the 14th of October. If you think you will hunt just one day inside of deer management zone 2, you will want to fill out an entry form for the contest. It is entirely free and just may win you one of many great prizes.

As of now, I am still getting area business calling wanting to be part of the contest. It is going to take me another week or two to get all of the sponsors nailed down and get a complete prize list. There are still sign-up sheets in The Deer Stand, Wal-Mart Outdoors Department, Stewarts Farm and Garden Center, Pure Country Western Outfitters and Beebe’s Taxidermy. Be sure to come by and see me and get signed up this Saturday evening.

One thing we always love to do at the Deer Stand is have a little bow shooting action for the whole family. We will have a dot shot for prizes, you can shoot against Preston for an autographed box call, and we will have a kids balloon shoot for prizes. Bring your bow and just practice and do a little more tuning in and see what’s new.

This event is for the whole family, we will have fun jumps for the kids, food and many door prize give-a-ways so be sure to get to the Deer Stand this Saturday evening at 3pm and get your season kicked off with a bang. You never know, you just may get on camera with Preston.

I hope that you are getting your gear out and will see us this weekend. Be sure to hunt safe and as always, get outdoors and enjoy what God has given us.