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Deer season boosts local economy

Jordan Beck | Daily Press Butcher John Ratliff prepares venison at Viau’s Market. Escanaba businesses (including Viau’s) receive a financial boost from hunters getting ready for Michigan’s firearm deer season, which started Thursday.

ESCANABA — Area businesses received their annual financial boost from hunters getting ready for Michigan’s firearm deer season. The season officially started Thursday.

At Elmer’s County Market, sales were strong for the days leading up to Nov. 15.

“So far, so good — we’re getting our groups starting to come in,” Rod Stende, general manager of Elmer’s County Market, said.

According to Stende, deer season is typically one of the busiest times of year at Elmer’s.

“It’s close to Thanksgiving, but not as much as Christmas,” he said.

Some of the items most commonly purchased at Elmer’s by deer hunters in the area include bacon, eggs, beer and pickled items (including pickled eggs). Many hunters indulge in their own food-related traditions at this time of year, as well.

“A lot of camps have traditional things they buy (that) they only have at camp,” Stende said.

Viau’s Market also sees an increase in business each November due to deer hunting.

“It’s definitely the busiest time of year,” Owner Cole Bougie said. According to Bougie, summer sausage, bacon, pork sausage and steak are among the store’s best-selling items during the firearm deer season.

Venison processing is also popular at Viau’s at this time of year. Bougie noted this service makes up a significant amount of the store’s business.

“It’s a key part of the success of Viau’s Market,” he said. While Viau’s does most of its venison processing in November, the store processes venison year-round.

Nathan Morrison, store manager for Lake Michigan Armory, said that business follows predictable seasonal trends at his store and that sales of products related to deer hunting tend to grow at this time of year.

“It’s … probably about a 30 percent increase,” he said.

These products include certain guns and accessories.

“People come in for their new rifles, scopes (and) ammunition,” Morrison said.

Morrison also noted Lake Michigan Armory now offers DNR deer licenses.

“That’s a good thing that we started this year,” he said.

White’s/Exxon Manager Tina Garbe said sales at the store are stronger than average during the firearm deer season each year.

“Business definitely picks up,” she said. According to Garbe, the store sees an increase of roughly 40 percent in business at this time — an increase that starts about four days before the firearm deer season opens and continues for a few days after it ends.

Along with propane tank exchanges and fuel, Garbe said hunters often buy hunting licenses, deer bait, beer and tobacco at White’s/Exxon.

Garbe said her store’s annual boost in sales during the firearm deer season is due in large part to its location on U.S. 2 and 41.

“It’s a nice, quick, easy in-and-out on the way to camp for a lot of people,” she said.

Visitors from across the Midwest shop at White’s/Exxon during this season.

“We get quite a diverse crowd,” Garbe said, noting people from downstate Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin — and of course, the U.P. — stop by the store at this time of year.

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