The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE DEER THAT CAN'T BE SHOT

A HUNTER WHO RAN OUT OF AMMUNITION SPIED A YOUNG BUCK A FEW YARDS
AHEAD OF HIM. INNOVATING, HE PICKED UP THREE CHERRY PITS FROM THE
SCRAPS OF THE LUNCH HE HAD JUST CONSUMED. HE SHOT THE BUCK AT
ALMOST POINT BLANK RANGE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED.
THE NEXT YEAR THIS SAME HUNTER WENT OUT WITH TWO OTHER FRIENDS.
DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR HUNT, THEY SAW A BUCK WITH CHERRIES
GROWING FROM HIS ANTLERS. ALL THREE OF THEM ATTEMPTED TO SHOOT,
BUT THEIR GUNS JAMMED SIMULTANEOUSLY.
TO THIS DAY THE BUCK STILL ROAMS THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN;
NO ONE IS ABLE TO SHOOT HIM.

Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS STORY ON MY FIRST HUNTING TRIP ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE INFORMANT'S NAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT