On Saturday March 7th. the Michigan Hunting and Fishing Collectors Club will be holding their annual show at Mason Michigan. The club started in 1994, and has about 125 members from all over the state. Members of the club collect, display, trade, and buy old Michigan hunting licenses, DNR items, duck and fish decoys, Michigan bowhunter items, successful hunter patches, and pretty much anything that has to do with the hunting history of our state.
The clubs founder Ed Dunifon did extensive research on Michigan hunting and fishing licenses, and discovered that a 1895 license was the first one issued. It had five coupons with it, which allowed you five deer. This particular license is very rare, and worth a cool $1000.00 bucks to collectors. The successful deer hunter patch seen in this blog is the only Michigan patch without a date. It’s the 1972 patch and is worth between $200-400 dollars. I know I saw one of these at my brother Darryl’s house. Michigan deer hunting back tags were started in 1936 for firearms, and in 1937 for bowhunters. There were only 186 bow licenses sold that year with two of them being out of state. These licenses are extremely hard to come by before 1950. Metal deer horn seals started in 1910, and early ones can fetch $200-400 dollars as well. There is so much more that this club collects, and if your interested in knowing more about them their website is www.mhflcc.com.
The club president is Greg Woodland (fitting name) from Pleasant Lake, and the Vice president is Monroe’s own Robert Steckmeyer. Don Placer from Lansing is the treasurer. The club is always looking for new members, and extend a warm invitation to any like minded individuals. Who knows some of you may be sitting on a gold mine, and don’t know it. Check em out on March 7th. in Mason Mich. you’ll have a good time and meet some great people.
Mike
too bad… only five deers? not that I’m saying I can snipe more but 5 deers were a minimum for a good hunter.