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Trophy Buck Display to Tour Minnesota Schools

Written by: Brad Dokken, Grand Forks Herald - 09/07/2008

A northwestern Minnesota white-tailed deer expert will be bringing his traveling display of live trophy bucks to 25 schools across the state this fall.

Steve Porter of Porter‚s Trophy Whitetails near Lake Bronson, Minn., said he received a grant through the North American Deer Farmers Association, based in Lake City, Minn., to fund 70 percent of the cost ˜ about $700 per school ˜ for bringing the live buck display to Minnesota schools. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, local school districts and sporting clubs in the communities are funding the remaining $300, Porter said.

Porter and his traveling display hit the road Sept. 15 for the first school swing and will be on the road about five weeks this fall.
"It's going to be exciting to bring the bucks to the students at minimal or no expense to the schools," Porter said."It's never been done before. It could impact a lot of kids for the outdoors and hunting."

Northwestern Minnesota schools on the tour include Stephen-Argyle, Thief River Falls, Newfolden and East Grand Forks.

As part of the tour, Porter said, he‚ll have his trophy buck trailer outside of the participating schools and present 45-minute to hour-long lectures on whitetail behavior, antler development and other aspects of deer biology to the students.

Porter, who raises deer on his farm in Kittson County, says he typically travels with three bucks in his display and has enough deer that he‚ll be able to rotate which ones will be on the road.

One that's sure to be a favorite, he says, is a 2-year-old 21-pointer that goes by the name of "Shifty."

Having MDHA as a funding partner presented some "funny dynamics," Porter admits, because the organization in the past has lobbied against aspects of the deer farming industry, such as so-called „high-fence‰ hunting in Minnesota.

But in this case, he said, the organization got on board, and Porter worked with MDHA chapters around the state to help bring the display to various schools and communities.

Mark Johnson, executive director of the MDHA in Grand Rapids, Minn., said the display provides considerable educational benefits.

 "The keys were twofold," Johnson said. "One, it's an opportunity to see some very impressive animals; and two, to learn about not just how antlers grow, but to learn about how hunting is a very intimate part of deer management."

Besides stops at schools, Porter says clubs and MDHA chapters in about half of the communities are presenting evening events such as wild game feeds and speakers.

"We're going to be busy, but it;s worth it," Porter said.

On the Web:

Steve Porter's Trophy Whitetails: www.porterwhitetails.com.

Dokken reports on outdoors. Reach him at (701) 780-1148; (800) 477-6572, ext. 148; or send e-mail to bdokken@gfherald.com.