Local hunters will gather in Richmond this weekend for one of their favorite annual events of fellowship, food and fun. For those who bag a buck on the opening day of firearms season, its a chance to exercise bragging rights.

The 14th annual Buck Pole will take place on Nov. 15-16 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Dick Huvaere’s Richmond Auto Body, 66629 Gratiot Ave. Hunters of all ages can compete for prizes in the Men’s, Women’s, and Youth categories for the biggest buck. In addition, a Grand Prize will be awarded to the overall Grand Buck Champion of the two-day event. Plus, every hunter who registers a deer will receive a gift card and bag of goodies at registration.

To register your buck at the event, you must be a Michigan resident with a valid state hunting license. The buck must have been legally harvested using a muzzleloader, bow, rifle, or shotgun on either Nov. 15 or 16, and it must be field dressed before bringing it to the Buck Pole. Commemorative Bucks of Michigan (CBM) will be on hand to professionally score the entries. They have partnered with this event since the very first contest. Founded in 1981 by Paul Jalon, CBM has expanded its services to include scoring for black bear (since 1983), turkey (since 1981), and elk (since 1985). With a network of over 2,000 members and 100 certified measurers, CBM is the official record keeper for Michigan’s big game trophy records, including deer, bear, elk and turkey.

The event will feature a variety of raffle items generously donated by sponsors, with all proceeds benefiting the P.A.T.H. Foundation, which offers fishing and hunting trips for terminally ill children and adults, giving them the opportunity to experience something truly special and create lasting memories. They will have a representative on-site to educate the audience about their foundation and learn how to become involved as well.

All of the sponsors and partners supporting this event over the years will be there.

“We’re so grateful to all of our sponsors for their support and contributions. It is truly what makes this event so successful for us,” said General Manager Kim Jugowicz.

Lake St. Clair Walleye Club will be donating their mobile stage and raffle prize along with emceeing the event ,adding to the fun and excitement. St. Clair Flats Taxidermy will be contributing a shoulder mount and showcasing some of their impressive taxidermy work. VF Sporting Goods is generously donating a $200 gift card for merchandise at their store. They’ll also have a shooting range along with their retail shop for some great deals. Franks Processing is donating their process services and Mag-na-Port will be providing gift cards for their barrel porting service. Grace Performance is offering gift cards for their merchandise and discounts on their machines that will be displayed at the event for you to check out.

There will be a new food vendor this year as Hamlin Pub will be on-site offering their delicious food for sale and special discounts for the registered buck pole hunters at their Richmond location after the event. Other new vendors on-site this year include Pretty Hunter, Revita CBD and Pheasants Forever.

There will also be plenty of fun activities for kids, including video games, face painting, crafts, pumpkin decorating, and more and those who attend will have the chance to test drive the all-new 2025 RAM Big Horn and receive a free gas card.

Buck pole events date back to the 1860s in Michigan. The Huvaere Buck Pole isn’t just about the deer, or the hunters, organizers want this to be the focal point of the community. Drawing hunters and spectators from across the area to see what’s been harvested and most importantly to have fun with friends and family. Organizers encourages hunters to bring the whole family and tell all of your friends.