At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 1918, two days after the armistice that ended the Great War, a hunter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan took a 195-pound buck. The hunter, J.D. Jones, mounted the antlers on a plaque and at some point they ended up in a log cabin near Saugatuck, Michigan. The antlers have been in my wife’s family since at least the early 1970s. I count 14 points.





It’s impossible to be sure, but I’d like to think the hunter was Dr. Joel D. Jones (1859-1930), the only dentist at the time in Iron Mountain, Michigan, and a Boy Scout Commissioner. The log cabin was used by the Boy Scouts before my in-laws bought it, so perhaps there is a connection.

According to the November 1927 issue of The Michigan Alumnus: “Joel D. Jones, ’84, is located at Iron Mountain, Michigan. He is an authority on game in that vicinity and enjoys the sports of woods and waters.”
Meanwhile, the rifle deer season opens here in Oklahoma on Saturday. Good luck to you all!

Interesting piece of history. Hope it's kept forever.

I have a muley mount not near as old, but, similar history. I had it remounted about 12yrs ago so only the rack is original. I can text pics of it if someone wants to post them.

First season after WWII, right after they all were discharged, 4 BIL's and one's brother. All except one, my uncles, including Dad. Joined up on a cross state deer & elk hunt to the NW corner of CO to the White River Nat'l Forest. Only one is still living and he's 95 now.

They all killed a buck, one killed a nice sized bull. 3-4 foot Deep snows hit them so they headed home. In two old 1930's cars, one set of chains, couple shovels. Took them most of a week to get back. They'd drive half- 3/4 mile, pull the chains and carry them to the back car leap frogging. Something over 200 miles that way. Sounded like one hell of an ordeal. When they played out, they made camp right there on the road shoulder.

Uncle Teague Ben Eiland killed this buck, 187.7pts with a single shot .30/40. Had it short straight neck mounted. Aunt wouldn't let him have it in the house. So he hung in next to a window in his garage. Sun bleached the eye, rotted the ear and hair off til it was very nasty. He died in '73, she died in '98. I told the grandons: "If you boys don't want that deer head, I do, don't throw it out". One day Dad called to tell me: "Ed just called and said he'd leave the garage unlocked if I want that deer head go get it, when he gets back to town he'll throw it out if it's still there". I had it in less than an hour.

Several years later I had it remounted to a L sneaky turn shoulder mount. Came out perfect. One point is only 2" long, 29" wide, about that high, 4pt and no brow tines at all. What makes the points is heavy beams.

Thanks for sharing your find,

George