Deer Escapes Trunk, Probably Not a Zombie

by
posted on March 27, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wilder_ah2015_fs.jpg (6)

undefinedA Michigan man learned first hand why you shouldn't move wild game until you know it's deceased last week—or came face-to-face with the beginning of the zombie uprising, I suppose—when he and two public safety officers were stunned to see a believed-to-be-dead whitetail burst from his car trunk in Kalamazoo, Mich.

According to FOX 17 Michigan, a Kalamazoo public safety officer was checking parked cars in a Red Roof Inn parking lot around 2 a.m. on March 19 when he came across a man sitting in one of the vehicles. The officer stopped to talk to the vehicle's occupant, who was kind enough to admit that he had what he believed to be a dead whitetail in the trunk.

The vehicle owner claimed that he'd hit the deer on a nearby roadway, and decided not to let the whitetail go to waste—he intended to take it home and turn it into a meal. The officer asked if he could inspect the whitetail, and the driver agreed—setting the stage for morning jolt that I'm wagering was probably twice as a powerful as any coffee.

The officer slowly opened the trunk as his partner and the vehicle owner looked on... and out jumped a very much alive whitetail. The young deer clambered out of the trunk backwards, stumbled a bit and ultimately high-tailed it into the closest wooded area it could find, stunning all parties involved. FOX has video.

Everyone's best guess is that the driver only stunned the deer and didn't know any better. Given that he was sitting in a motel parking lot at 2 a.m. with what he thought was roadkill in his trunk, I'm not particularly surprised at the lack of sense.

If part of you was hoping that this was going to lead to an opportunity to hunt undead whitetail, I'm sorry to disappoint you. For now you'll have to stick to the zombie deer targets like the one above (offered by Birchwood Casey).

Latest

GAOS Lede 1
GAOS Lede 1

Friends of American Hunter Chad and Marsha Schearer Headline GAOS Seminars

The NRA Great American Outdoor Show Runs Feb. 7-15 and includes 200 demonstrations and seminars.

Significant Donation Will Cover Entry Fees for Boone and Crockett Club Records Program

On Jan. 21 the Boone and Crockett Club announced a long-time Lifetime Associate and benefactor to conservation has provided the opportunity to waive entry processing fees into the organization’s records program. As a result, the usual $40 entry fee will not be charged this year for entries received after Jan. 1, 2026.

Avian-X Adds 3 New Species to Motion Decoys

Avian-X has expanded its motion duck decoy assortment with the addition of three new species to the Power Butt Kicker lineup: Mallard Hen, Pintail Drake and Black Duck.

World’s Largest Gathering of Outdoor Enthusiasts Begins Saturday

More than 200,000 hunters, shooters, anglers, RVers and virtually every other flavor of outdoor enthusiast will attend NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS). It opens Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., and is the place to be if you want to see your favorite pursuit’s latest and greatest, book a trip and more.

Year-Round Gear Care

Every fall season I hear one or two horror stories involving equipment failures in the field. All too often these stories include personal injuries. Let's take a few minutes to help you avoid such costly circumstances.

New for 2026: Mossberg Maverick Semi-Automatic Shotgun

Mossberg has introduced its Maverick SA Semi-Auto line of shotguns, engineered to be multi-season workhorses, chambered for both 2.75-inch and 3-inch shotshells and featuring a 6-shot capacity.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.