BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) — The nine-day gun deer hunt starts on Saturday, and hunters are getting ready.
Hunters made their way through the doors bright and early Friday morning at the Green Bay East Fleet Farm store for “Orange Friday”, the company’s special sales day ahead of the first day of the gun deer season.
“Definitely be out in the morning,” said Malachi Plocher, who drove from Denmark. “I’ll be there 4:00 sharp to get on the stand. Trying to get the big one, the thirty pointer.”
First in line was Brady Hermans of Caskill. He got to the store at 4:00 am.
We asked him what he came for.
“I’m here for the hat and .270 shells,” he said.
“Do you think they’re going to have any?” WTAQ asked him.
“Probably not.”
Indeed, ammunition is scarce–as it is across the country. Supply chain issues combined with high demand have led to a noticeable shortages in popular hunting calibers. Many who passed by the ammunition section on Friday took a quick look before walking away.
“You only need one bullet to hunt,” one customer said to no one in particular.
Fleet Farm gave away 500 free “Orange Friday” hats along with special discounts and prizes.
“It’s a tradition. You see those lines of people who have been out there year after year for the past ten years,” said store operations manager Jose Chavez. “This has been a Fleet Farm thing.”
Some customers walked through the door, grabbed their hat, and then walked right out. Plenty just came for the spectacle, including Alex Hein of Green Bay. While he may not have had a shopping list, he managed to scratch-off and win a 50% store coupon.
“I kinda just came in to get the hat, it’s been a tradition for a decade, I’m here with my son for the first time, and he wanted to get his own hat to,” Hein said. “But now I got a coupon, so I guess I’m lucky!”
Hein is also heading to the woods this weekend.
“It’s about spending time with friends and family and making memories,” Hein said. “Cherish every moment you’re outside. It’s always beautiful and a good day.”
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