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

Ledenorth Carolina 1
Ledenorth Carolina 1

North Carolina to Hold First Elk Hunt in Decades

On July 7, North Carolina’s governor signed legislation authorizing two elk hunting permits to be issued in 2027—the first since the animal was reintroduced 25 years ago. Elk vanished from The Tarheel State nearly 200 years ago, but today biologists estimate the state is home to roughly 250.

4 Tasks All Hunters Should Complete Now for the Upcoming Season

Each year, hunters know when opening day is, but few of us are truly ready for it. This year that changes. Here is your guide!

New for 2026: Federal Fit Firearms Covers

Federal Ammunition is shipping two series of firearm covers, the Federal Fit Coil Rifle Cover and Federal Fit Quick Strike Muzzle/Scope Cover. Each is available in medium, large, and extra-large.

Anti-Hunting Oregon Voter Petition Fails To Make Ballot

The proposed petition in Oregon that would ban all hunting and fishing, as well as ranching and more, failed both its signature checks to get on the November ballot, according to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.

Hardware Review: Hornady 338 ARC

Looking for a cartridge that's easy to suppress, but still hits hard? Check out the 338 ARC, from Hornady. Jeff Johnston gives a thorough review of the cartridge here.

New for 2026: Steelhead Outdoors Stackable Vertical Door Handgun Locker

Steelhead Outdoors engineered a stackable Vertical Door Handgun Locker similar to storage systems used by law-enforcement agencies.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.