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

W H2026 07 Gear BRF25 039036226 02
W H2026 07 Gear BRF25 039036226 02

250th Anniversary Gear Roundup

Looking for some commemorative gear from America's semiquincentennial, that you'll continue to use for seasons to come? Look no further than out lineup of hunting gear celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

New for 2026: Kent Cartridge Ultimate Pheasant Load

Kent Cartridge has introduced Ultimate Pheasant, a load designed for dedicated pheasant and upland hunters. Built with Kent's proprietary Diamond Shot technology and a layered 4x6 shot payload, Ultimate Pheasant is engineered to deliver a balance of pattern density and retained energy.

#SundayGunday: Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway Rifle

On this episode of #SundayGunday we’re focusing on survival, a survival rifle, that is. It’s called the Stowaway rifle, and it’s built by a company here in the USA called Dark Mountain Arms.

First Look: Friends of NRA Reach New Record in 2026

Friends of NRA has reached a historic milestone, welcoming more than 5 million attendees to its volunteer-led fundraising events since the program's founding in 1992.

Celebrating 75 Years: The History and Enduring Importance of CCI Ammunition

In 2026, CCI Ammunition—formally Cascade Cartridge Inc.—marks its 75th anniversary with a fitting tribute to innovation and American ingenuity.

MDT Adds Tikka T3X Short Action Left Hand to CRBN Stock Lineup

MDT is adding a Tikka T3X Short Action Left Hand inlet to the CRBN rifle stock lineup, expanding access to the platform for left-handed Tikka shooters.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.