Hunters picking up their gadgets this weekend

Analysis:

This story briefly discusses Thursday’s opening of deer hunting season. The story cites some statistics from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on deer population, but then talks about the latest hunting products. Is there any news value in this story or is it essentially just free advertising for hunting products?

Story:

Michigan’s Fire Arms Deer Season starts at sunrise on Thursday.

The state estimates 735,000 hunters will spend time in the woods this year. Those hunters are expected to spend $500-million in the state before and during the season.

Many of them will start their preparations this weekend going to sporting goods stores to search for the newest gear.

Dalen Tobey says when he started hunting 57 years ago all it took was a gun, ammunition and some patience.

Mike Byrnes only needed a simple lens cover to be completely ready for next week.

Gary Foster’s says at his store, most customers just need the little extras. However some hunters need to have a little bit more.

At the Jenison store, Nate Geents says digital game cameras are a hot item. They help a hunter know where to set up and wait.

The chance of killing a deer is now greater with the newest shotgun slugs.

A new personal vacuum pump keeps a phone, ammo, or snacks dry.

However, getting a deer will still require luck and that’s something you can’t get from a store.

The DNR says there are more than 1.6 million white-tailed deer statewide. Most southwest Michigan counties have above average deer populations. The DNR lists Kent, Barry, and Calhoun Counties as having “very high” numbers.

Hunters should kill around 450,000 deer statewide this season.