By By ANDY HAMILTON / Vigilant/Argus
Where else could the kitchen crew get away with wearing fox and bear hats while serving up the day's grub?
Only at the Hunters' Rendezvous, of course.
Saturday's event drew a pack of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to the Dowagiac Conservation Club for raffles, gun appraisals, a taxidermy exhibit, buck scoring and deer camp chili.
As guests entered the lodge, they were greeted by the only man to ever announce at the nine-year-old rendezvous. Michael Demski, who was sporting a hunter-orange vest and a large fox cap, shouted out anything related to the event, including raffle prizes and information on the club's future events. Through Demski, guests were assured there would be plenty of food available at the Feb. 18 Wild Game Dinner.
Located next to Demski's table were two local firearm experts. Bob Szymonski and Grif Cook were on hand to appraise guns and swords and show off a few rare pieces from their own collection, including rifles and swords from the British military of the 15th and 16th century.
At the lodge's other end, guests found Jason Baushke and his six-year-old son Jaron prepping a wild pig that the youngest Baushke had recently shot on a trip with dad. Jason said Jaron hesitated when he was told a 20-gauge shotgun would have to be used on the trip.
Baushke owns Legends and Tails Taxidermy in Dowagiac and part of the exhibit included letting Jaron apply the cold, latex-type glue that makes the animal's skin nearly impossible to rip off.
Once the glue was applied, Jason pulled the skin over and adjusted the ears of the beast.
The lodge was not the only place where examples of Baushke's work were found. A bison done by the local taxidermist was housed in a separate part of the club that also displayed some record bucks. Brian Cheney of Niles had his buck measured and entered into the record books. Brian made the trip with his two sons, Tye and Brock, and his father Bert, who joked about being jealous of his son's prize.
Just being at the rendezvous with his son meant more than the actual buck, Bert said. Around a year ago, Brian was fighting cancer.
Bert laughed when he talked about how his son still hunted, even while receiving chemotherapy.
This year's record buck was the best yet, though.
Measuring Cheney's buck was Dale Gardell of Commemorative Bucks of Michigan, which publishes the official book of state records. Gardell used wires, small tapes, rulers and a calculator to find Cheney's score of 140 and three-eights, typical.
Most of the booths at the rendezvous were to help raise money to support the youth programs that the Dowagiac Conservation Club provides.