Deer Season Kicks Off With a Party in Cistern

The Cistern Country store kicked off the 57th annual Big Buck Contest with a kettle of Beef Stew Friday, November 4. Randy Otto has participated in the contest and enjoyed the annual stew supper 55 of the 57 years. Randy, formerly of La Grange, now lives in Fayetteville. He hunts on a ranch between Muldoon and Cistern. Pictured are Randy Otto with Betty Danner.

Preparation for the Deer Hunters’ Kettle-Beef Stew at the Cistern Country started about noon Friday, November 4th. Seventy-fi ve plus, hungry hunters and other patrons enjoyed the always-delicious stew. It is shown being prepared by cookers, left to right, C.J. Ermis, Jeremy Ruyle, James (Bobcat) Mares, and Darrell (Squirrel) Urban.

Terra Machacek of Praha brought in the fi rst buck to the Cistern Country Store, at 9 a.m. on November 5, the fi rst day of standard deer season. It was her fi rst time ever to hunt. Buck fever didn’t set in until after she pulled the trigger. She didn’t think she hit it. Terra’s buck had 10 points, 16” inside spread, and weighed 97.4 pounds.