One new item that can be taken to this season’s deer camp is Richard P. Smith’s latest book, “Great Michigan Deer Tales — Book 7.”

It’s the 28th volume written by Smith, author of the books “Stand Hunting for Whitetails,” “Black Bear Hunting” and “Animal Tracks and Signs Of North America,” among others.

Most of the chapters in the new book are devoted to the details surrounding the taking of some of Michigan’s biggest bucks — many of state record proportions in terms of antler size.

The seventh book in the Deer Tales series that he first published in 1994, of course, has new tales to tell, although all the books were unique in their own way.

Richard P. Smith

“Each volume has a totally different collection of the biggest bucks,” said Smith, who lives in Marquette.

One of the chapters in the seventh volume is about an Upper Peninsula hunter who is more than 80 years old, whose age hasn’t kept him from bagging more than 100 white-tailed deer — all of which, according to Smith, were shot for the quality meet they provided instead of antlers.

Another chapter is about the first and only albino buck, harvested in downstate Livingston County, to be entered in state records.

Successfully hunting albino deer is controversial, with many people strictly against the practice.

However, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in a 2014 Facebook post written after the buck was harvested that it’s legal to harvest albino, all-white or piebald deer in Michigan.

Piebald deer are white with some brown markings.

Until 2008, albino and all-white deer were protected in the state.

The law banning harvesting albino deer, Smith said, was unenforceable; they rubbed their heads on a tree, as all deer will do, ending up with brown patch of stained hair.

Also, the tarsal glands on legs become stained during the rut, plus even adult doe will have staining on those glands, he said.

This led to confusion since piebald deer always were legal to hunt.

Albino deer recently have been seen around the city of Marquette. Smith explained those deer have deer genetic material from animals housed in former deer pen on Presque Isle.

Smith, though, addresses a wide variety of deer stories, one of which involved a Keweenaw County buck harvested when it was 8¢ years old. A series of photos confirmed the antlers were smaller at the time of death than when it was seen a few years earlier.

How can this be? Don’t things get bigger as they get older?

That’s not necessarily the case with white-tailed deer.

Smith said a harsh winter can be a factor, as well as diet.

“Antlers can get smaller if they don’t get nutrition,” Smith said.

Book 7 covers big bucks harvested with centerfire rifles, shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, and vertical and horizontal bows. Record-book bucks shot by women are covered as well.

Smith’s telling of deer stories is an ongoing endeavor.

“Most of the chapters are previous magazine articles that I updated,” Smith said. “Every year I interview hunters in Michigan that have taken the biggest bucks.”

The publication of Smith’s seventh volume on big buck stories brings his series page tally on the subject to 875, he said.

He stressed that each chapter in the new book has an important element people can apply to their hunting.

“They’re educational chapters as well as entertaining,” Smith said.

In fact, he said readers have taken his books to deer camp or have read them in their deer blinds.

One of the most important lessons readers can take away from Smith’s latest collection of stories is that luck is the most common theme contributing to success with harvesting the state’s biggest bucks, and that any deer hunter, he noted, can claim a big buck if he or she is in the right place at the right time.

He has no plans for a Book 8, but continues to interview hunters.

“Most deer hunters are interested in stories about big bucks,” Smith said.

“Great Michigan Deer Tales — Book 7” can be purchased from bookstores, and some sporting goods stores and gift shops in Michigan. Autographed copies can be ordered from Smith at RichardPSmith.com.

The softcover book retails for $12.95 and is 128 pages long.

To order through the mail, send $16.50 to Smith Publications, 814 Clark St., Marquette, MI 49855. Special book prices are two for $28, three for $40, five for $60 and six for $72, with books sent to the same address.

The entire set of Deer Tales books is available for $82 postpaid.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.