Most people would feel they’d been shorted if they only received a “buck” for their birthday. But not Joel Austin. Joel, a former business owner in Cedar Springs (Austin Lumber, Cedar Creek Sporting Goods), loves to hunt, and his daughter, Mindy Abbott, has seen many deer hanging up over the years. But this year was different. Joel, who is semi-retired and works part time for Solon Township, has not been bow hunting for several years due to back surgeries. But this year he went hunting on his 69th birthday (November 9), on a friend’s farm in Six Lakes., where he got this buck. It was his first time using a crossbow, and he was quite happy with the accomplishment. “They don’t grow many like this one around here,” he said. “It’s a once in a lifetime shot.”
Congratulations Joel!