Tomahawk venison feed draws hundreds of eager hunters

This year was the 59th iteration of the Tomahawk Venison Feed. The event was started as a way to get those traveling up north to pull off the highway and stop for a venison burger and some camaraderie before heading off to deer camp. Even with the misty rain, hundreds of hunters came out to kick off their season as many have been doing for years, making this stop a late fall tradition.

After receiving their burger bun, hunters head to any one of several grill stations to grab their burger. Beverages are also available, as are plenty of bakery items at various bake sale stations. The food is always good, hunters say, but it is the camaraderie that keeps them coming back.
(Photo by Beckie Gaskill/Lakeland Times)“I’ve been coming here since I was about 14 years old, and now I’m 77.” said Mark Ballschmieder. “Most of our hunting gang has passed away or moved on, but we still have a core of four or five of us who continue the tradition of doing this, and we thank the people of Tomahawk for doing this.” While the venison burgers are great, the camaraderie is what keeps him and his hunting group coming back, he said. In the short time he had been at the event this year, he met a group from Fon du Lac and another from Milwaukee, all banded together through their love of hunting.

Sally Sumption rings the traditional bell, calling the hunters in to eat, while hunters “stuff the buck,” with donations at the 59th Annual Tomahawk Venison Feed.
(Photo by Beckie Gaskill/Lakeland Times)

Along with the Nokomis and Spirit Valley ATV clubs, they produce a map of the surrounding area trails. They have also worked to get the city streets open to ATV/UTV traffic. The club works diligently to promote safety and to talk with riders who may not be following the rules.

The Tomahawk Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and the Future Business Leaders of America Tomahawk Club were also at the Venison Feed, talking with attendees about what their students do and how their programs help to enrich the local community.

American Legion Post 93, represented by Terry Hagar and others, had a gun safe raffle going on, which ends on December 17. Hagar said the ladies auxiliary was also selling Christmas trees at the Legion in Tomahawk, which are available during the day every day until they sell out. Tickets for the gun safe are also available at the Legion, or by calling Hagar at 715-966-5392.

As always, there were several grill stations set up down the block in downtown Tomahawk. Businesses like Park City Credit Union man the grills, cooking up hundreds of venison burgers.

“We’ve been here so many years, we definitely have it down to a science,” said Tiki  Krueger-Boehm of Park City Credit Union. “We look forward to it every year.”

“It’s amazing,” said Dawn Krueger of Duane Krueger Insurance Company, who was working the beverage station at the event. “Once that bell rings and the people come, everyone is so nice, so grateful. It’s the 59th year here, and we’re so happy and so proud we can be a part of it.”

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].