1976 - I come from a family of hunters; more specifically, deer hunters. We did hunt for rabbits and ducks too, but deer hunting was almost a religion to us. As it turned out for me, I wasn’t very good at it, so I would end up sitting at some central point while the other more experienced hunters would try to scare the game towards me. My brother Bob had a couple friends from out of state that he invited to come with us one year. They showed up all decked out in the best equipment money could buy, but as bad a hunter as I was, they were even worst if you can believe that! A popular song at that time was “The Shanty Song” and while sitting and freezing my you know what off, I changed the lyrics to fit the situation. My brother loved it and teased his friends with it. There’s a prevailing attitude among Mainers that if you’re “from away” you are inferior especially when it comes to woodsmanship and all things Maine-ly. So the song struck a favorable chord with the folks back home and brings smiles and chuckles to them even today. I added the third and fourth verses when I started recording the song in 2009. The Illinois one is in honor of my lovely wife Connie and her uncle Charlie!
OUT OF STATER HUNTER
Words and music by Reggie Michaud © 1976 Rev. 2009
I was hunting one fine day, looking for that white-tail deer
When I see another hunter aiming at me from the rear.
I seen a birch tree, a big white birch tree, and I hid behind it shaking with fear.
Cause I heard them rumors there’s been out-of-Staters hunting here!
So I say out-of-Stater hunter, don’t want you hunting around here.
Out-of-Stater hunter will shoot at anything but deer.
And farmer in the pasture you’d better wear some fluorescent gear,
Cause everybody’s saying they’s out-of-Staters hunting here!
I knew a man from Connecticut; he’s been known to shoot at trees.
I’m going to the Legislature gonna raise your hunter license fees.
I seen a man from New York; shot himself a big fat steer!
Just remember out-of-Stater: don’t want you hunting around here.
Singing out-of-Stater hunter, don’t want you hunting around here.
Out-of-Stater hunter will shoot at anything but deer.
And farmer in the pasture you’d better wear some fluorescent gear,
Cause the ladies been a whispering they is out-of-Staters hunting here!
Heard a bragger making noise with a plate from Illinois saying he shot himself a ten-point buck.
Cause he tripped over his trigger and he shot the hefty frigger by luck.
Come to Maine from Indiana was a porker name of Ana Goin hunting in the Alagash
Then a moosey came a calling and you should a heard the balling When the porker made a desperate dash.
Singing out-of-Stater hunter, don’t want you hunting around here.
Out-of-Stater hunter will shoot at anything but deer.
And farmer in the pasture you’d better wear some fluorescent gear,
Cause I heard them rumors there’s been out-of-Staters hunting here!
Kicking and a screaming down the 95, I saw a little baby Bambi she was half alive.
Strapped onto the bumper of a fancy city slicker’s rig.
Passed me like he’s trying to make the sucker fly,He was dumb enough to make my aunt Matilda cry
Out-of-Stater hunter, keep driving till you out of Maine.
Singing out-of-Stater hunter, don’t want you hunting around here.
Out-of-Stater hunter will shoot at anything but deer.
And farmer in the pasture you’d better wear some fluorescent gear,
Cause everybody’s saying they is out-of-Staters hunting here!