2013 - The “Cop Shack”
Gene Holman and his son Scott have started quite the deer shack tradition near Alborn, MN
November 26, 2013 • Voyageur Press
The two purchased a piece of land with a small structure in 2004. Ten years later, the shack looks quite different. It has undergone quite a transformation and has now become the destination of area hunters.
The shack (Lumberjack Lodge) has quite a tradition of harvesting nice bucks, with many of them displayed on the wall, and is affectionately called the “Cop Shack.”
Scott is Sergeant Detective at the Cloquet Police Department, and several deputies and friends are invited out to hunt.
The “Cop Shack” has increased in size over the years in the number of animals hanging on the wall. “We have a whitetail room, an exotics room and a fish room,” Scott shared about all the wild animals hanging on the wall. “The cabin has taken on quite a transformation over the years.”
Blake Evans, a Fond du Lac Conservation Officer, is one of the more serious hunters at the shack. “My rifle season starts the day after Labor Day and I harvest deer for the Elderly Nutrition Program for Fond du Lac Reservation.”
Blake joked that he finally got a bunk at the shack after the latest addition. “It’s a seniority thing,” he said.
The only buck shot prior to the final weekend was a 10-pointer by Blake.
Gene shared that he used to hunt near Gowan, but this opportunity presented itself and now the Holmans boast ten deer stands, a comfortable living space, and one of the more popular game feeds in the area.
“The Friday evening before the opener, we invite all the camps over for a game feed,” said Scott. “It started out with some buddies flying up from Louisiana and frying up shrimp. It has turned into quite a game feed.”
“This year, we had shrimp, alligator, deer, trout, salmon, bear... a little bit of everything,” added Scott. “All the camps around come over and we socialize.... tell lies and drink a few beers.”
Gene and Scott recently enjoyed a trip down to Florida for a gator hunt. The successful hunt just north of Jacksonville included the harvesting of a 12-foot gator, a 9-footer and a 6-footer. Gene harpooned the biggest gator and Scott the smallest. “We saw at least 200 gators,” noted Gene. “I’m considering having my gator mounted with Scott’s 6-footer in its mouth.”
All kidding aside, the trip was worth the wait. “Last year we missed this trip,” noted Scott. “My dad was injured when a log impaled him. The trip was planned on a Monday and he got hurt on a Friday.”
Gene shot the 700-pound gator with a crossbow. “When you shoot them with a crossbow, it just penetrates the skin and it is connected to a rope,” added Scott. “It doesn’t kill them. Then you have to hand wrestle them.”
Gene noted that the hunting is done at night. “Five at night until ten in the morning,” said Scott.
Scott noted that his relationship with other law enforcement friends across the country allows him the opportunity to swap trips.
The guys at the shack might sneak off to a few unique destinations each year.
In addition to Gene, Scott and Blake, other members that spend a considerable time at the shack include Gene’s other son Jamie Pysck. Thomas Foldesi, Bill Dahlgren (camp cook), Terry Miller and extended family and friends visit the shack each and every year.
Scott made sure he included his mother (Sue) who passed away. “She always bought the top-of-the-line groceries and took care of us up here. Now my dad has to foot the bill,” he concluded.
Scott also shared that the hunting tradition really began with his mother and father wanting to give back to all their customers at the Lumberjack Lounge, the bar they owned for several years.
“It was a big thing for them,” said Scott. “Everybody supported their bar, so deer hunting season was a way to give back to everyone. The bar was called Lumberjack Lounge and the shack is now called Lumberjack Lodge.”