Opening day brings hunting excitement to northern Michigan

(Photo courtesy Michigan DNR)

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Friday is Michigan’s opening day of firearms deer season across the Wolverine state.

Thousands of avid outdoors men and women will be venturing out to their favorite hunting spot, with high hopes and huge dreams of taking that trophy buck. About 600,000 hunters are expected to take part in the traditional November hunt.

According to Department of Natural Resources officials, the deer herd should be in good shape in northern lower Michigan, following another mild winter.

“We expect it will be at least as good as last year, hopefully a little better,” said Brian Mastenbrook, wildlife supervisor for the northern Lower Peninsula. “We had another mild winter, which should have allowed deer to come through the winter OK. We had good food last fall with good acorns and apples. They should have gone into winter well and came out well. We have had fair to good reproduction. The numbers should be, generally, coming up.”

Overall, Mastenbrook believes the number of deer should be up, or as good as last year.

“We know that the fourth mild winter in a row has allowed populations to rebound from the harsh winters of 2007 and 2008,” said Ashley Autenreith, deer program biologist from the Gaylord regional office. “We have seen good hunter success the last couple of years. In addition, because of the mild winters, we have seen deer coming in in really good condition. There has been good body weight, good antler development on bucks, things of that nature.”

She said the best place to find the deer is where the food sources are, and it has been a great year for apples.

“Seek those areas out,” said Autenreith. “Deer are most lik

ely going to be heading in that direction.”

Mastenbrook encouraged hunters to bring deer into a check station. There will be stations in Posen and Onaway.

“We are still collecting heads for (bovine tuberculosis) TB testing in Presque Isle County,” said Mastenbrook.

The county became open to baiting again a few seasons ago and Autenreith reminded hunters that the limit is 2 gallons spread in a 10-by10-foot area.

“You don’t want to put 2 gallons one day, and then put 2 more gallons out the next,” she said. “That’s not how it works. It is 2 gallons at any point in time.”

The season opens Friday at first light.