Hunting

Article Photos

There is nothing quite like the lure of the whitetail deer to draw folks to the Upper Peninsula each fall. Though deer can be harvested anywhere in the state, the U.P. is the destination of choice for tens of thousands of hunters, many of whom make the trip north from below the bridge.

One obvious reason is that the hunting opportunities are usually pretty good in this part of the state. The U.P. generally offers a good habitat for deer. The central U.P. in particular is noted for its habitat, particularly southern Menominee County and western Delta County where forest and farm land frequently link up, creating ideal conditions for deer to survive the long winters. Menominee County, in fact, has the highest density of deer in the state.

Though the numbers of fawns and bucks less than two years old have been down throughout the U.P. the past two years, the overall population remains at the 50-year average, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

"The deer population will probably be similar in size or even a little bit lower (in 2009), but it's still going to be hovering around the 50-year average," said DNR biologist Craig Albright.

Last fall, about 30 percent of U.P. hunters got bucks during the firearm season, which was a little better than expected.

"With the severe winters we've had recently, the firearm season was actually a little better than anticipated," Albright said. "The numbers are still a little low but it's nowhere near where it was in the early 1970s (when there was a record low harvest of one buck taken for every 10 hunters)."

The act of pursuing the deer is a thrill for orange-clad hunters, but it's only part of the attraction. Each year, hunters prepare for weeks in advance to participate in the firearm deer season that begins Nov. 15. Preparing for the hunt and then participating in the hunt is a rite of passage for many fathers and their children.

The hunting heritage extends even beyond that, though. It also includes time spent in the woods with family and friends, usually at a hunting camp. There, memories are forged and bonds strengthened as hunters swap stories and enjoy fellowship around the campfire.

Through the years, the stories may get a bit more embellished and the bucks may grow ever bigger, but the fellowship remains a sweet joy for those who seek the refuge of the central U.P. woods each fall.

BLACK BEAR

The application period for hunting black bear extends from May 1 to June 1 with the results of the drawing scheduled to be posted June 30.

According to the DNR, there are approximately 15-19,000 black bears populating the woods of northern Michigan, with about 90 percent of the bears living in the Upper Peninsula. Black bear in the south-central U.P. have been faring well, Albright said, with no present concerns about population.

WILD TURKEY

There are spring and fall seasons set aside for wild turkey with licenses secured through lottery. The application period for the 2009 fall season is July 1-August1.

The wild turkey population in the central U.P. has exploded since the fowl was first introduced in Menominee County in the 1980s. The turkey has surprisingly thrived since then in an area hundreds of miles north of its natural habitat.

Groups like the Bay de Noc Gobblers, an affiliate of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County have worked hard behind the scenes, employing sustained supplemental feeding programs to help the turkey flourish in the U.P. Albright said this year's turkey harvest could reach an all-time high. "From our counts last winter, there were 14,000-plus birds in the south-central U.P.," he said.

RUFFED GROUSE AND WOODCOCK

The fall hunting season for ruffed grouse (partridge) is a bit longer than the season for American woodcock. The birds are both found in Delta County and the Upper Peninsula.

The dates for ruffed grouse extend from Sept. 15-Nov. 14 and again from Dec. 1-Jan. 1. The bag limit in 2008 was five per day with 10 in possession.

Ruffed grouse projections are good, with the bird moving toward the high point in its cycle.

The woodcock season opens the Saturday nearest September 22 - Sept. 19 in 2009 - and runs for 45 days. These dates are set by a federal framework.

Shotguns must be plugged so they are capable of holding no more than three shells and the hunting hours are from sunrise to sunset.

A small game license is needed to hunt woodcock along with a Harvest Information Program (HIP) endorsement. The HIP endorsement must be added by the agent if you are purchasing a small game license and plan to hunt woodcock.

CANADA GOOSE

Canada goose can typically be found along the Little Bay de Noc shoreline and also in the farm fields of western Delta County. The early hunting season in the U.P. extends from Sept. 1-10 and the regular season is from Sept. 22-Nov. 5.

A word of caution: Canada geese look very much like a different migratory race of geese which comes into the area each fall. When the two mix together, it can be very difficult to tell one from the other. That is why the bag limit changes goes down the early season to the regular season.

"They start coming in and you really can't tell them apart," said DNR biologist Craig Albright. "Once the migrants come here, the bag limits get more restrictive."

OTHERS

Duck hunting can be a challenging activity in the south central U.P., since there isn't a major flyway here. That isn't to say that a determined duck hunter can't be successful during the fall season, however. Portions of the Portage Marsh south of Escanaba are a likely locale for ducks, as well as shallow bays, rivers and beaver ponds.

Fox and gray squirrel (including black phase squirrels) may be taken statewide during the open season that starts in mid-September and extends through the winter. The bag limit is five per day with 10 in possession.

"This is an under-utilized resource," Albright said. "If you find the right area where there are oak or beech trees, you'll find plenty of squirrels."

Red squirrel and ground squirrel may be taken year-round with a valid small game hunting license.

For more information go to www.michigan.gov/dnr or call the DNR Field Office in Gladstone at 906-786-2351.