ESCANABA — Firearm deer season concluded on Saturday, and the harvest numbers indicate it was a good season, especially in the Upper Peninsula.

As of 11 a.m. on Monday, the total number of deer taken by firearm and reported to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) totaled 132,935, a slight decrease from the previous year’s mark of 137,074.

However, reports for Delta, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties show an increase in deer firearm kills compared to last year.

Please note that the numbers are still being updated by the DNR website, as hunters are given 72 hours to register their harvest.

By 11 a.m. on Monday, 2,235 deer had been harvested with firearms in Delta County, 76% of which were antlered. This compares to the county’s firearm numbers from 2023, when 2,013 deer were reported, 77% of which were antlered. In 2022, 2,499 deer were reported, 69% of which were antlered.

In Menominee County, 3,481 firearm harvests were made and reported at 11 a.m., 71 % of which were antlered. In 2023, Menominee County’s firearm hunters took 3,037, and 72% had antlers. The year prior, 66% of firearm kills in the county were antlered.

In Schoolcraft County, 503 deer had been reported as taken by firearm by 11 a.m. on Monday, and 94% had antlers. Last year, 89% of the county’s 492 firearm kills were antlered. In 2022, 88% of Schoolcraft’s 614 were antlered.

DNR Temporary General Office Assistant Wayne Fields processes deer harvests for those not using the online tool, and he said the Escanaba office is seeing more deer compared to 2023.

“We’re seeing more than we did last year and the other thing is we’re not seeing too many large deer, large racks for bucks,” Fields said. He added that the largest buck came on the first day of bow season, a 12-point buck.

Reports are still coming in, meaning each county could see an increase in their respective totals.

Reporting deer kills to the DNR within 72 hours is a legal requirement. It helps keep track of the condition of natural resources, which may inform researchers of the possible impacts of revised regulations and environmental factors.

Reports can be made online at Michigan.Gov/HarvestReport, through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, at the Customer Service Center at 6833 U.S. 2 and 41 and M-35 between Escanaba and Gladstone, or by calling 517-284-9453.