Hunting Guide 2022

Rifle or bow? Most hunters choose their favorites

By STEVE SCHULWITZ News Staff Writer

ALPENA — Deer hunters often hunt during both bow and rifle seasons, but, typically, they prefer one over the other.

Some like the challenge of sitting motionless and quiet in a tree stand, hoping to see and bag a buck, while others prefer sitting in a warm blind where they are a little more concealed from the deer when they arrive.

Tim Sutton said he has already been in the woods this year with his bow, trying to harvest a buck. He said he has seen deer, but nothing large enough or close enough for him to take a shot. Sutton said he loves hunting in the fall when there are fewer hunters in the woods, the weath er is reasonable, and the deer aren’t as spooked as they are later in the hunting season.

“It’s just me, my bow, and the great outdoors,” he said. “It’s nice to see deer and even better to get one, but, really, I just like being out in the woods with nothing but me and my thoughts.”

Eugene Zimmerman said he has never bowhunted, but has hunted in a blind at the family camp for decades. He said if he was physically able to climb a tree to get into a tree stand and pull back a bow, he thinks he would enjoy hunt ing in the early fall.

Zimmerman said that, like years past, he will be in his blind on opening morning. He said he will come back to camp, have lunch, and then return to the woods for the afternoon and early hunt. While in the blind, Zimmerman said he watches for deer, but also has other options of things to do to pass time.

“I’m known for taking a nap in the blind from time to time,” he said. “I read a book or maga zine and play on my phone or have a snack, but I always have one eye out the window of my blind. I don’t think I would be able to do those things if I bow hunted in a tree.”

Kimberly Greene is one of a long list of avid hunters in her family. She said she began deer hunting in a blind with her grandfather and now her children are beginning to show interest in archery and shooting. Greene said she hunts as often as she can because it is relaxing but also

provides a rush of adrenaline when she is able to see and shoot a deer.

When pressed, she said that, if she had to choose, she likely prefers bow hunting because of the proximity of the deer to her tree stand and the struggle not to scare them away.

“Bow hunting is just much more intense, be cause you know on a slight movement or sound and the deer are going to run off,” she said. “I like bow season, too, because there is more day light, so I can sit longer.”

Greene added that the only downfall about bow hunting is there are many times hunters shoot a deer and the shot is not fatal and the deer is wounded and never found.

“People need to be more selective with their shot, because it really is a waste,” Greene said.

Archery season in Michigan began on Oct. 1 and wraps up on Nov. 14. It fires back up on Dec. 1 and ends again on Jan. 1.

Firearm deer season begins on Nov. 15 and concludes on Nov. 30.

Courtesy Photo Colten Roeske draws back his bow while target practicing in this undated photo. Bow season in Michigan is currently underway and firearm season for deer begins on Nov. 15.

By JULIE RIDDLE News Staff Writer

ALPENA — Five minutes could help the state make good decisions that impact future hunters in North east Michigan, a Michigan Depart ment of Natural Resources official said.

Some hunters don’t like a new rule ordering them to tell the state about their kills, however, and a signature from the governor could make that rule moot.

This hunting season, Michigan hunters for the first time must re port deer harvests to the state within 72 hours of a kill, the Natural Resources Commission agreed in June.

Failure to comply could result in a misdemeanor criminal charge and a fine of up to $500, although the DNR said it intends to prioritize edu cation of hunters over enforcement of the rule this hunting season.

The Michigan Legislature passed a bill currently awaiting Gov. Gretch en Whitmer’s signature that, if ap proved, would remove that report ing requirement in most cases.

State Rep. Michelle Hoitenga, RManton, who sponsored the bill, in September told the House Govern ment Operations Committee that

the 72-hour reporting period hurt hunters in areas with limited inter net.

“I’m hearing from the hunt ers,” Hoitenga told the committee.

“I’m hearing from the processors. They’re very, very frustrated. When these things involve a crime, a crimi nal code penalty, that these people can be in trouble for, some of this needs to be looked at again.”

Hoitenga originally asked that the penalty for not reporting be reduced from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction. The bill’s language was later changed to prevent the Natural Resources Commission from enforcing their rule at all, in most cases.

DNR Wildlife Health Specialist Emily Sewell wants hunters to share their data, not because of a possible penalty, but because it’s “the right thing to do,” she said.

In Northeast Michigan, as of Oct. 6, more than 800 hunters had re ported their harvests since Sept. 10.

The state and hunters alike can ac cess that data in real time because hunters are telling the state about their hunting successes, Sewell said.

When the DNR in the 1950s first asked hunters to record their har

vest with the state, about 70% of hunters receiving random statistical surveys returned that paperwork.

In recent years, only 30% of mailed surveys have made their way back to the DNR, preventing the state from compiling a reliable

estimate of each year’s hunt.

Annual hunt information informs DNR decisions about any changes to regulations to protect deer popu lation and habitat, Sewell said.

The state knows hunters aren’t wild about the new regulation.

Hunters tell the DNR they can’t use computers, don’t have internet access in the woods, or simply don’t want to report their hunting activity to the state.

The state offers multiple options for sharing the data, including on the DNR’s website, through a smart phone app, or via a phone call.

Of the 23,600 hunters who have reported harvest data so far this hunting season, nine out of 10 have used the DNR’s website, but the app can expedite the process for hunt ers, Sewell said.

Hunters can scan a code on the back of their kill tag and, using the app, complete their state obligation almost immediately after a harvest, she said.

Hunters uncomfortable with the internet or who won’t be around a computer in the days after their hunt can ask someone else to up load the required information. That person needs the underlined num ber on the kill tag and the hunter’s date of birth to log in to share basic harvest data.

Workers at deer check stations can also help register a harvest, or hunters can call a DNR service cen ter for assistance.

Reporting electronically simpli

fies the reporting of the harvest lo cation, enabling the hunter to simply drag a pin to the approximate loca tion of the harvest on an online map.

About 83% of hunters reporting harvests so far this fall have finished their report in less than five minutes, Sewell said.

Hunters have grumbled about the 72-hour reporting window, say ing three days doesn’t allow them enough time to relax and enjoy hunting camp before returning to a location with reliable internet ac cess.

The state developed that threeday window by examining manda tory reporting guidelines in other states, Sewell said.

States that give hunters a week to report their harvests have low com pliance rates, while states that de mand a report within 24 hours see a strong response from their hunters, she said.

Michigan split the difference, giv ing hunters three days to report or face consequences.

Hunters, Sewell hopes, will report not out of fear of getting caught but because they want to help the state have access to accurate infor mation about its deer population.

Hunters benefit from that infor mation, too, as immediate report ing will provide hunters with harvest data in near real time

Throughout deer season, hunters can visit Michigan.gov/Deer to view reported harvest totals for their county or deer management unit.

How to prepare for a child’s first hunting trip

Millions of individuals across the globe are avid hunters. The passion many of those people have for hunting began on their first childhood hunting trip, and countless hunters fondly recall this milestone moment in their lives.

If there’s a first time for everything, parents know that kids’ initial forays into any activity comes with ups and downs. Hunting is no exception to that trend, but parents can consider these measures as they prepare their youngsters to go hunting for the first time.

• Emphasize the importance of safety. Safety is of the utmost importance on any hunting trip. Kids should be aware of all safety protocols pertaining to their guns and the hunting grounds. Hunter’s educa tion courses can teach kids about hunting safety, but parents can quiz youngsters in the days leading up to the trip to reinforce safety protocols.

• Explain how hunting trips typically unfold. Giv ing kids an idea of how a hunting trip may unfold is another good idea. Explain the timing of the trip and why it’s beginning when it is. Kids without such knowledge may be less enthusiastic about early morning hunting excursions if they don’t understand why they need to get out of bed early on a day off. But they might be more excited if they recognize they’re more likely to see wildlife and enjoy a suc

cessful trip if they’re willing to sacrifice sleeping in.

• Bring some extra activities for kids to do. Screens are a no-no, as they could deter wildlife. But hunting requires patience, which is not exactly a virtue many youngsters possess. So bring some books along or encourage kids to keep a diary of their first trip, de scribing it in detail so they have something to look back on as they get older.

• Purchase comfortable hunting attire. Kids will likely be wearing new attire on their first trip, so par ents should have them try the clothing on prior to the trip. When shopping for hunting clothing, make sure it meets all safety standards and is functional for hunters, but don’t overlook comfort. Hunting involves a lot of waiting, and the trip will be more enjoyable for everyone if kids are comfortable throughout the slow periods.

• Recognize the day could be emotional. A child’s first hunting trip can be an emotional roller coaster, as kids may feel excited, bored, nervous, sad, and even guilty at any point during the day. Parents must allow kids to express any of these emotions during the day and emphasize that it’s alright to express their emotions.

A child’s first hunting trip is a milestone moment. Parents can take steps leading up to the trip to en sure their children are ready for what’s to come.

Safety measures all hunters should take

Hunting draws millions of people into the great outdoors every year. Many avid hunters feel hunting is a great way to ac tively participate in nature while also tak ing responsibility for procuring one’s own food.

Hunting requires discipline, dedication, patience, and, perhaps most important, a commitment to safety. By prioritizing safe ty on each hunting trip, seasoned and nov ice hunters alike are acknowledging the potential dangers of this beloved outdoor activity while doing everything they can to ensure the trip is as safe as possible. Be cause safety plays such a vital role in suc cessful hunting trips, hunters of all experi ence levels can benefit from a refresher course on the safety measures they should take each time they go on the hunt.

• Treat all firearms as if they’re loaded. Treating all firearms as if they’re loaded en sures hunters won’t be tempted to engage in the kind of fooling around that can con tribute to tragic accidents. This approach can reduce the risk of firearm-related ac cidents or injuries, and can be an especially effective way to teach youngsters about the dangers of firearms and the correct ways to mitigate those dangers.

• Keep your finger off the trigger and only point at what you plan to shoot. Keeping your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot ensures you won’t accidentally discharge your firearm. In ad dition, never point your firearm at anything other than what you plan to shoot.

• Know the forecast and dress appro priately. Firearms are not the only risk to

hunters’ safety. Inclement weather can put hunters at the mercy of Mother Nature. Ac cording to the Mayo Clinic, hypothermia, which occurs when the human body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, can affect hunters who are unable to get out of wet clothes or move to warm, dry loca tions as their bodies lose heat. In addition, hunters may be at risk of hypothermia even if temperatures are hovering around 50 F. Before embarking on a hunting trip, hunters should read the forecast of the areas where they will be hunting and dress accordingly. Outer layers that repel water can help keep hunters dry, and hunters also should avoid wearing cotton, which retains moisture and can increase their risk for hypothermia. Clothing made with moisture-wicking fab rics is a great alternative to cotton.

• Share your plan with others. Return ing home safe is the ultimate goal for hunt ers, and that’s more likely to happen when hunters share their hunting plans with oth ers. Let someone, ideally a spouse, par ent, roommate, or sibling, know when and where you will be hunting and when you expect to return by. Direct this loved one to call the local authorities if you do not call by a predetermined time. This can dra matically reduce the time it takes to find you if you become injured on your hunting trip and prove unable to get back to your vehicle safely.

Millions of people across the globe enjoy hunting. Avid hunters know that no hunting trip is successful if safety is not the utmost priority.

deer

NORTHERN LOWER PENINSULA

2021 was quite a year for deer hunters in the northern Lower Pen insula. Despite about a 10% dip in hunter efforts from 2020, the buck harvest increased by about 16%. Hunting should remain in good shape heading into the 2022 sea son. Winter mortality hasn’t really impacted the herd in the northern Lower for quite some time, and that trend seemed to continue dur ing the winter of 2021. Deer came out of winter in great condition due to the mild weather, and that great condition has led to plentiful reports of does being seen with twin fawns in many areas.

Production of soft mast like na tive apples is doing well this sum mer. Hard mast production is look

forecast

seeing. Improving this ratio through additional antlerless harvest can im prove the number of bucks hunters see each fall, the timing and inten sity of the rut, and even the age structure of bucks as efforts are transferred to antlerless deer. It can also help alleviate conflicts associ ated with high numbers of deer. If you are hunting in an area with a lot of does this year, consider taking an extra antlerless deer to help man age your deer herd. If you don’t have an immediate outlet for the venison, you can always share your harvest through Michigan Sports men Against Hunger. That program allows you to donate your deer to a participating processor, with the resulting venison being delivered to a local food pantry at no cost to the

main low in many locations, overall harvest in the U.P. was up a little bit last year, and there is optimism that another minor increase will happen again this year, with the deer cur rently being observed this summer. To not sugar-coat anything, there will be places in the U.P. where deer densities remain low, and hunting efforts in some of these locations will prove extremely challenging.

Mast production, especially acorns, seems down this year com pared to last year. While last year showed good production from oaks, this year’s drought, coupled with the recency of last year’s heavier crop, seems to be limiting production.

Some hunters expressed concern last year about recently expanded antlerless harvest opportunities throughout much of the southern U.P. and the potential impact on har vest. While we only have one year of data available, it appears that, while antlerless harvest did increase in many units, it never increased more than one antlerless deer per square mile in any unit, with most units only increasing their antlerless harvest by about one antlerless deer for every three to four square miles. There was quite a bit of variability

in how this regulation affected man agement units, but it doesn’t appear to have a limiting population-level effect that some had feared, given the early returns. The same regula tion structure is in place for 2022.

As a reminder, for Deer Manage ment Units 351 and 352, hunters will need an access permit as well as an antlerless license to participate in firearm antlerless deer hunting in either of those units. Hunters pursu ing antlerless deer in the extreme southern part of the U.P. can simply purchase antlerless licenses and go hunting. As always, it’s best to con sult our Hunting Digest for more information.

SOUTHERN LOWER PENINSULA

“Steady, as She Goes,” by the Ra conteurs is the song title that best describes the year-to-year trends in the southern Lower Peninsula. Abun dant deer throughout much of the region, with little yearly variation, is what typically defines the deer pop ulation in lower Michigan.

For yet another year, the winter of 2021 didn’t seem to negatively impact deer in this region. In fact, the southern Lower Peninsula deer herd rarely experiences any over

winter mortality due to the abundance of summer food and the relatively mild winters.

The summer of 2022 saw drought-like conditions throughout much of June and July. Despite that weather, crops seem to have withstood the conditions and are in great shape, which means there will continue to be plentiful food for deer throughout the fall. One concern in the region, especially during summers with drought, is the potential experience of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which is far more likely to show up in an impactful way under dry conditions.

Deer numbers can vary depending on where you are in the region, but, in many locations, numbers are plentiful and, with time in the field, most hunters should have opportunities to be successful this year. Antler growth seems to be fairly average across the region compared to previ ous years, so, while there are some great bucks to be had, if one doesn’t present itself while you are hunting, consider harvesting a doe this year and passing on younger bucks to try and help manage the herd. Your choices will pay off in the future.

The DNR is continuing to prioritize surveillance for chronic wasting disease in the southern Lower Peninsula. If you harvest a deer in a county where we are conducting surveillance, please consider dropping off your deer’s head at one of the collection stations in the link embedded in the message you receive when you report your harvest.