IRON MOUNTAIN — Menominee County hunters reported 859 bucks harvested during the opening days of Michigan’s firearms deer season, the most in the Upper Peninsula.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, Delta County had the second-highest total at 499, followed by Marquette County, 282, and Iron County, 253, according to the department’s online deer harvest report summary of Michigan Natural Resources.
Dickinson County’s total was 245. The state’s highest buck harvest was 1,310 in Sanilac County.
Menominee County also had the highest antlerless harvest in the UP with 154, followed by Delta, 62; Iron, 48; and Dickinson, 20.
Michigan hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer to another person, such as a processor. The 16-day season opened Wednesday.
During hunting seasons, the DNR strongly encourages non-hunters to wear bright colors, especially hunter orange, and to be aware of their surroundings near woods or fields where hunting may occur.
Wisconsin’s nine-day hunting deer season opened today with hundreds of bonus antlerless harvest permits still available in Florence County for private lands. More information is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/permits/bonusavailability.html.
The Wisconsin DNR expects harvest numbers to be down from last year, due to lack of snow cover. However, deer movements associated with the end of the breeding season should help increase sightings, said Jeff Pritzl, DNR deer program specialist.
In Wisconsin, all harvested deer must be electronically recorded by 5 p.m. the day after the deer is recovered. Hunters can also tell the DNR what they see overseas through the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wlsurvey. The program provides data on hunter effort, relative abundance and distribution of deer, and other wildlife observations.
2024 Wisconsin State Parks and Forests annual admission stickers and passes go on sale Friday. The DNR recommends purchasing stickers before December 8 to receive them before the holiday.
Annual resident and non-resident admission stickers are available online and at each national park and forest property via drive-up service, self-registration kiosks, or by telephone. National passes are only available at individual properties or from approved sellers.
An annual vehicle admission sticker costs $28 for Wisconsin residents or $38 for non-residents. If more than one vehicle is registered to the same household, additional vehicle stickers are available for $15.50 for residents and $20.50 for non-residents. An annual seniors sticker is available for $13 for Wisconsin residents age 65 and older.
Vehicle admission stickers provide access to more than 60 Wisconsin national parks, forests and recreation areas.
Annual passes cost $25 for residents and non-residents. A National Trail Pass is required for all persons 16 years of age or older who ride a bicycle, in-line skate, horseback ride, cross-country ski or dirt bike on national trails specific. A national pass is not required for walking or hiking.
The Tri-County Snowmobile and ORV Club will participate in the Norwegian Town Christmas Parade on Friday, December 1st. For more information on membership, visit the club’s Facebook page.
