DNR Announces Preliminary Assessment of Firearm Deer Season

[lonehunter]

[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]DNR Announces Preliminary Assessment of Firearm Deer Season[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Contact: [/#00e010][/font] [font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black]Rodney Clute 517-373-1263[/black][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Agency:[/#00e010][/font] [font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]Natural Resources[/font]

[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black]Nov. 21, 2007
The Department of Natural Resources today announced the initial assessment of the 2007 firearm deer season, which began on Thursday, Nov. 15.
"At this time, it appears that the deer harvest is similar to the harvest of 2006," said Rodney Clute, DNR big-game specialist. "Across the state the number of hunters participating appears to be down from last year, but those participating report seeing more deer."
Overall the antler development appears smaller than in 2006. This could be a product of reduced rain fall this year. Deer from those areas hardest hit by the drought appear to have smaller antlers.
In the Upper Peninsula, a small amount of snow was on the ground in some locations, providing hunters with good conditions for sighting deer at the start of the firearm deer season. However, the snow did not last. Hunting pressure was reported to be light across the UP. Hunter success rates appeared to be a little better than the last few years. Hunters are reporting seeing more deer, including bucks. The number of deer checked in the UP as of Nov. 20 was higher than in 2006. More deer were checked on Sunday, Nov. 19, at the Mackinac Bridge highway check station than any time since 1999.
In the northern Lower Peninsula, more deer are being observed, however antler development appears to be smaller than last year. Opening day weather (rain and or snow with strong winds) may have been a factor in hunting pressure being slightly less than in 2006. Depending on the location, the number of deer checked in the northern Lower Peninsula as of Nov. 20 was equal to or slightly below the number checked in 2006. Hunters commented on seeing more deer than last year with many commenting on seeing more bucks than last year.
The DNR has been setting high antlerless deer harvest quotas in the southern Lower Peninsula for several years to help lower the deer population in this area. This year, the number of deer brought into southern Lower Peninsula deer check stations is below the number checked in 2006. Opening day weather (rain and strong winds) may have been a factor in reducing hunting pressure. Fewer hunters were observed on public land in the SLP than in past years. Hunters commented on hearing fewer gunshots. The corn harvest in southern Lower Peninsula is estimated above 80% complete, which is average for the opening day of deer season. Harvested corn does provide less cover for deer and offers hunters better opportunities to see deer.
DNR would like to remind hunters that there is a substantial portion of the firearm deer season still remaining; the firearm season ends on Nov. 30, 2007. Archery season will resume on Dec. 1 and end Jan. 1. Muzzleloader will begin on Dec. 7 in Zones 1 and 3 and on Dec. 14 in Zone 2.
Antlerless licenses are still available for private land in portions of the state, especially in southern Michigan. Check license availability on the DNR's Web site at [url "http://www.michigandnr.com/availablelicenses/default.asp?Type=P"][#000000]www.michigan.gov/dnr[/#000000][/url].
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural resources
for current and future generations.
[blue] Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Outdoors[/blue][/black][/font]

[davetclown]

some of us are still looking for our first one [angelic]

cant say I havent seen them, just havent seen them where I could get a shot at one...
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[lonehunter]

Yep , none for me also .
I had a nice big rack come in opening day while I was halfway down the ladder , roosterfish got a parting shot of the same deer on the 16th .The guys in the camp next to us saw the same buck on their ridge , black as cole and a huge 6 point spread .

Had some novice hunters come into our clearing and started dumping bait (452,Bovine T.B. no baiting zone ) next to a log . They went back to their car and came back toting guns and lawn chairs then set up on the other side of the log .
I darn near wizzeled in my pants I was laughing so hard .

Roosterfish is using my old ball and cap for the next couple weeks , I'm going to get set up in another area once heavy snow hits here .

We had snow at deercamp from 3" on up to a good foot , not much for deer tracks after that hit .
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[Jaackrabbit]

Don't worry.... your not alone there. I'm still trying to get my first.

I would have had one tonight if I wasn't so STUPID. I went out early around 2pm and sat in the blind until just after 5. I saw nothing the entire time. Heard nothing the entire time.... so I decided to get up and walk around the small swamp area and check the tall grass clearing before it got to late to shoot. I step out of the blind and got about 3 steps when ......you guessed it.....I saw the three white tails (one with horns) boucing back into the swamp. They were a mere 40 yards away from me. Just on the edge about to come out. Had I just waited in the blind another 5 minutes they would have walked out right on top of me.

I have to admit... I said just a few 4 letter words standing there in the tall grass.

I tell you one thing though... those were some quiet deer. Never heard anything. The leaves and grass are all frozen around the edge and sound like firecrackers under my feet.

STUPID STUPID STUPID.. !!$#%$@!#!
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[davetclown]

my biggest problem this year has been not being able to hole my water for more than 6 hours...

the only one that would have been in shooting range of me was when I had to go down wind to rerleave my self when I turned back around there was a big buck walking as pretty as he pleased just 10 feet from where I was standing..., he even paused and looked at me on the trail then truned and continued walking, and there I am standing with nothin but a pea shooter in my hand[unsure]... [angelic][sly]

I look at it like this, I had the right spot at the right time and he would have been mine iffin it werent for the blatter....[blush]
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[lonehunter]

Didn't do it this year but I usuall take a liquid tide laundry soap container to the treestand with me for just such an emergency . pull that leak proof spout off and it makes for a good target hole for the job .
Close to being hunters orange in color also , don't use a blue container , deer can see the color blue .
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