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Firearm deer totals down

Many factors contribute to numbers

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has released preliminary results from the firearm deer hunting season for the Upper Peninsula. Results show the harvest was down about 5% compared to 2018 and a 10-year average. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Wildlife biologists with the MIchigan Department of Natural Resources announced the preliminary results from deer check stations across the Upper Peninsula that show the harvest for this year’s firearm deer hunting season was down about 5% compared to 2018 and a 10-year average.

The results were compiled at the end of Monday.

“As with all these season comparisons, various factors can play a role in affecting the totals,” John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer, said in a news release. “Timing of the opening day, the date of Thanksgiving, deer activity, snowfall and other weather conditions are just some circumstances.”

David Jentoft, a DNR wildlife biologist based in Sault Ste. Marie, speculated several specific factors might have influenced this season’s reports.

“The U.P. received significant snow within the past week, which likely affected check station numbers, at least at some locations,” Jentoft said in a news release. “The conditions may have discouraged, or even prevented, some hunters from getting out, and likely discouraged hunters from bringing their deer into a check station.”

At the Sault Ste. Marie check station, two years of road construction ended just before the firearm season but that might have affected the deer check totals, the DNR reported. The largest drops in check station totals compared to 2018 and the 10-year average were recorded there: 39% and 51%, respectively, with a total of 22 deer checked.

In Marquette, 323 deer were checked, which represented a drop of 13% compared to 2018 but an increase of 2% compared to the 10-year average.

A total of 569 deer were checked in Escanaba, with an increase of 2% compared to 2018 and a decrease of 5% compared to the 10-year average.

In Baraga, 133 were checked, representing a decrease of 13% compared to 2018 and a decrease of 11% compared to the 10-year average.

Other totals reported were: Crystal Falls, 169 deer checked, down 9% compared to 2018 and up 1% compared to the 10-year average; Newberry, 89 deer checked, 26% down compared to 2018 but 5% up over the 10-year average; and Norway, 242 deer checked, a decrease of 16% compared to 2018. The comparison to the 10-year average there wasn’t available.

The summary was based on deer checks through Saturday, the end of the firearm deer season. Since stations were closed on that day this year, the results are for the next open day, which was Monday. All results are approximate.

The DNR said that overall, it appears the number of bucks and the number of deer checked at seven U.P. DNR check stations during the firearm season was down 5 to 10% from 2018. It also appears these would be down about 5% from the past 10-year average, not including the Norway station.

Staffers at the DNR check stations reported that most deer checked were in good condition, with most bucks 2.5 years or older. Antler development on bucks appeared to be average to below average, particularly on older bucks, but did vary.

The DNR said many hunters mentioned seeing multiple deer, including bucks, while hunting. Many hunters at stations in or near the Core Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area, which encompasses parts of Delta, Dickinson and Menominee counties, submitted testing samples, especially at the Crystal Falls and Norway stations.

The DNR also issued a statewide perspective on the season.

It said deer check numbers so far appear lower than the last several years, but it’s still too early to determine if they will remain that way through the rest of the season. Although check station numbers are down, many hunters with whom DNR staff has spoken have reported seeing good numbers of deer, particularly bucks.

The DNR noted most hunters are compliant with testing requests where appropriate and many are interested in learning about possible disease concerns in their hunting areas.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.

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