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More hunt success in UP

DNR says deer numbers up so far this firearm season

(AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Craig Porter)

MARQUETTE — Favorable hunting conditions such as snow and cooler temperatures are keeping the white-tail deer moving during the firearm season so far, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported.

The DNR reported numbers at all western Upper Peninsula stations are up, while eastern U.P. stations are down slightly so far.

The Marquette station checked 71 deer from Thursday through Saturday, up 61 percent from 44 in 2017. The tally at other stations was: Baraga, 42 deer, up 8 percent; Crystal Falls, 77 deer, up 33 percent; Escanaba, 113 deer, up 19 percent; Newberry, 39 deer, down 15 percent; and Sault Ste. Marie, nine deer, down 18 percent.

The total number of deer checked for those dates for the six stations was 351, up 24 percent from 2017. The DNR noted that road construction in 2017 might have reduced the number of deer coming in the Escanaba station. Overall, the number represents a 10 percent increase from the past 10-year average.

Firearm bucks checked at each station for Thursday through Saturday were: Marquette, 66 bucks, up 50 percent; Baraga, 38 bucks, up 3 percent; Crystal Falls, 75 bucks, up 36 percent; Escanaba, 88 bucks, up 24 percent; Newberry, 37 bucks, down 16 percent; and Sault Ste. Marie, nine bucks, no change.

A total of 313 firearm bucks were checked for those dates for the six stations, up 17 percent from the previous year. Again, road construction in 2017 might have reduced the number of firearm bucks checked at the Escanaba station.

Antler development is average, although staff noted it expected to see a little better antler development on bucks age 3 and older than what has been observed so far. However, more mature bucks and a low percentage of yearlings are being seen.

Regarding chronic wasting disease, recently discovered in a deer in Dickinson County, reports from the Norway station are that nearly 100 percent of the hunters are submitting deer heads.

Escanaba reported a moderate amount of submissions for testing and inquiries.

The DNR said many CWD questions were reported from Marquette, but not many submissions for testing. An occasional head has been collected at Newberry, but more than had been collected in previous years.

No heads have been received at the Sault Ste. Marie station, where there haven’t been too many questions raised about CWD, although the Sault hasn’t checked as many deer as other stations.

Staff reports suggested that hunter concern, particularly for testing, decreases as one moves away from the core surveillance area.

The DNR said it expects numbers to continue to change through the remainder of the season, which runs through Nov. 30.

Totals are available for the number of deer licenses sold by county in Michigan through Wednesday, one day before the firearm deer season opened.

The DNR said that although license sales were down statewide by 1.2 percent, they were up by 1.6 percent in the U.P. Of the region’s 15 counties, eight had license sales higher than the same time in 2017. For example, Marquette had an increase in sales, from 9,918 to 10,353.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250, or cbleck@miningjournal.net.

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