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Michigan archery hunt starts Monday

Outdoors Report

IRON MOUNTAIN — Michigan’s archery deer season opens Monday with the local forecast calling for rain and a high of about 48.

Wisconsin hunters, who’ve been at it a couple of weeks, report seeing fair numbers of deer, said Aaron McCullough, Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician at Wausaukee.

“Grouse hunters are still finding a few birds to flush and are also reporting quite a few woodcock,” he said. Acorn production has been good this year, he added.

Landowner antlerless permits remain available for several Upper Peninsula hunting zones, said John Grier at Whispering Pines Outpost in Breitung Township. “There’s a few people fishing, but not a lot,” he said. The shop on M-95 has registered 11 bear so far this season.

The Michigan DNR reported the following Upper Peninsula fishing activity:

Lac Vieux Desert: Muskie anglers caught a few fish right along with a decent number of pike. Walleye fishing remained slow however a few were found off the docks in the late evening. Bass anglers did well with top water lures in the morning or late evening. The panfish bite was hit-or-miss as the fish seem to be moving out to deeper water.

Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches were down over the last week. Night anglers reported the best catches between the Center Reef and the Second Reef or south around the “Black Bottom”. Anglers were trolling stick baits at night in 14 to 20 feet or stick baits and crawler harnesses in 18 to 30 feet during the day. Several good catches of jumbo perch were reported in Kipling in 22 feet and off Gladstone Beach in 20 feet when using minnows. Smallmouth bass were spotty as the fish are starting to move south. A few were taken on plastics or drop-shot in 18 to 20 feet. A couple Chinook have shown up in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor. The numbers are far less than last year and a little harder to catch.

Big Bay De Noc: Smallmouth bass were scattered but the large fish can be found in the southern waters. Ogontz reported good catches of undersize fish using plastics or drop-shot in 12 to 18 feet. Some bigger fish were found around the Garden Bluff area but catch rates were spotty. Cooler temperatures moving in this week should bring the bass in and around Snake Island.

Munising: The salmon action was still slow and splake fishing was spotty.

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