IRON MOUNTAIN — Deer have picked up their movements and rutting activity may be nearing its peak as the Michigan firearm deer season approaches.

“A lot of guys say they’re seeing more deer than last year,” said John Grier at Whispering Pines Outpost in Breitung Township.

Michigan’s 16-day season opens Nov. 15 while Wisconsin’s nine-day gun season starts Nov. 17.

Archers have harvested a few nice bucks in Wisconsin, though the best are only eight-pointers, said Doug Whisler at Whisler Outdoors in Florence.

“We had a couple walleye fishermen going out,” Whisler added. Musky anglers have caught and released fish in the 40-inch range, along with some smaller ones, he said.

Grier said grouse hunting has picked up, with one hunter getting four birds in a couple hours. His final bear registration count for the season was 19.

Wisconsin deer hunters are reminded that baiting and feeding bans are in place for Marinette and Florence counties.

“Deer are moving more during the middle of the day and scrapes have been popping up all over Marinette County,” said Aaron McCullough, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician at Wausaukee.

The Michigan DNR reported the following Upper Peninsula fishing activity:

Lac Vieux Desert: Anglers have caught even more musky. The fish ranged from 30 to 47 inches and were caught on suckers. Walleye fishing picked up and anglers caught good numbers however the majority were 10 to 15 inches. Minnows were the ticket. Very few panfish were caught.

Keweenaw Bay: Those trolling in shallow waters had nice catches of coho, brown trout and splake. Most were using a flasher/fly combo, spoons or stick baits. Most of the fish were still tight with spawn so look for fish pushing up into the river soon.

Marquette: Had a couple days of decent weather and a few boat anglers were out targeting lake trout and salmon between the Lower Harbor and the “white rocks” area. Most caught lake trout in 30 to 70 feet including a few limit catches. Salmon fishing was slow with only a few Chinook and coho picked up. The end of the breakwall in the Lower Harbor has been a hot spot with anglers getting a fair number of lake trout along with the occasional coho and steelhead. The lake trout have just started spawning so if the weather cooperates there should be a few more chances for anglers to get out and catch more fish. The Carp, Dead, and Chocolay Rivers had meager reports with only a few coho, steelhead and brown trout caught. The coho still look very fresh and many have not spawned so we may see another good push of fish in the rivers soon.

Little Bay De Noc: Had walleye and smallmouth bass anglers. The best walleye catches were at night in 18 to 40 feet when trolling stick baits from the Gladstone Bay area south to the Escanaba lighthouse. The better bass catches were from the “Black Bottom” to Farmers Dock with plastics or minnows in 15 to 30 feet.

Big Bay De Noc: Had smallmouth bass anglers fishing a little more south from Sand Bay to the Burnt Bluff area. Catch rates were good with minnows in 12 to 25 feet.

Munising: In general, things have been slow as most anglers were averaging four hours or more to catch one or two fish. There has not been a good coho run. Catch rates for splake were down as well but those trolling within the bay did catch some fish. Most have now winterized their boats.