IRON MOUNTAIN — Firearm deer hunting begins this weekend in Michigan with the annual two-day Liberty Hunt.

The hunt is open to youth ages 16 and under, veterans with disabilities and other qualified persons with disabilities. All participants must wear hunter orange.

On Wednesday, fall turkey hunting gets underway. The license quota for the Upper Peninsula is 1,500 for a season that runs through Nov. 14. The small game season in Michigan also opens Wednesday.

Wisconsin’s archery and crossbow deer season opens Saturday, Sept. 18, while Michigan’s archery opener is Oct. 1.

“We saw another mild winter last year, so Wisconsin deer hunters can look forward to increased harvest opportunities this season,” said Jeff Pritzl, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deer program specialist.

Wisconsin’s fall turkey season opens Saturday, Sept. 18, along with small game hunting.

Black bear season opened Wednesday in the Upper Peninsula. As of Friday afternoon, eight bruins had been registered at Midtown Bait & Tackle in Channing, including one approaching 300 pounds.

“Fishing has also picked up,” said owner Bob Kennard.

At Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis., Fay Whisler reported a mixed bag of panfish catches, along with a few northern pike. A few bear hunters in Wisconsin have already been successful, as that hunt opened Wednesday as well, Whisler said.

Lake Michigan anglers at Marinette, Wis., are having some success chasing trout and salmon on Green Bay, the Wisconsin DNR said.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Ontonagon: Lake trout fishing was productive. Near limits of three-to-five-pound fish were seen with a few 10-plus pound fish reported. Spoons were the lure of choice between 80 and 120 feet of water. On Ontonagon River, dock anglers were catching rock bass, bullhead and a few small walleye.

Union Bay: Anglers were finding decent success while trolling for lake trout with a few heavier fishing being caught.

Black River Harbor: Success was moderate for lake trout. Some anglers were fishing in 60 feet of water, while others were out in 200 feet.

Keweenaw Bay: Most anglers were marking plenty of fish from 60 feet to the surface. Most anglers who had success were trolling from 100 feet up. Anglers were catching mostly Chinook salmon, but they also caught coho, lake tout, rainbow trout and pike. Most of the catches were on artificial bait and anglers were successful on average in the mornings.

Munising Bay: Boat fishing pressure was low with scattered boats out for coho and lake trout. Trolling performed the best with a combination of spoons – try watermelon colors, florescent colors and moonshine spoons. Lake trout anglers reported some decent catches in around 120 to 150 feet of water near White Rocks and Wood Island Reef, but catches were scattered. A few splake were reported by boat anglers trolling for coho. Shore anglers on the Anna River dock caught a few splake.

Grand Marais: Boat anglers reported nice catches of lake trout with most fish averaging around three to four pounds with a few fish over 15 pounds. Anglers were fishing towards AuSable Reefs and west towards the Hurricane and Five Mile Reef.

Big Traverse Bay/ South Portage Entry: Fishing in Big Traverse and South Portage Entry picked up slightly with salmon and trout. Anglers were catching pike while casting in weed beds and in shallows. Trolling had been most successful in deeper water and mostly in the upper half of the water column. Most fish were caught around the evening.

Marquette: Good amounts of lake trout were caught. Anglers were out looking for salmon and a handful were reported.

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting walleye had mixed results. Most anglers were trolling, but some were jigging with minnows. Efforts seemed to be concentrated around Portage Point and north of Gladstone. Some anglers trolled around Minneapolis Shoal when wind permitted. Perch fishing was slow for most, with some enjoying limited success when using minnows. Crawler harnesses trolled or drifted were the most effective way to target walleye.

St. Ignace/Les Cheneaux: Anglers were fishing St. Martins Bay area and Nunns Creek for Chinook salmon.