IRON MOUNTAIN — Bear hunting is underway in both Michigan and Wisconsin, with bait, dogs and other legal hunting methods allowed in the Upper Peninsula beginning Monday.

The U.P. has an estimated population of nearly 11,000 bears that are at least a year old, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Dogs are prohibited during the first five days of the U.P. hunt, which opened Wednesday. The U.P. season runs through Oct. 26.

The Wisconsin DNR estimates a population of 26,000 bears, mainly in forested regions in the northern half of the state, with a continued trend of slow southward expansion. This year’s Zone B schedule in northeast Wisconsin is dogs-only through Tuesday, then dogs, bait and other legal hunting methods beginning the next day. Dogs are prohibited for a final hunt period Oct. 4-10.

Millan’s Custom Butchering in Armstrong Creek, Wis., reported getting 19 bruins for processing through Thursday, which marked the second day of the Wisconsin hunt.

Deer hunting opens today in Michigan with the Liberty Hunt, a two-day firearm deer hunt for youth and disabled hunters. Michigan’s archery deer season opener is Oct. 1.

Fall turkey and small game seasons will start Friday in the Upper Peninsula while the Wisconsin opener for the same is Saturday, Sept. 16.

The Wisconsin archery and crossbow deer season begins Sept. 16 and this year’s youth gun deer hunt is Oct. 7-8.

Spring surveys in Wisconsin showed ruffed grouse counts below the five-year average, including an 11% decrease statewide in ruffed grouse drumming activity from 2022, the DNR reported in July.

“While the number of birds detected is down overall, there will still be pockets of good ruffed grouse abundance, although these areas will be fewer and harder to find this fall,” said Brian Dhuey, Wisconsin DNR wildlife surveys specialist.

The Michigan DNR reported this U.P. fishing activity:

Little Bay de Noc: There was limited success reported for perch anglers. Walleye anglers caught a few in the upper bay, as well as those who fished waters between the Ford and Cedar rivers. Anglers reported trolling harnesses and casting snap jigs as being successful.

Big Bay de Noc: Yellow perch fishing was fair to slow. Smallmouth anglers reported good fishing with quality fish. Both Garden Bay and Ogontz Bay were producing fish close to shore, as well as offshore around rock structures.

Carp River/Nunns Creek: Both the Carp River and Nunns Creek were producing salmon for fishing from both shore and wading. The bite was slow at Nunns Creek, but fish were caught on both spoons and spawn bags. At the Carp River, salmon were observed throughout the day, but the best time to get a bite was at dawn/dusk. Anglers were successful from the fishing pier/dock and wading upstream from the mouth. Some of the Chinook at the Carp River were looking pretty dark, though fresh fish were still arriving.

Marquette: Anglers reported the best places for catching lake trout as near the northwest side of the White Islands and trolling out toward Granite Island. Anglers trolling at around 80 to 120 feet of water caught the most lake trout near the White Islands, while anglers trolling for lake trout around Granite Rock had the most luck trolling at around 120 to 200 feet of water. Several Chinook and coho were caught in around 40 to 80 feet of water near the Chocolay River on toward Shot Point. Watermelon, silver and pearl multicolored spoons, cow bells, and green and blue flasher flies were good lures for lake trout. Gold spoons, lime green crank baits and moonshine glow spoons were good for Chinook and coho salmon near the Chocolay River.

Au Train: Anglers were catching near their limit of lake trout. Coho and Chinook numbers were starting to increase as well. The best places for anglers to catch fish were near the northeast side of Au Train Island and out toward the Shelter Bay clay banks. Anglers trolling or jigging in 40 to 100 feet of water or trolling along the flats caught the most lake trout. Also, trolling cowbells around 145 feet of water with sucker meat or smelt had good success for some anglers north of Au Train Island. Chinook and coho were caught at around 60 feet while trolling. Green spin and glows at around 80 to 100 feet were successful for lake trout out by the clay banks. Anglers also reported using orange spoons and pink flasher flies as successful for coho and Chinook salmon.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers were catching good numbers of lake trout, with the occasional coho and Chinook salmon as well. Anglers reported most fishing taking place during morning hours, with most fish caught near the top or bottom of the water column regardless of depth. Anglers had most of their catch on artificial lures such as spoons and while trolling.

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Canal: Anglers continued to catch scores of pink salmon and lake trout, with other silver fish found further north. Cooling water resulted in some fishing moving slightly south to follow those cool temperatures. Anglers mostly trolled with spoons and flies, and fish were primarily caught in the upper third of the water column. Anglers reported the morning as being the most successful time of day for fishing.

Ontonagon River: Anglers reported catching the occasional walleye and rock bass while trolling and jigging on the river. Early mornings were the best time to fish; however, fish were still caught at all hours of the day.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Anglers reported finding good numbers of fish daily. Boat anglers who trolled artificial lures in various depths of water had success in getting mixed bags of lake trout, coho salmon and the occasional brown trout. Successful trips occurred consistently at all times throughout the day.

Black River Harbor: Fishing from the harbor was reported as good, with plenty of boat anglers getting out over the holiday weekend. Anglers found success in catching lake trout and the occasional coho salmon. The key to these catches seemed to be long, morning trips spent trolling artificial lures across a variety of water depths.

Munising Bay: A few boat anglers who made it out reported scattered catches of lake trout and coho salmon. Large clouds of bait fish were present within the bay, in the west channel area and in Trout Bay. Anglers mainly trolled in depths of 50 to 100-plus feet of water, with fish suspended throughout the water column. A few anglers were fishing off the Anna River, with scattered reports of a few splake.

Grand Marais: Boat angler fishing pressure was low, with most boats targeting lake trout. A few boat anglers had good success on a combination of coho salmon and rainbow trout. These fish were suspended in large clouds of bait fish. A few lake trout were also caught in these bait fish schools, which could be found a few miles offshore. Lake trout anglers also reported good fishing when trolling and jigging out near the shipping channels and Big Reef.