A WHITE-TAILED BUCK stays close to a doe in the Upper Peninsula. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources photo)

OUTDOORS REPORT

IRON MOUNTAIN — Michigan’s Liberty Hunt takes place next weekend, introducing updated deer regulations that will be in effect through 2025.

Participants in the Liberty Hunt, a firearm hunt for youth and disabled hunters, will be able to shoot more than one deer. The limit for bucks remains at one, but hunters can pursue multiple antlerless deer. A separate license is required for each deer harvested.

Hunters are also reminded the Upper Peninsula Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Zone, which included parts of Delta, Dickinson and Menominee counties, has been removed. Hunters in this area can resume baiting and feeding practices.

Michigan’s archery deer season opener is Oct. 1. The Wisconsin archery and crossbow season starts Sept. 16 and the Badger state’s youth firearm deer hunt is Oct. 7-8.

Fall turkey and small game seasons start Sept. 15 in the Upper Peninsula, while the Wisconsin opener for the same is Sept. 16.

Walleye anglers headed out this week to various locations on the Lake Michigan bay from the Menominee River, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said.

“Green Island, Chambers Island, and areas along the Michigan shore were popular,” the DNR reported. Casting shiver minnows was working well for some, while others were having luck on deep-diving cranks like flicker minnows.

With hot weather expected this weekend, the Michigan DNR suggests targeting areas where northern pike will hide — places with cooler water. Look for areas where cold-water streams and rivers flow into lakes or around springs.

The DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Perch anglers reported slow to fair fishing, with continued success fishing and drifting minnows. Walleye anglers in the upper bay caught small fish, with occasional keepers. Drifting and trolling harnesses or body baits were the main methods in use. Some larger fish were caught by anglers launching out of the Ford River.

Big Bay de Noc: Yellow perch fishing was fair to good. Perch minnows and worms worked well. Anglers reported smallmouth fishing as good in Ogontz and Garden Bays.

Marquette: Anglers reported the best places for catching lake trout were near the northwest side of the White Islands and trolling out toward Granite Island. Anglers trolling 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 as well at around 40 to 100 feet of water near the Chocolay River on toward Shot Point. Yellow tails, silver and pearl multicolored spoons, cow bells, and green and blue flasher flies were good lures for lake trout, while gold spoons, lime green crank baits, and moonshine glow spoons were good for Chinook and coho salmon.

Au Train: Due to high winds, fishing pressure was low. Anglers who made it out caught near their limit of lake trout, and a few big Chinooks. 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 around 160 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. Trolling or jigging bright green/silver spoons, or cow bells with sucker, smelt or white fish bellies were common baits. Green spin and glows at around 80 to 100 feet of water were successful for lake trout out by the clay banks.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers in both bays saw increased numbers of pink salmon and lake trout caught during fishing trips. Anglers came off Lake Superior with more successful trips in the mornings than in the afternoons. Anglers caught the most fish on a combination of spoons and flasher flies while trolling in about 100 feet of water. Some anglers reported success in shallower water; however, most fish were throughout the water column.

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Canal: Anglers reported large catches of pink salmon and lake trout, with some coho and Chinook salmon caught as well. Most anglers were successful when trolling as well as fishing a wide range of depths but focusing at around 80 feet of water. Larger catches of fish were reported during morning fishing trips. Anglers used artificial baits almost exclusively during these trips.

Ontonagon River: Fishing was slow, with average catches of walleye in low numbers. Both trolling and jigging were utilized by anglers and yielded similar levels of success. Recent rains caused deteriorated water conditions, possibly contributing to the slower bite that was reported.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Anglers found good numbers of lake trout along with some coho and Chinook salmon. Trolling artificial lures across a variety of depths was the key to successful trips. Anglers reported a broad dispersion of fish throughout the water column. All times of day yielded similar levels of success.

Black River Harbor: Those fishing from the harbor had good luck, with catches consisting primarily of lake trout. Occasional coho and Chinook salmon were caught in low numbers. Anglers found success at all times of day while trolling artificial lures across a variety of depths.