IRON MOUNTAIN — Hunters in Menominee County reported 859 bucks harvested during the opening days of the Michigan firearm deer season, the most in the Upper Peninsula.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, Delta County had the second-highest total at 499, followed by Marquette County, 282, and Iron County, 253, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ online deer harvest report summary.

Dickinson County’s total was 245. The highest buck harvest in the state was 1,310 in Sanilac County.

Menominee County also had the highest antlerless harvest in the U.P. at 154, followed by Delta, 62; Iron, 48; and Dickinson, 20.

Michigan hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer to another person, such as a processor. The 16-day season opened Wednesday.

During hunting seasons, the DNR strongly encourages nonhunters to wear bright colors, especially hunter orange, and be aware of their surroundings near woods or fields where hunting may occur.

Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season opened today with hundreds of bonus antlerless harvest authorizations still available in Florence County for private lands. More information is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/permits/bonusavailability.html.

The Wisconsin DNR expected harvest numbers to be down from a year ago, due to a lack of snow cover. However, deer movement associated with the end of the breeding season should help increase sightings, said DNR Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl.

In Wisconsin all harvested deer must be registered electronically by 5 p.m. the day after the deer is recovered. Hunters can also tell the DNR what they see afield with the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wlsurvey. The program provides data on hunter effort, relative abundance and distribution of deer and other wildlife observations.

Wisconsin’s 2024 state park and forest annual admission stickers and trail passes go on sale Friday. The DNR recommends purchasing stickers by Dec. 8 to receive them before the holidays.

Resident and nonresident annual admission stickers are available online and at individual state park and forest properties via drive-up window service, self-registration kiosks or over the phone. State trail passes are available only at individual properties or licensed vendors.

An annual vehicle admission sticker costs $28 for Wisconsin residents or $38 for nonresidents. If more than one vehicle is registered to the same household, additional vehicle stickers are available for $15.50 for residents and $20.50 for nonresidents. A senior citizen annual sticker is available for $13 for Wisconsin residents 65 and older.

Vehicle admission stickers provide access to more than 60 state parks, forests and recreation areas in Wisconsin.

Annual trail passes are $25 for both residents and nonresidents. A state trail pass is required for all people age 16 or older biking, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing or off-highway motorcycling on specific state trails. A state trail pass is not required for walking or hiking.

Tri-County Snowmobile and ORV Club will participate in the city of Norway’s Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 1. For information on joining, go to the club’s Facebook page.