Outdoors report: Menominee County paces UP archery deer harvest
IRON MOUNTAIN — Menominee County has the highest deer harvest total in the Upper Peninsula so far during the archery season that began Oct. 1.
As of Friday afternoon, the Menominee County total was 524 deer, followed by Delta County, 304, and Dickinson, 208. The antlered harvest totals were Menominee, 290; Delta, 189; and Dickinson, 101.
Iron County’s total was 111 deer, including 59 antlered, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ online harvest report.
During the 2024 early segment of the archery season, Menominee County’s total harvest was 1,113 deer, while Delta’s was 700 and Dickinson’s was 503. The early segment of the archery season continues through Nov. 14, as the Michigan firearm deer season opener is Nov. 15.
Statewide, the county with the highest 2025 archery harvest total to date was Saginaw at 847.
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The Wisconsin DNR reminds spearers interested in harvesting a lake sturgeon from Lake Winnebago during the 2026 sturgeon spearing season to purchase their license before Oct. 31.
There are an unlimited number of licenses available for Lake Winnebago, and both residents and nonresidents can purchase a license through the Go Wild system or at any license sales location.
The Upriver Lakes fishery — lakes Poygan, Butte des Morts and Winneconne — is managed by a preference point system and lottery that is limited to 500 permitted spearers.
The 2026 sturgeon spearing season will open on Feb. 14 and will run for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the predetermined harvest caps are met.
A resident spearing license is $20 while the nonresident fee is $65.
For more, go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/sturgeon/WinnSysSturgeonSpear.
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The Michigan DNR reported this U.P. fishing activity:
Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting smallmouth bass used sucker minnows or artificial baits with minnow profiles, fished near the bottom. Although bass anglers reported a slow week of fishing in the upper bay, some quality fish were caught. Anglers targeting walleye reported low catch rates, with some struggling to catch even one; those who persisted did manage to enjoy limited success. Overall, walleye fishing was for those trolling harnesses or crankbaits. Anglers casting snap-style jigs also struggled. They said their electronics indicated that walleye were scattered and did not identify any real concentration. Yellow perch anglers reported slow fishing but anticipated a better bite as water temperatures cooled down.
Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth bass anglers primarily fished along the Garden Peninsula, near Fayette and Garden Bay. They mainly fished the bottoms of drop-offs. However, some reported contacting a few bass in areas that warmed up during the sunny days. This led to fishing deeper and dragging sucker minnows or goby imitation baits slowly near or on the bottom.
Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported fair salmon fishing. Coho salmon were caught while trolling spoons, crankbaits, and flasher/flies in the upper portions of the water column within the bays and around river mouths. Boat anglers also reported catches of lake trout, rainbow trout, and splake. Shore anglers had some success catching coho salmon and splake.
Marquette: Anglers reported catching coho salmon on the break wall. It seemed like most of the fish were finally starting to move into shallower water as the temperature continued to drop. Coho salmon and steelhead were caught at the mouths of the rivers by surf fishermen and along the banks.
Munising: The coho salmon bite slowed down a bit. Boat anglers did decent on coho salmon while trolling the bay at shallow depths. Anglers at the mouth of the Anna River caught coho salmon, splake, and the occasional rainbow trout. They had the most success casting spoons and spinners or using spawn.




