Outdoors report: Antlerless quotas set in Wisconsin, Michigan
Trending
IRON MOUNTAIN -- Beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, bonus antlerless harvest authorizations will be available for deer management units in Wisconsin’s Northern Forest Zones.
The permits may be purchased by using the DNR’s GoWild online licensing center or visiting a license sales location. Harvest authorizations can be purchased until sold out or the season ends.
Wisconsin bonus harvest authorizations are $5 for any person under age 12, $12 for residents and $20 for nonresidents.
Where available, permits may be purchased at the rate of one harvest authorization, per person, per day until the unit is sold out. Although harvest authorizations will not be weapon or season-specific, they will be unit and land-type -- public or private -- specific.
At purchase, hunters will be asked to identify the deer management zone and unit, and whether they want the harvest authorization valid for public or private lands.
In order to hunt antlerless deer on private lands enrolled in the Managed Forest Law and Forest Crop Law lands programs designated as open to public hunting as well as Voluntary Public Access lands, hunters must have a valid public land antlerless harvest authorization.
Area antlerless permit quotas include:
-- Unit 120 (Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas counties), 500 public land; 1,800 private land.
-- Unit 121 (Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas counties), 1,500 public; 2,000 private.
-- Unit 122 (Forest, Vilas counties), 600 public; 1,000 private.
-- Unit 123 (Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida counties, 1,500 public; 2,200 private.
-- Unit 124 (Florence, Forest, Oneida, Vilas counties), 650 public; 800 private.
-- Unit 125 (Florence, Forest, Marinette counties), 500 public; 2,650 private.
-- Unit 126 (Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties), 1,735 public; 3,180 private.
In the Central Farmland Zone of Marinette County, permits will be available beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18. The quota is 300 public land and 1,500 private land. Two Farmland Zone permits will be issued with each license.
More information can be found at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/deer.
***
Antlerless deer hunting access permits will not be available for the Upper Peninsula in 2026, the Michigan DNR reminds hunters.
Hunters planning to harvest an antlerless deer in the U.P. should be aware that universal antlerless licenses may only be used in the designated low-snowfall deer management units: 022, 122, 255, 155, 121 and 055.
Universal antlerless license use limits in those DMUs north of the Wisconsin border in the central U.P. are:
-- DMU 022: one license.
-- DMUs 122, 255, 155 and 121: up to two licenses each.
-- DMU 055: Up to five licenses.
Hunters may purchase up to 10 universal antlerless licenses, but the use limits restrict how many universal antlerless licenses may be used to harvest antlerless deer within individual DMUs. U.P. hunters still have the option to take antlerless deer in the early or late archery season using their single deer license or combo deer license.
The limits on the number of universal antlerless licenses that hunters may use within individual DMUs or counties is reviewed and published annually.
***
The Michigan DNR’s Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time Monday at the DNR Pocket Park classroom, located on the U.P. State Fairgrounds at 2401 12th Ave. North, Escanaba.
The panel is scheduled to receive an update on charter boat captain requirements and consider several resolutions addressing bat research, fishing and climate change and guiding on the Great Lakes in winter months.
***
The Michigan DNR reported this U.P. fishing activity:
Little Bay de Noc: Yellow perch anglers reported catching some fish near the Escanaba River and the reefs in the upper bay, though overall fishing was slow. Walleye anglers were able to find some fish near the weed beds. Some anglers headed south out of Escanaba in search of salmon. Chinook salmon anglers reported good fishing in Green Bay in water depths exceeding 100 feet. Spoons and trolling flies produced the best results.
Munising: Anglers who fished near the Anna River mouth reported catching a few splake, but the bite was slow overall. Boat anglers continued to do well for lake trout while trolling and jigging around Grand Island. Salmon fishing remained slow, though boat anglers caught a few Chinook salmon and coho salmon over the past week.
Marquette: Fishing conditions remained similar to the previous week, though fish appeared to be more difficult to locate. Lake trout anglers had to venture into deeper water to find fish, with many trolling north of White Rocks toward north of Granite Rock in depths ranging from 140 to over 300 feet of water. Anglers who found success were targeting deeper water this week compared to the previous week when fish were being caught closer to the surface. Three coho salmon were reportedly caught around 140 feet of water while trolling for lake trout.
Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported fair numbers of coho salmon and lake trout caught while trolling spoons and flasher and fly combinations in the top 40 to 80 feet of the water column. A few Chinook salmon and rainbow trout were also caught while trolling. Anglers reported slow action while jigging for whitefish and lake trout, with most fish being caught on natural presentations in waters around 180 feet.
Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers trolling near structure in 40 to 80 feet of water reported good numbers of lake trout and a few smaller Chinook salmon while using spoons and flasher and fly combinations. Anglers also reported catching small numbers of coho salmon. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported poor success with both natural and artificial baits, with a few fish being caught in 140 to 180 feet of water.
Manistique: Chinook salmon anglers fishing locally and not far from the launch reported an overall slow bite. Lake trout fishing was good in nearshore areas. However, Chinook salmon catches remained relatively low near South Point Aux Barques and points to the east. Anglers who traveled farther south toward Fairport reported marking more bait and fish. Rainbow trout were also caught.
Au Train: Anglers reported fishing in deeper waters 3 to 5 miles north to northwest of Au Train Island in 140 to 220 feet of water. They reached their limits of quality lake trout two days in a row but had to put in considerable effort, fishing around seven hours each day before locating fish. Once they found the fish, they experienced quick success. All lake trout held near the bottom this week, unlike the previous week when fish were suspended in the water column while feeding on insects.
Ontonagon River: Walleye were caught in fair numbers. Boat anglers continued to have success using both trolling and jigging techniques. Anglers fishing from shore reported catching walleye and rock bass in low to fair numbers.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Over the past week, angling effort from Ontonagon was fair. Effort from the Silver City and Union Bay access sites was much lower in comparison. Recent reports from anglers included catches of lake trout in fair numbers, along with less frequent catches of coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Trolling continued to produce the best results for boat anglers. Anglers reported catching fish across a variety of depths.
Black River Harbor: Recent reports from anglers included catches of lake trout and coho salmon in low to fair numbers. Trolling continued to be the best method for picking up these fish. Some anglers shifted their focus to deeper waters, while others reported still having success in shallower depths.
St. Ignace: Lake trout anglers reported that fish were difficult to locate while trolling spoons and flashers with Spin-N-Glos. Anglers were able to catch a few fish on each bait in 80 to 90 feet of water off the north side of Mackinac Island.
At the Pine River, anglers reported catching walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, and bullheads. Anglers harvested up to three walleye per trip, with many undersized fish being released.
Grand Marais: Boat anglers did well targeting lake trout when trolling and jigging for them. Boat anglers also reported catching a few coho salmon trolling. Fishing pressure was low off the breakwall.