Michigan’s deer opener is just around the corner
Outdoors report
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Michigan’s 16-day firearm deer season opens Sunday, Nov. 15, with no snow other than possible flurries predicted locally in the meantime.
At this point, the opening day forecast is sunny with a high near 48 degrees.
To ensure a safe season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has shared a list of best practices to help hunters avoid the most common violations conservation officers see every year.
Properly license, tag your deer
You may purchase your license and tags by using the DNR Hunt Fish app, which you can download onto your mobile device. Your license and tags will be available immediately in digital format on the app.
You can also purchase your license and tags at a DNR Customer Service Center or a DNR retail location.
If you purchased your license and tags through the eLicense website, they will arrive in the mail and must be carried afield.
Before field dressing or moving a deer, physical kill tags must be filled out to include the month and date the deer was harvested, animal gender and number of antler points, if any. These tags must be properly placed on the deer. Stick the tag to a piece of string, wire or a zip tie that can be attached to the deer.
If you purchased tags through the DNR HuntFish App, the tags must be immediately validated using the app on your mobile device before moving the deer. Cellular service is not required to do this.
Remember that reporting your deer within 72 hours of harvest is just as important as tagging it. Current regulations are available on the DNR Hunt Fish app.
Know your firearm
If it's been a while since you used your firearm, consider visiting a local shooting range to practice.
When transporting your firearm, be sure it is unloaded in both the barrel and magazine, and is enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle.
Identify your target
Know the area you'll be hunting, including nearby buildings and properties. No one may hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied structure, including buildings, dwellings, homes, residences, cabins, barns or structures used for farm operations unless they have permission from the landowner.
Respect landowner rights
Always respect posted "no trespassing" signs and property boundaries. If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowner's permission. Conservation officers usually are contacted when trespass disagreements escalate and a resolution cannot be reached.
If you're planning to hunt near someone else's property, contact the landowner ahead of time; don’t wait until you’re tracking game. Most of the time, a friendly call or visit to your neighbor will remedy the situation.
And remember, all hunting regulations apply on private property.
Share public land
Research and scout the land you plan to hunt before opening day. Keep in mind that state-managed land is a popular place to hunt.
Conservation officers often respond to confrontations over hunting spots, blocking of roads and illegally posting "no trespassing" or "no hunting" signs on state-managed public land. Public land cannot be posted or reserved.
A person placing a tree stand or ground blind that is left overnight on public land must have one of the following affixed in legible English that can easily be read from the ground: their name and address, complete driver's license number or DNR Sportcard number. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts.
Leave the land better than you found it
"Leave no trace" and follow other Recreate Responsibly principles while hunting. Whatever is brought into the woods must be taken back out.
Wear hunter orange
Between Nov. 15-30, deer hunters, including those using archery equipment, are required by law to wear a hunter orange cap, hat, vest, jacket or raincoat. Orange must be worn on the outermost layer of clothing at all times and be visible from all directions, regardless of hunting on private or shared public land, and even when hunting from within a blind.
Hunter orange garments may have a camouflage pattern if the pattern is at least 50% hunter orange.
Follow baiting regulations
Deer baiting is not permitted in the Lower Peninsula.
In the Upper Peninsula, baiting may occur from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed 2 gallons. Bait must be spread on the ground and in an area that measures a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet or its equivalent.
Use bait sparingly to help curb the spread of diseases like bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
Hunt during legal hours
During firearm season, a hunter may legally shoot game starting 30 minutes before local sunrise and until 30 minutes after local sunset.
For more information on the firearm deer season, go to Michigan.gov/Hunting.
Wisconsin’s nine-day gun dear season opens Saturday, Nov. 21.
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The Michigan DNR’s weekly fishing report will be temporarily suspended after this weekend. Early next year, when ice fishing picks up, reports may resume. The DNR reported this U.P. activity:
Little Bay de Noc: Angling activity was limited due to weather conditions. Anglers fishing the upper bay reported fair yellow perch fishing alongside slower walleye action. Walleye anglers targeted drop-offs near the Escanaba River, along the east bank, and near Saunders Point. Anglers casted snap-style jigs similar to jigging raps, typically removing the front treble hook to allow bottom contact with fewer snags. Jig heads tipped with minnows produced some fish.
Manistique: Steelhead angling was fair to good. Most shore anglers reported catching multiple fish while drift fishing egg-pattern lures in orange, pink, and chartreuse. Anglers reported catching a variety of year classes, with the average size of rainbow trout trending smaller.