Up North Progressive
Politics and commentary for Northern MichiganMichigan Natural Resources Commission Bans Archery Anterless Deer Harvest In The Upper Peninsula
Friday , 12, June 2015 DNR, Upper Peninsula 5 Comments
No anterless deer may be harvested in the Upper Peninsula for the 2015-2016 bow hunting season. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the ban on Thursday, June 11, in Monroe, Michigan, in an effort to help the deer population in the UP recover from successive winter die-offs. The anterless ban applies to hunters using the deer archery licenses and deer combo licenses. Anterless deer may still be harvested during the firearm season.
The past three winters in Michigan have deeply impacted deer populations in the Upper Peninsula. Deep snow and temperatures well below zero raised die-off levels to 40% in some areas. The harsh weather contributed to poor deer harvests by restricting hunter movement combined with the lack of animals available to kill. Over the past four years, between 5,000 and 6,500 anterless deer were harvested by archery hunters in the UP.
Banning anterless deer harvests was one of several options offered to the NRC by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The choice came down to two: Maintain current regulations, or ban anterless deer during archery season. One option eliminated by the commission in an earlier meeting was banning all deer hunting in the UP in 2015. That option was not considered by the commission because of the impact on local businesses that rely on deer hunting season to stay open.
Those holding private land anterless licenses in deer management units 055, 122, and 155 will still be permitted to hunt anterless deer.
Hunters holding deer and deer combo licenses can contact the DNR for a refund. The deadline for returning licenses is September 20. After that they are considered, used. To find out more about license refunds, contact the DNR by calling (517) 284-6047 or by email at MDNR-E-License@michigan.gov
Many hunters believe other options would benefit Michigan’s deer herd, such as banning the September youth hunt. How this proposed ban will affect the deer harvest in the UP and local business remains to be seen.
jim says: woods & water magazine ,had a story a few years back ,of a prison near or in marquette, mi where prison guards watched all winter long a pack of wolves killing deer and letting them just lay,if i remember the story, they were killing 2-3 deer a week and not eating them ,secondly,i have spent the last 20 years hunting the UP, i have owned property there and have known alot of other people that own property and tell of stories of what wolves have done to the deer on their property. In the early nineties the deer numbers work great in the up, the decline of the deer herd started when more and more wolves were being seen by local’s ,I personally experinced one hunting trip scouting a area in baraga county, where once was a good deer herd,you couldn’t find a deer let alone a track ,but every time you got out of my truck there was a wolve track.but don’t ask me, talk to all the local upper pennisula residents and ask how they feel about the wolves,I’m sure they would be more blunt to you and your idea’s on the wolves.!!!
jim says: up north progressive, your comment shows you know nothing about wolvws and how many deer a pack can kill.there has been countless stories of wolves killing yarded deer just for the pure fun fof it ,just like a dog in a chicken pen !
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Up North Progressive says:
Please share the links to these countless stories. I would love to read them.
Paul says: What about all of the wolves in the U.P. that helped dwindle the deer heard?Absolutely nothing was mentioned about that.
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“All the wolves?” There are less than 600 wolves currently struggling to survive in the UP right now. That works out to 10 per 1000 km sq. I seriously doubt wolves are having any real impact on deer herds in the state. If anything the wolves are helping keep the deer herds healthy by culling the sick and weak.
Please watch this informative video on the benefits wolves have on an ecosystem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q