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Deer season expected to mirror 2018

Jordan Beck | Daily Press Michigan Department of Natural Resources Escanaba Customer Service Center Wildlife Biologist Karen Sexton, right, and Wildlife Assistant Leah Kainulainen set up a sign outside the customer service center Thursday. Today marks the first day of Michigan’s 2019 regular firearm deer season.

ESCANABA — Today marks the first day of Michigan’s 2019 regular firearm deer season. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Escanaba Customer Service Center Wildlife Biologist Karen Sexton said the DNR is expecting the hunt to be in line with the 2018 and 2017 seasons locally.

“We should be around the 20-year average for buck harvest,” Sexton said.

Roughly 30,500 bucks were harvested across the Upper Peninsula in 2018. A similar number was seen in 2017.

Early anecdotal evidence — specifically, deer checked at the Escanaba Customer Service Center during archery season — has also provided signs for optimism about the local deer population this year.

“We’ve been (seeing) some nice bucks come in,” Sexton said, noting hunters have spoken about seeing plenty of deer.

According to Sexton, these predictions and findings apply to the south-central Upper Peninsula, which she defined as southern Delta County, most of Menominee County and southern Dickinson County. Hunters in the northern U.P. may not be as successful this fall.

“There is a possibility that last winter had (an) impact, and so we might not see that year-and-a-half age class,” Sexton said.

Weather is also an important factor in determining the course of a hunting season. The recent light snowfall seen locally should be a boon to hunters, Sexton said.

“Snow on the ground provides some ease in tracking deer,” she said.

The relatively low temperatures expected in the area over the weekend should be ideal, as well.

“Folks can keep their deer hanging at camp a little while longer than if it were warm,” Sexton said.

On Wednesday, Michigan’s Senate narrowly passed a bill that will repeal the state’s controversial deer baiting ban. Since the bill was amended, however, it must get final concurrence in the House of Representatives — which is currently on a three-week break for the hunting season and Thanksgiving. It also requires Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature — who has gone on record as opposing the move.

“All the regulations are still in place for the 2019 season,” Sexton said.

The ban remains in effect across the entire Lower Peninsula and in the DNR’s core CWD surveillance area in the U.P.

The DNR continues to ask hunters in the core area to donate the heads of deer they have harvested for CWD testing.

“We’re still … hopeful for hunter cooperation,” Sexton said.

Over 800 deer heads were submitted for testing last year. For 2019, the DNR is aiming to test about 2,600 deer.

Hunters in the core area who want to submit deer heads for testing can do so at a number of locations.

“There’s nine 24-hour self-serve drop boxes,” Sexton said.

Additionally, hunters can drop their deer heads off at staffed deer check stations. For more information, including locations and hours, visit michigan.gov/deercheck.

Sexton wished people planning to go hunting this November well.

“We hope hunters have an enjoyable and safe firearm season,” she said.

The Escanaba Customer Service Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for most days during the firearm deer season. It will be closed on Sunday, Nov. 24 and Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1.

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