DNR file photo Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials are optimistic about deer hunting prospects this year.

ESCANABA — With Michigan’s 2020 regular firearm deer season on the horizon, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Escanaba Customer Service Center Wildlife Biologist Karen Sexton said hunters in the area have reason to be optimistic this November.

“In general, most of our indicators are pointing towards a good deer hunting season within the south-central Upper Peninsula,” she said, adding the DNR expects the upcoming season to be similar to or better than 2019’s.

One indicator leading the DNR to this conclusion is feedback shared by farmers in Delta and Menominee counties.

“Most of those farmers are reporting average to above-average numbers of deer seen in the field,” Sexton said.

Similar reports have been shared by loggers and other people in the forest products industry.

Farmer deer permit numbers have also been up in 2020.

“This year is the highest number of permits we’ve issued in the last five years, and this tends to be a good predictor of our deer season,” Sexton said.

Normally, the DNR conducts a spring adult deer-to-fawn survey each year. This survey helps the department develop its understanding of over-winter survival rates for deer.

“Due to the stay-at-home orders that were in place during that time period, we were not able to conduct that survey,” Sexton said.

In June, DNR field staff members began returning to the field and did some informal assessments of deer herds and fawns in the area. Sexton said their observations suggested a strong deer population in the area and an average number of fawns produced this year.

Sexton said food sources for deer have been good in 2020.

“Acorn production looks to be fantastic this year,” she said.

While soft mast has been more abundant in some areas than others, soft mast production has been good on the whole.

Sexton also noted that farmers have commented that more soybeans and corn are present on the landscape than was the case in 2019.

“Sometimes, this results in deer spreading out across the farming region,” she said.

Additionally, hunters seeking older bucks this fall may be in luck.

“Hunters doing some early scouting with trail cameras have shared comments about varied antler sizes, potentially indicating a diverse age class in Delta and Menominee counties for 2020,” Sexton said.

Hunters are advised to expect some changes to the deer check process.

“The DNR has reduced days and hours of operation at deer check stations,” Sexton said.

This decision was made in the interest of lowering risks to hunters and DNR staff members during the COVID-19 pandemic. People should expect slower operations and longer wait times at deer check stations.

As DNR offices are still closed due to COVID-19, most deer check stations in the U.P. will not be open until November. For a list of dates and times, visit michigan.gov/deercheck.

“DNR staff will be wearing masks and abiding by social distancing guidelines, and we are hopeful that hunters will practice the same,” Sexton said.