Hunters in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin now have some snow for the end of gun deer season. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources photo)

Colder weather and snow cover might bode well for the closing days of the Michigan and Wisconsin deer seasons that run through Sunday.

Michigan’s 16-day firearm season began Nov. 15, while Wisconsin’s nine-day gun hunt opened Saturday.

Wisconsin hunters registered 3.9% more deer during the opening weekend of this year’s gun season than in 2024, according to preliminary harvest totals released by the DNR.

In total, hunters registered 90,671 deer statewide during Wisconsin’s opening weekend, compared with 87,248 registered for the same period in 2024. Despite being up from a year ago, it was 1.1% below the five-year average, the DNR said.

The number of deer hunters has stayed nearly constant. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, sales for Wisconsin deer hunting privileges — which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses — reached 777,843, down 0.03% from the same time last year. Of those, 538,865 were for gun privileges only, which include gun, conservation patron and sports licenses.

Hunters registered a total of 48,748 antlered deer on opening weekend, compared with 48,063 in 2024, a 1.4% increase, the DNR said. The antlerless harvest was 41,923, which was up 7% from last year.

In Deer Management Unit 125 in Florence and Marinette counties — north of U.S. 8 and Marinette County K and east of Highway 101 extending to the Michigan border — the DNR reported a preliminary opening weekend harvest of 527 antlered deer and 176 antlerless.

In DMU 124 in Florence and Forest counties — north of U.S. 8, west of Highway 101 and east of Highways 32 and 70 — the reported opening weekend harvest was 277 antlered and 78 antlerless.

DMUs in the Northern Forest Zone have been updated this year, converting to habitat-based units as opposed to county-based.

In Michigan, the DNR as of Wednesday reported a statewide firearm harvest total of 71,664 antlered deer and 35,773 antlerless. Menominee County was the leader in the Upper Peninsula with a total of 2,602 — 1,955 antlered and 647 antlerless.

Conditions for the opening weekend of the Wisconsin hunt were mostly favorable, the DNR said. Mornings were cool and quiet, with gusty winds reported in the afternoon in some areas of the state.

There was, however, a lack of snow cover and warmer temperatures in the afternoons, resulting in less hunter and deer movement. There were some reports of bucks still on the move in search of does, the DNR said. Breeding activity, which can enhance daytime deer movement, for the most part declined noticeably in the days leading up to the weekend.

The Wisconsin DNR reported two firearm-involved hunting incidents that occurred Saturday:

— In Grant County, in the afternoon hours, a 57-year-old male was shot in the buttock while walking to a field to go deer hunting. The victim was transported to the hospital and treated for injury. An investigation continues.

— In Fond du Lac County, in the evening hours, a 24-year-old male deer hunter was a victim of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest. Family found the victim dead several hours after the close of hunting hours on private property. Preliminary investigation reflects the man was in a tree, hunting from a saddle stand, when the unintentional discharge of the firearm occurred.

During the 2024 nine-day gun deer season, the Wisconsin DNR reported one firearm-involved hunting incident resulting in injury.

———

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.