Michigan Hunters

[Michihunter]

Is anyone else disgusted with the way the DNR has handled the deer herd here in MI? I've been hunting in the NE Lower Peninsula for 25 years and it has gone from bad to worse in the last 5 years. They purport 1.8 million deer in the state but I can't tell from where I hunt. This past season really took the cake. I was up in my hunt area 3 different times and saw maybe 4 deer in a total of 18 days. During gun season my son and I spent 10 days each hunting and saw 0 deer. Now I'm talking about private property of 40 acres and land that has produced at least 2 deer every year I have hunted there. My cousin called me yesterday and reported not seeing any tracks even. And that's with 8" of snow to help find any sign. This is not just an isolated problem either. The reports I've gotten from other hunters in the area back up my statement of saying there just aren't too many deer left in what was once known as the hottest spot in Michigan. The TB zone has always been known to produce plenty of deer. But now with the limitless doe permits, the late season firearms hunt, the youth hunt and everything else, the DNR has finally culled the herd to dreadful numbers. The businesses that rely on hunters are suffering as well. I'm personally looking for somewhere else to hunt because of this and I'm sure that a lot of other hunters are doing the same. What are we going to do about this fella's? Any suggestions?

[Michihunter]

So can I assume there are no other Michigan hunters here? :huh:

[DonDeere]

...I am from the far SW corner of michigan, but have heard the story you tell from many who have gone north for deer hunting for decades :(

...there is no doubt that the DNR or "someone" is badly managing the herd from that region...

...there is no question that the overkill of does in the region have taken it's toll on the population...

...it may not stop until the State realizes(too late) that the income from the sale of Licenses is also becoming extinct...

...of course the appropriate method to take when they realize that will be to rasie taxes :roll: ...

[Michihunter]

DonDeere- What do you think the possiblities are that wolves are responsible for a lot of the kills in the NE Lower? I'm sure you're aware that there has been several sightings recently. And I know first hand that there are a mess of yotes up that way. Do you think that they might also be lending a hand in the drop in numbers?

[28lx]

I don't think you would be able to notice the loss of deer Wolves or Coyotes would take down in a healthy deer herd. However if your local herd is already in bad shape it may make a difference. I also live in SW Michigan where the deer are very plentiful. I am concerned about the current doe a day private land licenses though. To many people are eventually going to kill too many does and we will be in bad shape state wide. I am all for a one buck a year limit as in one with a bow or one with a gun but only one total per year with antler restrictions and maybe two does a year combined seasons. Smaller DMU'S would also help the DNR manage the herd more effectively.

[DonDeere]

...MIchiHunter...I'm with 28LX on this one...generally I feel a good healthy herd can survive well enough the ravages of other predators besides man!!...

...I feel as well as it has to do with managment through "managing sources" such as the DNR and permit or license offering's...it's all about management :wink:

[michigan man]

i am from west michigan area.I am from a active bowhunting family,and we did see a few deer this year.I also had two brothers who hunted most days this year.Since they allowed the late season doe kill in west michigan ,the deer herd has really dropped.The past two years we havent had a late doe season,but the one a day doe permits has got to go.Why is it our state dnr has got to just about reduce the herd in some areas to nothing.
we have checked with guys from gun hunting groups in baldwin area,reporting very few deer sightings,and that group had 32 guys from that area taking 2 deer in 10 days.some reprts from the upper are even worse,with little or no deer seen,and vey few tracks in snow .
so the question is what can we do to get our state dnr on the right tract,jim in muskegon??????????

[Michihunter]

Well the first thing I think we need to do is to get a consolidated effort from Michigan Hunters to question the DNR and its practices. The one a day doe permit is something that needs to be abolished. The fact that the herd is being eradicated in some areas is definitely horrendous. The TB issue can no longer be a tool used to deploy these tactics. The TB occurences have not declined all that much. The herd in the NE portion of the Lower Peninsula has nearly been eradicated and the $$$ attributed to hunting in this area have dwindled to numbers never seen before. It's hurting everybody in that area. I have been hunting 25 years in the Presque Isle area and I have never seen it this bad. I'm open to all suggestions.