MUSKEGON COUNTY (WZZM) - It's about time!
Michigan's firearm deer season opens at first light on Sunday and nearly 700,000 hunters are expected to participate in the 15-day hunt. DNR biologist Nik Kalejs gives his best opening day prediction.
"Expect high hunting pressure in the first few days of the season," said Kalejs. "After that, you may have to look more in areas that are a little less traveled..."
The 2009 hunt could be a good one for hunters, but Kalejs says every year is unique, with many contributing factors.
"The expectation is that the harvest will be similar to what has been taken in the last years...always unpredictable."
The hunt may be more of a challenge this year, because of the large amounts of corn still standing in Michigan farm fields. It provides fabulous cover for the deer and it is difficult to hunt in a large corn field. That can depress hunting success.
What hasn't changed is a ban on baiting, putting a damper on what had been big business at Tri-County Feed. The entire lower peninsula is closed to feeding and baiting of deer for hunting purposes. The ban is to prevent any possible spread of chronic wasting disease. The baiting ban means Marty Dahl at Tri-County Feed sells 80% fewer bags of bulk produce.
"It has hurt," said Dahl. "We just tighten our belt."
The deer herds in Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties are still above desired management levels, so the odds should favor hunters.
The DNR encourages all hunters to take their deer to a check station so biologists can monitor the health of Michigan's deer herd. In a nine-township surveillance zone in northwest Kent County deer are required to be tested for chronic wasting disease.
Jon Mills
In your voice
