Deer hunters in Michigan have until Nov. 30 to harvest whitetails with a firearm.
Many bowhunters were not lucky enough to fill their kill tags in October or early November. But, they can use the fifteen day firearm season to redeem themselves and still put some venison in their freezer.
MCCC student Andrew Miller, 19 of Monroe, was lucky enough to harvest a nice buck during bow season. He got the 8-point on the morning of Oct. 31 in Calhoun County. This was his first buck with a bow. Miller says he plans to keep hunting during rifle season in hopes of another.
In 2008, deer hunting in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan got a major change. All baiting of deer was permanently banned. The cause of the ban was a single deer that was found to have chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Kent County.
The era of pouring bags of carrots into the woods and waiting for deer to stroll into the all-you-can-eat buffet is apparently over. Violators are subject to penalties from a $50 fine to 90 days in jail.
The type of firearm Michigan deer hunters can use is based on what part of the state they live in. There is an imaginary line drawn across the counties of Muskegon, Kent, Montcalm, and Gratiot. Then the line goes north through Saginaw and Bay Counties. Hunters south of the line have to hunt with shotguns. North of the line, rifles may be used.
The air is getting frigid and the bucks are getting bold while chasing the does. Good luck to all the deer hunters who will be out in the woods this year.
