Michigan's firearm deer season begins Monday; about 686,000 hunters expected this year

Published: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 3:15 AM

Michael Wayland | The Bay City Times

 

BAY CITY — Todd McNally stares through the scope on his rifle and within a minute, two shells fall to the floor.

 

Neither shot is a kill shot, but the 42-year-old Essexville resident doesn’t seem worried. Monday — the opening day of firearm deer season — is when the shots count.

“We’ve got a lot of activity up there,” says McNally, as he leaves the shooting range at Duncan’s Outdoor Shop in Bay City. “We’re planning to be pretty successful.”

McNally and his brother-in-law, Jimmy Rezmer, have hunted together for 25 years. This year their hunting spot is in Newberry, located along M-123 in the Upper Peninsula’s Luce County.

“It’s been a big trip we always do,” said Rezmer, 35, of Bay City. “We always look forward to this.”

The two will join thousands of other hunters throughout the state on Monday, as firearm season starts.

State officials estimate about 686,000 hunters will take to the fields and forests in pursuit of white-tails this year. The firearm season runs through Nov. 30.

 

Through Nov. 9, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment are reporting 1.05 million hunting licenses sold for firearm and archery seasons combined. Archery season began Oct. 1 and ends today. A second round of bow hunting is allowed from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1.

 

“We always have a huge surge the weekend before opening day,” said Mary Detloff, a spokeswoman for the DNRE.

Last year, the DNRE sold more than 1.6 million hunting licenses for firearm and bow seasons. It was the first increase in license sales since 2002.

“Our trend, in a lot of instances, has been about 1 percent fewer hunters per year since the mid-90s,” said Brent Rudolph, deer and elk program leader for the DNRE.
Rudolph said hunters can expect bucks in the Lower Peninsula to be in better condition and more visible than they have been the past few years because of an early spring.

Glenn Duncan, owner of Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, 501 Salzburg Ave., said rifle sales aren’t as good as two or three years ago, but the shop’s four rifle ranges — ranging from 50 to 200 yards — have attracted about 120 people per day, since mid-October.

 

“Last year was a good year and this year is looking like a good year,” said Duncan, whose parents, Charles and Pat, opened the store 50 years ago.

 

“We’re not having bad (rifle and shotgun) sales, but the manufacturers thought the sales were going to be higher this year.”

The lower-than-expected sales could have something to do with the popularity of crossbow sales.

Detloff, of the DNRE, said new crossbow hunting regulations, which allow more people the option of using the weapon, have helped increase the number of licenses sold. In the Lower Peninsula, hunters can use crossbows during archery and firearm seasons.

Marty Hornacek, co-owner of Northwoods Wholesale Outlet, 229 W. Fifth St. in Pinconning, said crossbow sales are strong this year. His store has sold more than 1,000 crossbows for this season.

“Hunting’s been unbelievable this year,” said Hornacek, who added 15 models of crossbows after last year’s hunting season. “The crossbow thing is still out of control.”

The DNRE estimates deer hunters contribute $1 billion annually to Michigan’s economy, spending money for gas, food, ammunition, licenses and other necessities for their sport.

 

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