Firearm deer season is underway

Hundreds of thousands of hunters began their quest for whitetail deer across Michigan this weekend, the start of the annual firearms season. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Deer and Elk Program Leader, Brent Rudolph, says they expect nearly 600-thousand to take part during the 16-day season, and reminds them that they are required to wear some form of blaze orange clothing while in the woods. He also urges hunters to use common sense and know what they are shooting at when they spy a target, don’t transport loaded weapons in vehicles, know the law for baiting and feeding deer in your region and obey  “no tresspassing” signs to avoid a confrontation with property owners or officers. Hunters are allowed to hunt on private lands that have been listed by the D-N-R. Officials also encourage hunters to have deer heads checked  for Bovine T-B, especially in Northeastern Lower Michigan. Rudolph also says hunters should once again have plenty of opportunities for prey everywhere in the state, and that D-N-R officers will be available in all regions to check animals once they are taken. Michigan’s firearms season runs each day just after sunrise until just after sundown. It ends on Sunday, November 30th. Overall, about 700-thousand individuals have purchased licences to hunt deer in Michigan this year, between October 1st and December 31st. The D-N-R estimates hunters will take more than 400-thousand deer from  archery, firearms and muzzleloader hunts. Over 300,000 hunters participate in archery season and about 200-thousand hunt with a muzzleloader each year.  (MRN)