By Louie Stout
Deer gun opener lookin good - Photo by Steve PriceIf you havent oiled or sighted the gun, aired out the hunting clothes, or scouted a place to deer hunt, you may be making a mistake.
The firearms season opens next weekend in both states.
Despite Indiana biologists cautions of a smaller herd this year, reports of good numbers of bow season deer have been coming into check stations.
Thats not to say todays deer populations match the good ol days, but it sounds as though theyre coming back and hunting conditions are setting up well for hunters on both sides of the state line.
This is one of those rare years when the gun season opens the same day in Michigan and Indiana. And from reports from bow hunters, its been pretty good of late.
Crops are coming out of the fields and the deer are moving into the woods. Acorns have been plentiful this fall and that has helped hunters set up their stands in strategic areas.
Wildlife biologist Ken Kesson of Crane Pond Game Area in Jones, Mich. says hunters should look for areas with acorns, but notes that the pre-rut is starting to kick in and therefore the deer will become more unpredictable.
Deer processors around South Bend say the fall has produced quite a few deer and some big ones.
Were seeing some real nice racks some 8 to 12 pointers already, says Jim Aldrich of Jaworskis Meats in South Bend. Were seeing quality deer this fall that we didnt see last year.
Steve Gill at DC Meats in Osceola agrees.
Were getting bigger deer; weve had some exceed 230 pounds and some bucks with nice racks, he described. I noticed their necks are starting to swell, an indication the rut is coming on.
Gill also said hes not hearing the complaining from deer hunters as he has in years past.
Kesson, a hunter as well as a biologist, says hes seeing a lot of deer in southwest Michigan, a sign its starting to recover from the deadly outbreak of the EHD virus a few years ago. The deer have been remarkably heavy and healthy.
The areas that were hit hardest by EHD may be slower coming back, but I think this is shaping up to be a good deer season, he said. And Im seeing quite a few fawns, which indicates the reproduction was good.
Hunters are reminded of deer check-in policies. Its mandatory in Indiana. Hunters can report their deer at a check station, online or with a smart phone.
Gill said hes been informed by the Indiana DNR that this will be the last year of check stations and that hunters will be required to check all of their deer online starting in the fall of 2015.
Check-in is voluntary in Michigan. Click here for complete listing.