Deer Gun Opener Lookin’ Good

By Louie Stout

Deer gun opener lookin’ good - Photo by Steve PriceIf you haven’t 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.

That’s not to say today’s deer populations match the good ol’ days, but it sounds as though they’re 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, it’s 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.

“We’re seeing some real nice racks – some 8 to 12 pointers already,” says Jim Aldrich of Jaworski’s Meats in South Bend. “We’re seeing quality deer this fall that we didn’t see last year.”

Steve Gill at DC Meats in Osceola agrees.

“We’re getting bigger deer; we’ve 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 he’s not hearing the complaining from deer hunters as he has in years past.

Kesson, a hunter as well as a biologist, says he’s seeing a lot of deer in southwest Michigan, a sign it’s 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 I’m seeing quite a few fawns, which indicates the reproduction was good.”

Hunters are reminded of deer check-in policies. It’s mandatory in Indiana. Hunters can report their deer at a check station, online or with a smart phone.

Gill said he’s 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.