Tens of thousands of deer hunters are in Michigan’s woods and fields this weekend.
Michigan’s firearms deer season started today.
Russ Mason is the chief of the wildlife division of the Michigan DNR. He says the herd is still recovering from a virus that killed thousands of deer in 2012.
“(Bow) hunters are having pretty good reports seeing bigger bucks than they expected to see otherwise,” says Mason.
Firearm deer season also means “bigger” bucks for Michigan retailers.
Jay Poet is the president of Jay’s Sporting Goods. He says the run-up to firearms deer season is one of the biggest times of the year for his business.
Poet says cold weather is good for business, with hunters just as interested in buying warm clothing as they are ammo.
“Typically if it’s good and cold, and we’ve got frost and a little bit of snow, hunters love it but they have to dress for it,” says Poet.
High temperatures this weekend will range from the mid-30’s in southern Michigan to the low 20’s in the Upper Peninsula.
More than 3 feet of snow in parts of the Upper Peninsula is expected to discourage some hunters from venturing out this weekend.
