Didn't see a deer between two hunters for WI rifle season. Same for the Muzzle loader Season.
Do think poaching is the problem.
I will be Muzzle loading MI starting tomorrow.
JW
I don't think they are poaching enough deer to ruin a season. Maybe to many tags, to fight CWD? UP is full of wolves too, and more snow.
Deer populations can be very microsystems.
Also to be honest, in areas where bait has been banned, it makes seeing deer harder. Much of UP and northern WI can be heavy bush, where it is hard to shot past 30 yards. So seeing deer can be tough.
I didn't muzzle load this year. I wonder if early snow got them migrating. Though if you find the migration trails they say you can do well. Local sportsman club by me created a deer yard. So there are deer all year.