Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

I was just in the UP last weekend and saw many bucks, mostly 3 and 4 pointers. As always though I am looking forward to getting up to the UP this year for the Rifle Season. My grandfather just passed away 6 days ago and I can attribute my joy of the outdoors mostly to him. Therefore, this year it will be very different to be in the woods without him to be able to go back to deer camp and tell him about what we all saw. I will miss you grandpa. Anyways....

To all you Michigan Hunters, this year has many changes for us. No baiting on the Lower Peninsula, and additional antler restrictions in the Upper Peninsula. Do you feel that we are going to have a productive year? Do you think the MDNR has a good plan? poor plan? or even a plan at all?

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

I hunt the U.P. in rifle season as well. I have yet to get up there to do any scouting, maybe next week. I think any year in Deer camp is a good one. We did real good last year, Took seven bucks in our group of 11 guys. As for the Baiting ban, It has a lot of hunters upset. good, bad, right or wrong choice? Who knows. Time will tell. Hope you have a great year in da woods. Where about do you hunt? We hunt by School craft and Alger counties.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Lots of bucks on the meat pole, but it doesn't look like therewere any antler restrictions in place.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

I am extremely excited about the antler restrictions. It's about damn time they did something. Michigan is bordered by three of best states in the country for bucks, but yet they refuse to take any direction from out of state sources. The antler restrictions are just a small fraction of the puzzle, but it is a start. IMO, for the antler restrictions to work, we need to start registering deer. There is no way to keep tabs on the deer being shot otherwise. Doe harvest also needs to be increased.

As far as this year goes, I think it will be the same as any other year, as far as buck sightings go, but in the coming years, antler quality should improve.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

I believe the UP will turn into the "place to be" for deer hunting in a couple of years. The DNR has a long ways to go in management practices, but this is a good start. I hope that we stay cwd free down here in the lower half, and that the DNR start to implement some sort of management in our area.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Your point is? From left to right..8 pt. 4.5 yr. old, 10 pt. 2.5 yr., 3 pt. 1.5 yr., 7 pt. 1.5 yr., 8 pt. 1.5 yr., 6 pt. 1.5 yr., spike, ?..I would love to see antler restrictions in Mich. but they are legal. and for the record I don't have one hanging on that pole..I had tag soup last year. There's one on that pole that I would have shot..But, some of these are their first deer ever shot..andthis area has NODoe hunting.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

To show you how the buck pole picdoesn't do the rack size justice, here is a pic of the bigger one on the left..

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Sure hope we have a good season in the U.P., we been hunting the Stonington area for 15 years now and have taken some decent bucks and a lot of does. Hey stoningtonwhite tail just kind of weird to see someone mention Stonington and then to see you are from Howell. Howell area is where I bowhunt. Good luck to ya this coming season.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Hey rcgerchow

good to see that you have something in common. My grandfather bought property at the tip of Stonington in the 40's he hunted on the point since then, I started hunting there in the 90's and will be my 18th year there. We have property right on Wilsey Bay. I live on Howell and do my Bow Hunting here. I havent been out yet, but thats because my grandpa just died and was dealing with all of that, I hope to get out not this weekend but next. I hunt up in Oak Grove State Game Area. Anyways good to hear from you and good luck in the woods this year!!

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

We hunt in Delta County at the tip of Stonington Peninsula. Before you get to Rapid River turn off on 513 highway. GREAT HUNTING ON THE POINT!!!!

Hope you have a great year in the woods as well...

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

GREAT BUCK, got one like this on Stonington back in 2005....

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Good looking buck, haven't seen many like that, a few but not many. We used to hunt Wilsey bay at Wicklunds down at the end of the road. The property got divided up amongst family and we hunt the other side on Deerfield south of Dutchmans point. Are you anywhere near Hazens place (used to be an Oakland County Sherrif)? Did that buck come from back on the federal land behind your place. Seems like most brusiers we saw were in that area.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

In his post he said "additional antler restrictions", therefore it was implied there were restrictions in place. Looking at the picture it looked to me there were two or three spikes, instead of just one on the meatpole. Othewise I could care less what size deer you shoot.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Hazen's place....how funny...that was my grandpa...he died on Friday. Leo Hazen, he was undersheriff in Oakland County Yes. I hunt behind my grandpa's place back on the federal land. I started going up there when I was 2 years old, still hard to believe that he really is gone....this year will be very strange to be back in the cedar swamps without being able to tell him what we see. Its been two years since I have seen anything big, mostly 3-6 pointers. My brother-in-law spend opening week up there each year. So you used to hunt Wicklunds huh? my grandpa used to hunt the federal 40 land locked between their property. But not they have just taken that 40 over as well, grandpa was the last one to be able to hunt that property. How do you know the wicklunds? Their house on the bay is looking pretty sad, ever since they moved Dick into Rapid River. WOW how strange to find someone who hunted so close to us.

That wasnt a picture of my buck, just someone else's post, but my buck from 2005 came from back deep in the federal and was heading south, shot him at 7:45 am on opening day...have him wall mounted in my house...dressed out at 180 lbs....

How is the hunting near Dutchman? Do you hunt federal...private? I found 30 acres for sale around there last year, I was thinking of buying it but it sold VERY fast.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Antler restrictions didnt start until this year, they must have one antler with 3 or more points on it, second license is restricted to 4 points or better.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Antler restrictions were always in place, but only for the second deer, 4 points on one side for the restricted license....now its as you stated...I am excited about it...I only shot a few smaller bucks and that was usually for my grandpa so he had fresh venison, if I didnt have a doe tag...

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

I knew your grandfather and am sorry to hear he is gone. Used to see him on his four wheeler heading back to the federal land. I could almost set my watch by what time he came and went as I sat in my blind. We started hunting with Louie Wicklund in 94. I just happened to run across an ad for deer hunting and called him. One of my hunting buddies always wanted to hunt the U.P. and my family was from the Lanse area and if we hunted up there I would be socializing while everyone else was hunting. Well I called Louie and we talked for over 2 hrs. After our 1st trip there he said he wouldn't have any other hunters except us. They have become like family to us and we have even spent some time up there during the summer. In fact the cabin we stay in was the old cabin your grandfather owned and Louie bought and moved it to the lake. He sold it a couple years back to a guy in Chicago and we now rent it from him. Louies Dad has had some medical problems and had to move in closer for medical and family help. Hey we are a bunch of old timers now, but if your up there during opening week stop buy for a cold one.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

WOW...what a small world...thank you for your kind words...he was a GREAT man...grandpa was very predictable...its interesting to hear that you could "clock" him.....so you rent the old cabin? My bedroom was the one off of the living room. I spent many of summers (fishing), spring (smelt dipping) andnovembers (hunting) in that cabin.... My grandfather gave the cabin to Louie, in trade for Louie to paint their new house. I loved that cabin, it was a sight to see when the moved that thing from Wilsey Bay to Little Bay. WOW I still cant believe what a coincidence this is...Is the cabin still bluey gray in color?

Yes Louies Dad (Dick) is not doing great, Louies Wife came to Grandpa's funeral, they are good people!

Speaking of cold ones...do you ever go to the Hunters ball? We didnt used to go, but have gone the past 3 or 4 years. So when does your crew get up there for the season? We can for sure stop by for a cold one....

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Cabin is still a blue grey color. We used to do the Hunters ball back when Louie owned Boondockers, but haven't done it for awhile. Louie likes to come down to the cabin and eat dinner with us (I cook) and then have some beers yah know. This year we will get in Thursday morning the 13th and set up blinds and finish up Friday. We will probably head back on the 19th. One of group had to start a new job this year and doesn't have a ton of vacation time. I still work and 1 guy is retired and the other is semi retired. Diane (Louieswife)is just a great lady, she came to dinner when we first started at the cabin, She couldn't believe it we had a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings. That was back when we used to bowhunt for 3-4 days before gun season. Hope you can stop by, this has been real interesting posting back and forth with you. Good luck this season and hope yah get a Booner eh. We got some great stories from years past and about the only time they are told is at deer camp, so come on by have a beer and hear some stories that will make you laugh till you cry.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

yes it was interesting posting back and forth....sounds like you are going to be up there about the same time we are, we are driving up after work on Thursday (13th) and prep the blinds on Friday. Dont have a plan yet of when we go home, either until we both get a buck or or wife's start getting restless with our kids...ha! Good luck to you this year too! When I was driving around last weekend, I saw a really nice buck off of New Wilsey Bay Lane, it was back on a fence line following some young deer...anyways thanks for the posts...and we will try to stop by during the week...

nice to have met you

Tom

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

the age group of ourcamp is 14 yr. to 78..I'll tell Grampa that he can't shoot nothing but a 4 or five year old this year..LMAO..

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

This doesn't compare to your cabin thing, but I am from Pinckney and have a brother in Howell. Family all over the area. I was a kid when we moved to Kansas around thirty years ago. Still get back to that area about once a year to visit though, never during deer season. Schedule won't permit that.

RE: Upper Peninsula Hunting
 

Good to hear from you Father Forkhorn, no it doesnt compare to the cabin thing, but still a small world that you chose this thread to read and were from Pinckney...

Just was out in Pinckney tonight scouting....didnt see much sign and only one spooked deer, got out of work to late to hunt so decided to take my oldest boy out for the scouting experience...