Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Deer camps were busy over the weekend with the sound of preparation and revelry, all in anticipation of the beginning of 2021 rifle season. That officially got underway at daybreak this morning. David Miller, a conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources, says this is the busiest stretch of the year for him.
Some of the most common infractions that Miller is called to investigate are overbaiting and trespassing violations. Hunters are allowed up to two gallons of apples, acorns, or whatever their preferred treat to hand out per day.
A wrinkle this year is antlerless deer permits. Due to the heavy snows and harsh winters, the Keweenaw Peninsula is hard on herds. It naturally keeps their numbers in check, but south of M-28 the drifts don’t pile quite as high. Last year was an historically mild winter and a special zone has been created, one of three in the Upper Peninsula, to allow harvesting of does. DNR Wildlife Biologist John DePue says there was high interest for the permits but the deadline to apply was months ago. Miller says it happened over the summer.
Both Miller and DePue say that there is plenty of interest in antlerless permits.
