The state's Department of Natural Resources and Environment says this year's firearm deer season seems to be on par with last year's.
Early estimates from the DNRE suggest the harvest in the UP and in the southern lower peninsula was up as much as 10% over last year.
Numbers in the northern lower peninsula, though, seem to be down about 5-15%.
The DNRE's Mary Dettloff says statewide, there were fewer hunters this year compared to last.
"On the number of licenses sold this year, we did see about a four percent drop. And that tracks historically with anytime we have a Monday opener, we generally see a decline that year in the three to four percent range in the number of licenses sold."
Dettloff says hunting license sales are generally higher when opening day falls in the middle of the week, or on the weekend.
She says the deer population appears to have recovered from the two harsh winters before this season.
The DNRE plans to release final harvest figures in the spring, after all deer hunting seasons conclude.
Early estimates from the DNRE suggest the harvest in the UP and in the southern lower peninsula was up as much as 10% over last year.
Numbers in the northern lower peninsula, though, seem to be down about 5-15%.
The DNRE's Mary Dettloff says statewide, there were fewer hunters this year compared to last.
"On the number of licenses sold this year, we did see about a four percent drop. And that tracks historically with anytime we have a Monday opener, we generally see a decline that year in the three to four percent range in the number of licenses sold."
Dettloff says hunting license sales are generally higher when opening day falls in the middle of the week, or on the weekend.
She says the deer population appears to have recovered from the two harsh winters before this season.
The DNRE plans to release final harvest figures in the spring, after all deer hunting seasons conclude.