Deer herd down

Jeff Broddle | Cadillac News Randy Taylor of Monroe tests his bow at Buck Pole Archery. The DNR is working to replenish decreasing deer populations in northern Michigan.

For 23 years, Paul Ashbay has hunted in the Cadillac area.

Although he was gone for a few years between the late 1980s and early 1990s while serving in the military, word from his friends indicated they were taking nice bucks and seeing a lot of deer.

"By the time I got back here in the early to mid-1990s the hunting was still pretty good," Ashbay said. "But it has gotten worse as the years have gone on."

Now, Ashbay describes his hunting experience, usually in the Manton area, as "hit or miss."

"Usually if you see anything, they're low numbers - scrub bucks mostly," Ashbay said.

That's not to say hunters aren't taking decent bucks. In 2004, Ashbay's stepson Mike Ahrens took a six-point buck during the youth hunt. This year, while hunting in Merritt, Ahrens harvested an eight-point buck.

So, hit or miss is really the proper adjective.

"The deer herd is down in much of the state by design," Department of Natural Resources big game specialist Rod Clute told the Associated Press.

In Lake and Wexford counties, the herd is down 44 percent and 33 percent, respectively, from the state's target population, said Larry Visser, acting unit supervisor for the Wildlife Division, Northwest Management Unit.

In reaction to the low numbers, the DNR has closed antlerless firearm hunting on both public and private land in the two counties.

"We think we can get back to where we want to be," Visser said.

The problem in Lake and Wexford is the abundance of state and federal land. Hunters have plenty of access to deer in contrast to counties that are largely held privately. There, landowners have a greater say in the overall harvest.

"I think that's what we're seeing," Visser said. "In counties with a lot of public land, such as Wexford and Lake, we're able to achieve a fairly high deer harvest."

For the NWU as a whole, which represents 13 counties, the DNR goal is 250,000. It is estimated at 220,000 this year. Statewide, the deer herd is between 1.6 and 1.7 million. The estimated harvest from the 2005 hunt is expected to be similar to or slightly below last year's 450,000.

Based on public comment, Visser said many hunters want to see more deer and many have "responded very favorably" when the DNR closed antlerless hunting in Wexford and Lake counties.

Ashbay is one but he said it may not be enough.

"I think what they need to do is what they did in Pennsylvania where hunters can take nothing less than four points on one side for a few years," he said. "I think that's really helped the antler size and the quality over the years."

Rick Kahner, manager of Lost Pines Lodge in southwestern Wexford County, said some hunters aren't happy about the antlerless restriction but most are receptive.

"Last year was like one of the worst years in history between the weather and the lack of deer," Kahner said. "Out of 75 guys during firearm season, we only had one doe taken. During bow season, we didn't have one deer taken."

The average for Lost Pines Lodge during firearm season is one deer for every seven hunters, he said.

"But it's part of our crowd too," Kahner said. "We have 75 to 80 guys staying at the lodge and 40 of them don't go into the woods anymore."

So far this year, scouting missions have yielded evidence that the numbers are looking up. Although Kahner hasn't seen any bucks, he has seen a number of does, tracks and other signs.

To the south and east of Wexford County, deer populations are looking better. Missaukee County's herd is estimated at 16,000 with a good number in the southern agricultural portion. Osceola County has a population estimated at 23,500.

"I would say there's better hunting over (in Missaukee County) than in the Cadillac area," Ashbay said.

But for a hunter like Ashbay, it could be too little too late. Like many of his friends, Ashbay said he make take his business to Canada.

"I'm considering not even hunting in Michigan and going up north," he said. "I've got a lot of friends that are going north of the border and they're seeing antlers. You have a lot better chance."

mwhetstone@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)