Corn crop could play role in deer hunt

[Skunk]

Corn crop could play role in deer hunt

By Victor Skinner, The Grand Rapids Press, found at Mlive.com

November 08, 2009, 7:20AM

GRAND RAPIDS -- Crops still standing in many southern Michigan agricultural areas could reduce the southern Michigan deer harvest next Sunday when the firearm deer season opens in Michigan.

But hunters are expected to kill about what they did last year, according to state Department of Natural Resources officials.

The majority of larger bucks will be found on private agricultural lands, and there will be keen competition in public state game areas.

"The one thing that might make this year a little interesting is the corn harvest is a little bit behind. It's a big factor in deer vulnerability," said John Niewoonder, acting big game specialist for the DNR. "That may protect a lot of deer."


A later corn harvest might impact the deer
hunting season this year. (Photo by Scott
Harmsen, Kalamazoo Gazette)

Deer populations remain more than the desired goal, by as much as 25 to 40 percent higher in some southern Michigan areas. Deer numbers are near or slightly less than the goal for the northern Lower Peninsula, Niewoonder said.

Hunter success rates are likely to be lowest above the Mackinac Bridge after two consecutive hard winters that dropped this year's deer herd below ideal figures, Niewoonder said.

In West Michigan, "the numbers have been fairly stable since 2000," said Nik Kalejs, a DNR wildlife biologist who oversees Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

"I think best deer numbers are going to be in the most significant blocks in eastern Kent County where agricultural mixes with cover, wood lots.

Kalejs said all three counties average roughly 35 deer per square mile.

Acorn production for much of the area has been below average this year, Kalejs said, something hunters might be able to use to their advantage.

"If you have an area with excellent acorn production, it is likely to be a good spot," he said.

Those heading into public game areas on opening day can expect a fair amount of competition, but "northwest Kent County and the Rouge River State Game Area have respectable deer numbers," Kalejs said.

"If you are willing to get off the beaten path and go into the areas with less access, it may pay off. A lot of our hunting pressure is located within a pretty short radius of parking lots and trails. River bottoms and swamps sometimes those sites are better for older bucks."

Mandatory deer testing for chronic wasting disease continues this year for Kent County in a nine-township surveillance zone that includes Tyrone, Solon, Nelson, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Alpine, Plainfield and Cannon townships.

The testing is drawing criticisms from many hunters in the area, said Kirk Thielke, owner of Wilderness Dreams in Sand Lake. But he said the state's high unemployment rates likely will have a bigger impact on the number of hunters in the woods on opening day.

"People don't have jobs so they say, 'Hey we mind as well hunt.' We have noticed that increased participation in the archery season and we anticipate it to carry through the gun season as well," Thielke said.

A baiting ban also remains in effect to minimize the spread of CWD in the Lower Peninsula.

Local hunters say deer are moving more because of the ban, Thielke said, providing a better chance for many to tag a buck.

"This is the second year with no baiting, and that has been kind of a way of hunting for a while. It has changed some things and the deer act a little bit differently," Thielke said. "Now, they are just kind of browsing throughout the day instead of going to a bait pile at night.

"I think there is a feeling that everyone has an equal chance now that there is no baiting. Before, it was whoever had the biggest bait pile."

The fact this year's opening day of firearm season falls on a weekend also could contribute to a more successful season for hunters and the businesses that support them, Thielke said.

"It just provides better hunter opportunity and participation. That is one of the things the DNR is really pushing," he said. "Financially and opportunity-wise, it is probably better when it opens on a weekend."

LOOKING AHEAD

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials predict the 2009 hunting season will be similar to last year.

Here's how 2008 looked:

• Deer hunters: 694,000
• Deer killed statewide: 490,000
• Southern Michigan kill: 282,000

Hunter Success

• Southern Lower Peninsula: 49 percent
• Northern Lower Peninsula: 37.7 percent
• Upper Peninsula: 38.7 percent

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2009/11/corn_crop_could_play_role_in_d.html

[theoldarcher]

I'll share my 'corn' story:  next to the farm I hunt, the fellow who owns it came from a very large city, bought the farm along with several others, and now sells hunts to his big-city croonies.  He leaves standing corn just across the fence from the north end of our farm and has platform stands out in mowed lanes within the field.  Once it starts to get really nasty and snows, there is very little sign of anyone hunting these fields.  The trails from the swamps on our farm are very evident leading into his standing corn.  Over the last few years, I just set up on the trails leading from the swamps up across our wooded hillside to the corn and shoot my late season does.  This standing corn works very well for me!   

Best of luck to all, Arch

[Skunk]

Now that's the way to do it Arch. A good hunter goes with the resources available to him at the time. I mean, it's not your fault that your deer happen to enjoy his corn.