To allow young bucks to recover from a harsh winter last year, hunting license regulations from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have changed, creating a minimum antler point count for deer that can be harvested in the Upper Peninsula. (DNR photograph by Dave Kenyon) Deer hunters this year may see the impact the 2007 winter had on deer herd in the Upper Peninsula, as deep snow and severe weather affected deer mortality, especially among the previous spring's fawns.

The result will perhaps be fewer one- and two-year-old bucks seen in the U.P., according to Terry Minzey, East Upper Peninsula wildlife supervisor for Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The number of pregnant does seen in the woods this fall may be lower, as well.

"Last year's winter was very difficult on deer, especially in the southern part of the U.P.," Mr. Minzey told The St. Ignace News Friday, November 7.

As a result, fewer antlerless deer licenses are available this year.

Mr. Minzey believes there will be a drop in buck harvest this year, between 10% and 15%. The DNR reports there are more deer in the southern U.P., near Lake Michigan, than in the northern U.P., near Lake Superior.

Last winter's snowfall was the highest since 1996-97, which Mr. Minzey said were the most difficult for deer in decades.

"Many of the yearling bucks should have survived, but it's the fawns that took a hit," he said. "The impact that last winter had on fawn numbers will be seen next year, too, as fawn numbers will still be down."

A dry spring and summer in the U.P. this year also had an effect on deer, as it reduced the available vegetation, although availability of fruit and nuts in the U.P. was strong.

Also facing the herd in the U.P. is a shrinking source of beech nuts, owing to the invasive European scale insects that bore into the beech trees and feed on the sap and a fungus called nectria canker, which weakens hardwood trees.

Beech nuts are a high source of protein and fat for deer, said Mr. Minzey.

"We are going to lose a vast majority of beech trees in the years to come," he said, "and we will see an impact of our deer herd down the road because of this."

He did say the late warm weather seen this month has allowed for good green vegetation for deer.

"The big question is when will winter really start?" Mr. Minzey asked. "If the ground is covered from early November until May, it's going to be another difficult winter for deer.

The deer population in 2007 was the highest in years.

Last year, 724,239 people purchased a license to hunt deer in Michigan and close to 484,000 deer were harvested, an increase of about 6% from 2006.

"I think with the reduced number of deer, it will just mean hunters will see an average year this year," said Mr. Minzey.

The winter was less of an impact in the northern Lower Peninsula, where the DNR expects hunters will see more deer than in most recent years.

Changes to the DNR hunting licenses may please supporters of the "let them go, let them grow" campaign for young bucks in the U.P., particularly spike horns.

With combination licenses, hunters can take two bucks, but one must have an antler count of no fewer than three points on one side and the other must have no fewer than four points on one side of an antler.

Mr. Minzey pointed out that hunters may see some bucks with few points, owing to nutritional deficiency caused by the harsh winter.

With firearm or archery licenses, hunters in the U.P. are allowed to harvest bucks and antlers must be at least three inches long, but hunters are limited to one deer.

"If you shoot your buck in the firearm season or in the archery season in the U.P., you're done," said Willard Garlock of St. Ignace Ace Hardware, a hunting license seller.

As far as harvesting young bucks, hunters in the Eastern Upper Peninsula are becoming more open to passing them up, said Mr. Minzey, according to a DNR survey of 100 hunting camps in the eastern half of the U.P.

"These volunteers report what they harvest and what they're seeing, and many of them have that conditional 'let them go, let them grow' attitude," said Mr. Minzey. "Regulations are in place that promote the 'let them go, let them grow' campaign without it being mandatory, and I think you're seeing a lot of hunters follow that."