At right: In Mackinaw City, Charles Tate of Boyne Falls poses with his entry in the first Mackinaw Outfitters "Big Buck Battle for the Bridge" contest, which will award plaque name engravings to the five biggest Upper and Lower Peninsula deer as measured by antler size. Entries are brought to the store's parking lot. As of November 20, Mr. Tate's harvest, taken in Lake County, was the largest, with antler measurements of 15.5 inches. The contest runs until November 30. The grand prize will be a full body mount by taxidermist Todd Zeller of Cheboygan. Deer hunters didn't flock to the Upper Peninsula in response to this year's ban on baiting downstate, something wildlife managers thought might happen, and, in fact, hunter numbers and harvest numbers appear to be down so far this season, compared to last year, Terry Minzey told The St. Ignace News November 20. Mr. Minzey is the Eastern Upper Peninsula wildlife supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Firearm deer season began November 15.

The number of deer examined at a DNR check station at the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace was down roughly 40% November 16, 17, and 18, compared to the same three-day check station last year.

While an informal visual survey tallied by toll takers at the bridge initially showed a spike of 48% on the opening weekend harvest, reported Monday, November 17, the count there had been changed by Thursday to reflect a downturn of 30% from last year.

"Hunter numbers appear to be down, especially transient hunters," Mr. Minzey said. "The local residents and those who have hunting properties here were still around."

Reports coming in from deer check stations downstate say that hunters there did not change their plans because of the baiting ban, instituted this year to control the spread of chronic wasting disease in the herd.

"Hunters don't mind the baiting ban, and in fact they are happy with it," Mr. Minzey said, pointing out that deer check stations across the state are hearing a positive response to it. "That whole big competition of having to out-bait the other person is gone, and for those into the traditional hunt, this opens that door again."

In the western U.P., the Escanaba check station is reporting numbers have fallen off about 25% from last year. It is checking in about 80 deer a day now.

The number of yearlings in the harvest has declined, as anticipated, owing to last year's tough winter.

Nothing is being seen at EUP check stations that causes concern about disease conditions here, he said.

"We are seeing some pretty nice deer coming off private lands in the agricultural areas near Pickford and Rudyard," Mr. Minzey said. "As far as antler development, it's okay, but not super. There have been a few outstanding ones."

An 11-point buck weighing 195 pounds is the biggest checked in so far at the buck pole at the Pickford Feed Mill. Another nice specimen was an eight-point, 190-pound deer with a 22 inch spread, said Mark Taylor at the mill.

"We haven't seen a lot of deer, but the ones we have seen are nice," Mr. Taylor said. "We have a week to go yet."

He anticipates more deer will come in over the next few days, but the five deer weighed in the first week is only about 25% of the usual number.

A St. Ignace buck pole organized by the Straits Area Sportsmen's Club saw similar results last week, with five or six deer coming in, a decreased number from last year. An eight-point was the largest deer weighed, while one 10-point was also registered "but it had a narrow spread," said Troy Garlock of the club.

Firearm season continues through Sunday, November 30.