Hunting Tradition In Iron County

Hunting Tradition In Iron County

Hunting and fishing are a big part of life in Iron County. White tail deer, ruffed grouse, and bear are three of the most popular seasons which make up the area’s great trophy hunting.

White Tail Deer

No other game animal has captured the hunter’s heart like the white tail deer. About 1.2 million licenses are sold annually to over 800,000 deer hunters during the archery, firearm, and muzzle loading season. Today Michigan’s deer herd is one of the largest in the United States, exceeding 1.6 million deer compared to 1/2 million in 1972. Hunters in Michigan harvest more than 300,000 deer annually, whichin turn is 18 million pounds of meat. Iron County is one of the U.P.’s most popular hot spots for white tail deer hunting.An archery deer hunting license entitles those 12 years of age and older to take one antlered or antlerless deer during the October 1 – November 14 or December 1 – January 3 open bow and arrow season in Iron County.

A firearm license entitles those 14 years of age and older to take a deer with at least one antler three inches or longer during the November 15 – 30 firearm season or during the muzzle loading season. The cost of a resident license is $13; non-residents pay $120. Resident seniors may purchase a license at a reduced rate.

All deer hunters must wear hunter orange November 15 – 30!!

Bird

Good woodcock and ruffed grouse (or “partridge”) hunting can be found throughout many areas of Iron County. Look in aspen stands along stream sides, lowland areas and upland edges.

A small game hunting license is required to hunt birds in Michigan; it also entitles you to hunt rabbit, hare, squirrel, pheasant, woodchuck, crow, skunk, coyote, and waterfowl (with a federal waterfowl stamp and a Michigan waterfowl hunting license). A resident license is $13; the cost for non-residents is $60.

Bear
Of the three bear species in North America, only the American black bear is found in Michigan. Once it roamed the entire state, but with the encroachment of humans into the black bear habitat, their range today is limited to northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. There are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 black bear living in the forested areas of the state. Most of the bear are found throughout the Upper Peninsula. Bear hunting in Iron County is best in the Amasa area.

To obtain a bear license, you must apply before the June 15 deadline. A bear hunting license entitles you to hunt bear during the established bear season which generally has begun by the second week in September and expires in the fourth week of October; this period is divided into three separate time blocks.

Hunting.