Deer Numbers Down

As deer season draws to an end, the deer check in stations across the U.P. share one fact in common: lower numbers compared to years past. As of last Friday, the Baraga station had seen 64 deer which is down 34% from last year and down 49% over a three-year average. Escanaba is down 24% from last year and Marquette is down 57%. The wildlife biologists at each office all agreed that the contributing factors to this year’s low turnout included the harsh start to the season, between frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall. They also agreed that the overall deer population is down as a result of the past couple of winter’s being hard on the area.