Brandon Twp.-Three hours before dark is the prime time, says township resident Joe Garza, a veteran bow hunter for more than 30 years.
‘This year I’ve seen more bucks then ever,? said Garza, who bagged a 260 pound, 10 point buck near Rattalee Lake Road and M-15 on Tuesday afternoon. ‘There were only three days out of about 30 days this season that I did not see deer. And when I did see deer they were all bucks.?
Garza’s success during the deer archery season which opened Oct. 1, should carry over into the firearm deer season, which opens statewide Nov. 15.
Rodney Clute, big game specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the deer population in southern Michigan is very high, and area hunters should expect a great season opener Nov. 15.
‘There’s no complete reports in as of yet regarding archery season. During much of the season the weather was pretty warm and deer did not get moving until a little later in October. The food production is about normal this year compared to the 2005 season where the acorn and apple crop were pretty good. The deer are going to move a little more between feeding areas and are not bedded down in one area. We anticipate a little better season than 2005.?
‘There’s a lot of deer down here,? said Clute.
A major hindrance to hunting in southern Michigan is the amount of private land in the area herd added Clute.
‘Oakland and Genesee counties have a relatively small amount of public land which equates into a sanctuary for deer. It’s not a good thing for the deer population.. Too many deer is hard on the environment, a major impact on the habitat, it affects the other animals. We need to reduce the deer herd down.?
‘People should refrain from feeding deer and by all means allow hunters the opportunity to hunt. There is such a thing as too many deer. They are beautiful, but there can be such a thing as too many deer.?