For the Love of the Hunt

By MARY BRAY

For the man or woman whose life revolves around the changing hunting seasons, the Alpena area offers almost year-round opportunities to spend time outdoors.

From small game season in the autumn to wild turkeys in the spring, the area contains prime hunting land and almost limitless opportunities.
“There isn’t a season you can’t cover in Alpena, Michigan, said Mark Miller, an avid sportsmen who lives a few miles outside the city.
Hunters can begin their outdoor adventures in September with the goose hunt, Miller said.

They can continue to hunt throughout the fall with small game season — grouse, rabbit and squirrel — that traditionally starts on Sept. 15 and ends Nov. 14. About two weeks following the opening day of small game season, woodcock are added to the list.

“It’s small game heaven,” Miller said, adding rabbit hunting is another popular choice in December when the weather is colder.

Black bear season usually begins in early September and runs to mid- to late October. The hunt is by Department of Natural Resources’ permit only and the number issued varies from year to year, depending upon the DNR’s management goals.

The same is true of elk hunting, according to DNR wildlife biologist Dave Smith.

The DNR manages the herd to keep it between 800 and 900 animals in Northeast Michigan. Typically, the elk hunt is held in December, but if hunters fail to kill the necessary number of animals to reach the DNR’s target, another hunt is held in January.

The lucky hunters who receive a permit to hunt elk will have a unique hunting experience.

At one time, Michigan was the only eastern state to hold an elk hunt. Now, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Kentucky hold elk hunts patterned after Michigan’s.

“We’ve been in the forefront of managing and hunting elk,” Smith said.
Elk viewing has become a popular tourist activity, and the DNR has pamphlets available with maps for self-guided tours through elk country.
Other hunters choose to go after coyotes, which are plentiful because few people hunt them.

“Coyotes are really flourishing up here,” Miller said.

He also hunts ducks in the fall, but said the area doesn’t attract the flight ducks and his hunting success is “middle of the road.”

Bow season for white-tailed deer runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 and then closes for the traditional firearm season that runs from Nov. 15-30. It reopens on Dec. 1 for the entire month.

For many hunters, the traditional two-week firearm deer season still is the best. It’s a time when family and friends reunite at “deer camp,” telling tales, eating great food and hoping to shoot a trophy buck.

But for those who can’t hunt during the traditional season, the DNR also holds an early firearm antlerless season the last two weeks of October and a late firearm antlerless season in December.

Miller received his first gun at age 10 and has hunted since that time. But he doesn’t shoot game just for trophies.

“If I can’t eat it, I don’t shoot it,” Miller said.

He said autumn is one of his favorite times of year with the woods in full color.

“It’s just great to be in the woods this time of year,” he said.