Brandon Twp.-Russ Shipley considers himself lucky’a near perfect 14-point buck with ll-inch tines shot with his bow from a tree stand near Clarkston.
‘He came in at only about 13 yards,? said Shipley, 41, a deer hunter for more than 30 years.
‘I’ve seen lots of other deer so far this season mostly does and a few bucks. I’ve seen an average number of deer’I hunt every other day in the morning. I see about 50 to 70 deer per season.?
‘It’s awesome hunting down in this area. You may see a few other people out hunting, but just hold tight and let them pass. I’d much rather be hunting upnorth with fewer people’but I’m close to home and there’s plenty of deer.?
When gun bow season ends Shipley will be just one of about 700,000 deer hunters heading to the field this Nov. 15 firearm deer season. His success during the archery season should carry over in the gun season as officials from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are forecasting a great season.
‘The deer herd throughout southern Michigan is very large,? said Rodney Clute, Big Game Specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. ‘We estimate the population is up about 100,000 animals to more than 900,000 in Zone 3. More deer despite a strong 2006 harvest.?
Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are supporting about average deer populations for the 2007 season.
Clute said the 1999 deer hunting season was the best in recent years with 600,000 population surge due to ideal deer conditions.
‘There’s been a great fawn crop in 2006, coupled with plenty of food and mixed vegetation. The combination will produce more bucks too.?
While hunters may be bringing home the venison, Clute said there should be some caution with regard to the white-tail deer population.
‘Due to the amount of private land and unnatural feeding of deer, the current population cannot be sustained,? he said. ‘The impact on the environment will range from crop damage, to ornamental damage to shrubs and trees to an increase in car-deer accidents. Lots of people own land and it reverts back to natural habitat, a place where deer can escape hunting pressure, however, it creates a spike in population.?

Russ Shipley shot this 14-point, 165-pound buck at about 8 a.m., Nov. 2 near Clarkston. Photo provided.