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Hunting the Michigan UP?

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WhistlingBadger:
Happy weekend, everybody.   Mrs. Badger and I are looking a purchasing a piece of land on the upper peninsula to retire to in the next few years.  I'm wondering if anybody can tell me a little bit about the hunting opportunities (especially archery, but I'm not above hoisting a firearm) up there.  I see that Michigan has seasons for whitetails, elk, bear, moose, turkeys, small game...anything else?  How many of these are hunted on the UP?

How does licensing for whitetails work (draw or OTC, multiple tags, etc)?  How hard are the draws for elk, deer, moose, turkey, and what are the hunting prospects?   Finally, what is the hunting like up there?  I'm a still-hunt/spot and stalk hunter; does hunting work that way in the North woods?  Tree stands are fine but don't excite me all that much. 

Off the hunting topic, what's the growing season up there look like for growing veggies and such?

We are looking into it, not too serious, but not completely just spit balling, either.  Any info would be appreciated.

KHalverson:
here in Michigan you can hunt deer from October 1 to January 1.
all with a bow if you choose.
we have a 2 week firearm season from nov 15 to dec 1.
a week or 2 muzzle loader deer season.
elk are northern lower peninsula only.
1 in a lifetime draw.
moose are in the u.p and so are turkey and bears in abundance.
deer are over the counter combination tag with antler restrictions depending on zone or application for doe permits.
growing season is short up there near the great lakes.
 the west end may be different.
fishing galore there walleye ,pike,musky, perch and other pan fish.
pretty thick country for spot and stalk .

JEB:
Having lived here all of my 71 years I know I would not move to the U.P. but would move  to  the northern lower Michigan. My dad lived in the U.P. for 28 years so I spent some time up there hunting deer and bear. I have hunted and killed bear in the UP with a bow. Lots of bear up there but the deer hunting is not so good.  There are some moose in the U.P. but you can not hunt them.  Elk are a lottery draw but good luck with that.

I have no love for the U.P. and generally speaking they have no love for anyone that isn't from up there.  When they find out you are not from the U.P. you are considered a troll, fudgee or an apple knocker.

WhistlingBadger:
Thanks for the info, guys.  Yeah, my wife told me about trolls (from under the bridge  haha) and the tendency toward xenophobia. We just think we'd feel a lot more at home in the UP--awful winters, low population density, lots of hills...more like home.  :)  How we'd fit in with the people there might be a different story.

bjrogg:
I haven’t spent a whole lot of time in the U.P. It does have some very interesting areas though. Pictured Rocks, Tuhquamenon Falls. It is a separate peninsula and like Jon says everyone south of the Big Mac is a troll.

I’ve never hunted there. My good neighbor who passed away this past winter has a cabin up there that he just loved. He talked about it all the time.

The winters are deep snow. Lots of snowmobile trails. Very short growing season. Long days in the summer. Long nights in the winter.

I wish I could help you more. I have known a few youppers yah know ahh. I got along really good with the ones I knew, but never met them on their home turf. They do almost consider themselves a different state and honestly I can’t really blame them.

What area of U.P. Are you looking at?
Bjrogg

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