Tens of thousands of hunters will soon head into Michigan’s woods for the start of firearm deer season in Michigan. State officials expect a slightly larger deer harvest this year.
Hunters face different challenges in different parts of Michigan: not enough deer in the Upper Peninsula, antler-restrictions in northwest Michigan and chronic-wasting disease in central Michigan.
But Drew Youngedyke, with the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, says the moon may also issue. He says experts predict this week’s brighter than normal moon may change the feeding habits of some deer.
“Some of the older deer, that like more cover, might not be out as much during that night when it’s brighter out,” says Youngedyke, who says it might pay for hunters to stay in the woods later into the early afternoon than they may otherwise plan.
Monday evening, the moon will actually be at its closest distance to the Earth in almost 69 years.
