Bucks in the U.P?

[ishot3bucks]

I'm 8 yers old and was wondering if bucks are bigger in the U.P.?


frankie

[Jari22]

the bucks i've seen come down from the UP seem to be smaller. there's less food for them to eat than there is in the LP... although, occassionally very big deer get taken...

[yooperkenny]

Good question, Frankie. I'll take a crack at it.

Zoologists are scientists that study animals, and they've come up with something called "Bergmann's Rule" which says the farther you get from the equator, the larger animals are. It turns out that bigger animals lose less body heat, which helps them survive the colder northern winters.

So it makes sense that deer in the UP would be larger than those that can't afford the $2.50 to cross the Mackinac bridge. :D :lol: (Just kidding about that last part)

[trainwreck]

Never heard of a thurdy pointer shot in the lower, have ya? Bucks as big as Buicks!

[fasthunter]

Never heard of a thurdy pointer shot in the lower, have ya? Bucks as big as Buicks!
Holy wa!!!! I need a shishky chaser!!!........Just not with one of those "Chunks" in the special potion!!!:lol: :lol:

[steely171]

Ya but wile up there looking for that thirty pointer.Be careful of the bear walks:lol: .The deer are bigger but the racks run smaller

[ghostdog524]

I tried to get up there once but "My Shevy shook a chit" :lol:

[bloo_gilz]

frankie, I'm Allison, I'm 8.
my granpa says theres not lot's a deer like downstate. But the bucks ccan be MONSTERS!!! hope this helps

[yippy]

Ive hunted up there for the last 9 years. Have seen 3 bucks. 2 spikes & an 8pt. I got the 8 this year.

Even though the first 8 years I did not see much its worth the trip just to breath fresh air lol.

I think southern Mi produced bigger bucks faster.

[uptracker]

Good work bloo gilz and ishot3bucks! Any other questions?:D

[ishot3bucks]

Thank you everyone!!


Frankie

[Oct.1]

Frankie,
I’m nearly 60 years old. I grew up in Manistique on Indian Lake in the central U.P.
When I was your age the bucks in the U.P. were bigger.
It was normal to take a 10 point. A few 12’s and even a 16 were taken by my Uncle and Grandfather.
6 points were considered a small buck and a 4 point or a spike was taboo to shoot.
And by the way, back then if you shot a doe you better be a woman and had only have done it once.
Times have changed. The population of the heard has changed and the laws have changed also. Many smaller deer are now taken because the heard has no longer been allowed to be managed by the people. We were allowed to feed the deer up there when I was younger. It was believed that it helped to get them through the winter.
Today with the possible diseases, the increase in hunter involvement and modern technology, the deer population has not been able to reach the maturity they use to reach. So yes the deer are now about the same size as seen in the northern lower, and in some cased smaller than in parts of the southern lower.
There is still the potential for the deer to grow much larger in the upper but we as hunters and those that make the laws which influence the way we are able to hunt have to give them the chance to grow up again.
Hope this helps ya out a little.

[MickeyFinn]

Oct. 1-

I love hearing about how the "old days" were in the U.P. Tell me this: How many trolls hunted in your area when your uncle and grandpa shot 12 and 16 pointers??? wink wink nudge nudge

[backstrap bill]

I tink it's done turned to sap.:)