IRON MOUNTAIN — As of Friday, mandatory deer harvest reporting remained in effect in Michigan where the archery deer season opens today.

Beginning this year, deer hunters are required to report a harvest within 72 hours. The rule is aimed at improving Michigan Natural Resources Commission deer management decisions, but lawmakers have moved to strike it.

Initially, House Bill 6354 reduced the penalty for not reporting a harvest to a maximum fine of $150 — a change the Michigan Department of Natural Resources supported. The current form of the bill, however, removes the NRC’s authority to issue such an order.

As it stands, those who neglect to report a kill within 72 hours could be subject to fines and penalties, including jail, although the DNR has said for the first year it will “emphasize an educational approach to hunters rather than enforcement in most circumstances.”

Harvests can be reported through the Michigan.gov website or an app that’s available in the Apple or Google Play stores on mobile devices. Hunters who can’t report a harvest due to a lack of internet access or smart device can get help from a family member or friend with access, by providing them with their kill tag license number, date of birth and harvest location to report on the hunter’s behalf.

Supporters of the new rule say it allows the DNR to collect a near real-time estimate of the deer harvest as it occurs — a valuable tool that the state has never had access to before.

Opponents maintain the requirement and its penalties are unreasonable and will discourage participation in hunting.

More information on the order can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hunting/deer/harvest-reporting.

At Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis., Fay Whisler said Wisconsin archery hunters have “taken a few nice bucks” since the Sept. 17 opener. Electronic registration of deer harvests has been required in Wisconsin since 2015, although the Badger State has more options than Michigan, including toll-free telephone prompts.

Wisconsin’s youth gun deer hunt is next weekend, Oct. 8 and 9. All youth hunters need to have successfully completed a hunter education program or be participating in mentored hunting.

Fishing pressure remains light, Whisler said, with a 40-inch northern pike taken on a sucker minnow highlighting the week’s catches. “Some smaller walleye were caught on both crawlers and sucker minnows,” she added.

Northern Saddle Club will host a poker run, trail ride and party on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Hall’s Creek Equestrian Trailhead on Hall’s Creek Road in Florence County. No horse is required to participate. For more, go to northernsaddleclub.org or the club’s Facebook page.

Looking ahead to winter, Tri-County Snowmobile Club will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Waucedah Township Hall in Loretto. Fall projects are underway and the club will be going out and updating signs over the next several weeks.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Carp River and Nunns Creek: Salmon fishing was in high gear as coho, pink and Chinook salmon were found concentrating in the mouth of Nunns Creek. Fishing was not as heavy on the Carp River upstream from the mouth. Anglers wearing waders were more successful because they could access a wider area to find active fish.

Little Bay de Noc: Fishing was slow as the wind was keeping anglers off the water.

Manistique:Anglers caught Chinook salmon while floating skein. Pink salmon fishing was good when drifting beads and casting artificial baits. Some brown trout were also being caught.

Marquette: Fishing activity increased, while lake trout were the most common species caught. A few anglers also reported catching salmon. Most lake trout were caught on spoons by anglers fishing from the white rocks in 60 to 90 feet of water. Lake trout were caught near Granite Island in water 150 feet deep or deeper using spoons and flickers. Anglers also reported salmon catches while trolling near the mouth of the Chocolay River to Shot Point. Try running high lines using rainbow/gold spoons for salmon. Anglers fishing the Chocolay River reported catching fish while fishing with spinners or floating spawn.

Munising Bay: Fishing effort was low due to the weather. Several anglers fishing the pier reported catching a few small splake.

Grand Marais: Very few anglers have been out due to conditions. One boat trolling within the harbor marked fish; however, only one coho was caught.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Fishing for lake trout was good when the weather allowed anglers to get out. Anglers also reported catching some salmon, but the bite was slow. Anglers were primarily using spoons and flasher flies. Coho and steelhead were caught in nearshore waters while fishing near river mouths. Try trolling in the early morning while salmon and trout are beginning to stage for their spawning migrations.

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Entry: Anglers fishing just outside the mouth of the canal were not having much luck. However, reports of lake trout caught while trolling were increasing. Recent weather conditions have made fishing tough and kept activities low. Try fishing the early bite when salmon and trout begin to stage in the river mouths.

Au Train: Fishing activity remained low over the past week. Au Train Island was the only place where anglers reported catching lake trout. Anglers reported catches of lake trout in the flats around the island as well as in deep water. Anglers fishing the flats were doing best by trolling spoons or flickers in 40 to 60 feet of water. Anglers fishing 80 to 150 feet of water were picking up fish while trolling spoons or by jigging cut bait.

Lake George: The fishing in Lake George has been productive, with northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch being caught. An occasional walleye has been part of the catch as well, which was an increase from previous weeks. The weather has been challenging for anglers and has influenced what the fish are interested in from day to day.

Lake Nicolet: Fishing in Lake Nicolet improved recently, primarily due to changes in weather and water temperatures. Anglers have been trolling for walleye, casting for northern pike and bass, jigging for yellow perch, and using a variety of gear and techniques for salmon. Anglers who have been able to find schooling baitfish were able to catch more fish. More salmon have been seen in the river, and numbers are expected to increase into the fall.

Upper St. Marys: The recent weather has limited angling activities where a few yellow perch were being reported. Crawlers and minnows were the bait of choice while fishing off the bottom of the river. Anglers also reported catches of northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass near the locks and in the Tahquamenon River.