Michigan Department of Natural Resources photo

IRON MOUNTAIN — Wind speeds were expected to kick up today as Michigan hunters participate in the second day of the firearm deer season after seeing calm weather for the opener.

Hunters have 72 hours to report harvests online, but early results from opening day showed about 125 bucks taken across Dickinson and Iron counties and another 170 in Menominee County.

Wind gusts of up to 25 mph were expected in the region today with overnight rain also predicted. Sunday should be partly sunny, but gusts of up to 25 mph remain in the forecast.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host a virtual open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday to share information about proposed changes to the state’s deer management units.

Boundaries are reviewed every few years and this year’s effort includes units in the northern forest zone. DNR staff members will talk with the public about the DMU review process and the specific proposals being considered.

No changes have been made to unit boundaries since a county-based system of deer management was established in 2014. But under proposed changes, the northern forest zone may see about half of the roughly 40 deer management units that existed prior to the county-based system.

According to State Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl, larger units would provide more accuracy in developing population models to monitor the deer herd. The proposed units, however, would overlap multiple counties, requiring County Deer Advisory Councils to work together on harvest recommendations.

A link to Monday’s open house and registration information is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/100261.

Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 23 — the latest window allowed. With this year’s season starting further removed from the peak of breeding activity, fewer deer may be on the move relative to recent years, the DNR advised.

However, last year’s mild winter means fawn production and antler development will likely be better than in recent years. The forecast calls for a high temperature in the upper 30s for Wisconsin’s opener.

The latest Wildtalk Podcast from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources focuses mainly on deer hunting. A link is available at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildtalk-podcast.

Sunday, Dec. 1, is the deadline to the submit comments on proposed updates to state forest road maps in Michigan. Public Act 288 of 2016 allows ORV use on state forest roads unless the DNR designates otherwise.

For more, go to https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/ORV-Riding/state-forest-roads.