(MIchigan Department of Natural Resources photo) As of Friday night, 401 deer had been harvested in Dickinson County during the early archery season, according to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources online summary.

IRON MOUNTAIN — A five-day quiet period begins Sunday for Michigan’s firearm deer season as the weather forecast calls for a high in the mid-40s on Friday’s opener.

The quiet period is meant to increase the chances of a successful hunt by allowing deer to settle back into their day-to-day patterns, said Capt. Pete Wright of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.

During the five days, unless hunting for small game, waterfowl or fur harvesting, it is unlawful to transport or possess a rifle or shotgun with buckshot, slug load, ball load or cut shell in an area frequented by deer. Unloaded firearms securely encased or carried in the trunk of a vehicle may be transported to or from a hunting camp.

Small game or waterfowl hunters and fur harvesters can still carry the appropriate firearm for the season. Small game and waterfowl hunters may carry shotguns with shotshells for hunting small game, but cannot possess buckshot, slugs, ball loads or cut shells during this time. Fur harvesters may carry rimfire firearms — .22-caliber or smaller — while actively hunting or checking traplines during the open furbearing animal season.

As of Friday night, 401 deer had been harvested in Dickinson County during the early archery season. That total included 271 bucks, according to the DNR’s online harvest summary. Iron County’s harvest was 248, including 152 bucks, while Menominee County’s total of 912 included 578 antlered deer.

Michigan’s 16-day firearm season runs through Saturday, Nov. 30, while Wisconsin’s nine-day gun hunt opens Saturday, Nov. 23, and extends through Sunday, Dec. 1. This is the latest window within which Wisconsin’s season may occur, as established by state law.

After this weekend, the Michigan DNR will suspend its weekly fishing report until ice fishing action begins. The DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Yellow perch anglers reported good fishing. Fish were caught by anglers anchored or “spot-locked” using minnows on perch rigs across from Kipling, in the narrows, and by the Days River. Walleye anglers reported mixed results, with some having success while others struggled. Those that had the most success trolled crankbaits after dark.

Manistique: The Chinook salmon run was reported to be mostly over, with anglers seeing only a few Chinook left in the river. Steelhead anglers reported some success. Shore anglers were targeting the “flumes” and near the lumber yard. Most were drifting floats with beads or spawn.