KALKASKA - Firearm deer season is now in full swing with the first full weekend behind us.
On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported that more than 165,000 deer have already been harvested between bow and firearm seasons.
“We see a huge, huge amount of foot traffic from hunters, all kinds of different supplies. Brings a lot of people to town in this area for hunting,” said Family Farm and Home store manager Lance Crawford.
Family Farm and Home prepares for deer hunting season by stocking their shelves with supplies. This past weekend, half of their shelves were empty from hunters grabbing items.
“It’s great for us. I mean, sales are obviously great. I like to see people out in the outdoors. I have an outdoorsman myself, so I get out hunting and that type of thing. So I love to see people out doing that type of stuff,” explains Crawford.
And it’s not just supply stores that notice an increase in foot traffic.
“It’s a big revenue driver for a lot of different types of businesses. Everything from supplies to lodging, food, you know, gas stations. I mean, I think there’s almost every business in town here could benefit from hunters traveling to this area to hunt,” continues Crawford.
According to a survey from the Michigan DNR, there were more than 594,000 hunters registered in 2023 and with the numbers expected to decline, Crawford talks about how this tradition is important.
“I love seeing the tradition, of people coming up north. I love seeing when, you know, generational people come in, you know, fathers, sons, grandsons, grandfathers come and, you know, do their shopping and get what they need and things like that. It’s important, the culture of Michigan. You know, the outdoor culture. ... It’s important for a lot of people to keep those traditions,” he says.
Firearm deer season goes until Dec. 1, with bow season picking back up until the end of the year.
