North Manitou island deer hunt

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gogebicbuckslayer
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North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby gogebicbuckslayer » Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:03 pm

Hello everyone, I have been thinking about trying a wilderness hunt on north manitou island this fall. It's located about 10 miles north of grand traverse bay in lake michigan The hunt runs from late October till like Nov 10. I was wondering if any beast members have hunted the island? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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Uncle Lou
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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby Uncle Lou » Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:38 am

I did it once back in '90 or '91. Had a blast. Don't know what info other than I went I could give.

There was a group of 4 we took the ferry across and campe. I was in my second year or so of archery hunting so did not know didley about scouting and such, but I have always gravitated towards thick stuff and get on the edges since the begining. I like to go do new things and see new places. Can't tell you much about quality, or numbers, but that shouldn't be too hard to find. Our group didn't see an animal and the group on the ride back did not see much either. I think there was one deer on the ride back. That may be why I did not go back.

But that was a long time ago. I would check more recent data on deer stats before going off my above report. I really enjoyed the outing. Being from southern Ill camping on an island in Lake Michigan was pretty cool
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gogebicbuckslayer
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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby gogebicbuckslayer » Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:34 pm

Thanks uncle Lou, I as well just like seeing new country. I guess deer numbers are on the rise from what I could find on google, s.ounds like it would be a fun adventure.

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:56 pm

The deer are meat-eaters on N and S Manitou islands... seriously! One of the first documented video's by research scientists where deer did that.

If I head for the Manitou's, salmon and lake trout are the order for the day. Absolutely beautiful area, stunning in fact, and Leland is a very special port / place.
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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby gogebicbuckslayer » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:13 pm

Meat-eaters! T hat sounds like an exciting hunt was that recently or when the island was overpopulated?

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:32 pm

gogebicbuckslayer wrote:Meat-eaters! T hat sounds like an exciting hunt was that recently or when the island was overpopulated?

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When it was overpopulated- the deer were eating alewives, a sardine-like fish in Lake Michigan. They videotaped the deer wading out belly deep and dunking their head underwater to eat dying alewives that washed up in the spring and early summer. The deer averaged over 200 alewives a day, and when examined a full 1/3 of their rumen contained the fish. It was routine for the deer to eat over 7 alewives per minute.

The biologists theorized that the deer were supplementing their diet with high-protein and salt after tough winter conditions.

You may want to stop now and then to look behind you while on the island... they may be hungry again! :mrgreen:
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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby Dewey » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:51 pm

I wouldn't venture out after dark. I hear they feed at night! :shock: :mrgreen:

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby gogebicbuckslayer » Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:46 pm

That just goes to show how adaptable a whitetail is, whatever it takes to survive.

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby gogebicbuckslayer » Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:47 pm

They shot a few nice 10 pointers last year but that's out of 51 guys

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:15 am

Here are some links to articles of the meat-eating deer on the Manitou Islands:

The Lewiston Journal – April 6, 1987

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 789,815748

Here is a link to the actual study conducted by University of Michigan researchers:

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1 ... 1584909631
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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:08 am

Dewey wrote:I wouldn't venture out after dark. I hear they feed at night! :shock: :mrgreen:

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lol, that's a great pic Dewey. Hmmm, wonder if any hunters ever DISAPPEAR on Manitou? Maybe 20 guys hunting on the ferry TO the island, but only a dozen come BACK kind of a thing? Maybe no one ever really notices...

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby gogebicbuckslayer » Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:36 am

Thanks for the links singingbridge. That's crazy!

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby MI Hunter » Fri May 20, 2016 8:02 pm

I was looking to hit North Manitou the second week of October this year, has anybody been hunting there lately? I'm looking for ideas on where to hunt since I'll be going in blind.
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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby whitetailassasin » Sat May 21, 2016 4:37 am

I saw a video posted on YouTube of the island and some guys hunting it. In the video several bucks were shown coming in, but all looked scrub except one decent looking buck, but not of the caliber most on here are chasing. Age structure looks to be in poor condition from what I saw.

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Re: North Manitou island deer hunt

Unread postby KLEMZ » Sat May 21, 2016 9:27 am

I never heard of North Manitou island before this thread (even though I live within 4 miles of Lake Michigan :? ). Some quick cyber scouting reveals an awesome array of high resolution aerials on Google Earth and the topo overlays show some nice elevation, (not hill country but not flat). I am familiar with similar country in northern Wisconsin, and would say it could be a fun place to hunt and test your skills of reading maps and deer sign in a wilderness run and gun style hunt!!!

HOWEVER! I believe the nearness of Lake Michigan, in all directions, will create thermals that will cause a lot of frustration. I say this based on my personal observations of living so close to Lake Michigan. I would assume that on a calm evening, your scent will get sucked towards the nearest shoreline. During the day (rut cruising time), thermal effect is anybody's guess? I have no idea.


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