If you thought the 2005 deer seasons weren't as bad as you've been hearing, you're right. According to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources report prepared by statistician Brian Frawley -- based on a survey of many thousands of our state's deer hunters -- an estimated 42 percent of the hunters who spent time afield statewide during 2005 killed at least one whitetail. About 22 percent of those hunters tagged an antlerless deer and 29 percent downed an antlered buck.

It's true there were fewer deer taken during the 2005 firearms season in every region of our state than the year before, but the reductions were not as high as expected. Also, the declines were reasonable in view of the fact that the weather was lousy for deer hunting during the first days of the season statewide and hunter numbers were down for at least the third year in a row. Add the fact that deer numbers should be slightly better this year because of a mild winter in the northern part of the state, a bumper acorn crop across the Lower Peninsula and good fawn production statewide, and the outlook for this fall's deer seasons is very good. Simply put, the deer kill should be better during 2006 than a year ago, as long as the weather cooperates.

It can also help if hunters go afield with a positive mindset. Mental attitude plays an important role in deer hunting. Hunters who think few deer are present and don't think their chances of connecting are very good, often don't see many whitetails and don't shoot one because they don't hunt as long and hard as the optimist does. The pessimist isn't usually as alert and ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself either, or is the first to decide not to hunt when the weather is the least bit trying, which contributes to his or her lack of success.

Hunters with a positive mental attitude -- even those who know they are hunting in an area with few deer -- are confident they will see deer and will eventually shoot one as long as they are persistent and do their part to be in the right place at the right time. The optimistic deer hunter is normally the most knowledgeable, too, being familiar with as many hunting methods as possible and being flexible enough to vary his or her approach depending upon the circumstances. These hunters are the ones who frequently see the most deer and fill their tags. Even if they don't shoot a buck or doe, they usually end up having a satisfying experience.

That was the case for me during the 2005 firearms season. For the second year in a row, I hunted out of a tent camp in Keweenaw County in the northern Upper Peninsula. There were four of us in camp, and two bucks were hanging by the end of opening day.

Although weather conditions were miserable in parts of the L.P. on Nov. 15, 2005, they were ideal in the northern U.P. In fact, I don't know that I've ever experienced an opening day with better prospects for success than last year. Temperatures were cool but comfortable, and there was no snow on the ground. The rut was at its peak and a strong storm front was approaching, which maximized whitetail activity levels.