Hunters reported shooting some large bucks, even as firearms deer season wound down.

Pictures of three 10-point bucks and two 8-pointers taken in Leelanau County were reported this week to the Enterprise. Four of the bucks were taken during the firearms season, while the fifth was harvested during the first part of the archery season.

Firearms deer season ended Friday, after which archery season renewed until Jan. 1.
Also on tap is muzzle loading season, which will be held from Friday, Dec. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 23.

Before the 16-day firearms season began on Nov. 15, Department of Natural Resources officials estimated that nearly 600,000 hunters would take to the field in Michigan in hopes of harvesting a white-tailed deer. Last year, the DNR said that some 260,000 deer were taken during the firearms season in Michigan. The DNR also said that this year’s herd is up slightly from 2006, after a strong fawn crop this spring.

Click here to see more pictures on our virtual deer pole.