News Photo by Mike Gonzalez Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jon Sheppard stands in front of a wall-mounted deer head at the DNR office on M-32 on Wednesday.

ALPENA — Firearm deer season’s five-day quiet period begins Friday, a time when hunters finish their final preparations for the upcoming deer season and allow deer to settle into a normal rhythm before the season’s opening day.

During the five days, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in a statement that it is illegal to carry rifles or shotguns loaded with buckshot, slug load, ball load, or cut shell in any areas that deer typically frequent.

Only unloaded firearms encased or in the trunk of a vehicle can be transported to or from a hunting camp.

“The general reasoning behind that is so that it gives the deer a chance to kind of slow down,” DNR Conservation Officer Jon Sheppard said. “It’s kind of like a reset. They kind of slow down from getting pushed off archery season. They can kind of calm themselves down before the craziness of Nov. 15,” opening day of firearm deer season.

Typically, hunters already have tree stands set up, but the last five days are a “mad rush” for people to get all set, Sheppard said.

During the five days, the state allows the hunting of small game or waterfowl with the right firearms and ammo and the state allows fur harvesting. Archery season is still ongoing during the quiet period.

“If you have, essentially, any kind of shell or anything that is capable of taking a deer, then that would be unlawful,” Sheppard said. “People can archery hunt even through rifle season, but they have to follow all the rules of rifle season, like wearing orange and stuff like that. After rifle season is over, they’re good to go back to the general archery rules.”

Sheppard also hunts and anticipates getting a deer this season. He hasn’t been able to go out for archery season, yet, so he hopes to get a deer during firearm season.

“I am excited,” Sheppard said. “It’s been, I think, two years since I’ve actually been able to spend enough time in the woods to actually shoot a deer. So, hopefully, I’ll get one this year. We’ll see.”

Meanwhile, state Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, on Tuesday introduced legislation that would extend muzzleloader season from 10 to 14 days to address deer overpopulation.

Hunters in Michigan were allowed up to 15 days of hunting with muzzleloaders until a few years ago, when the state’s Natural Resources Commission opted to cut the season because of an expansion of late-antlerless season.

“Disease is running rampant, and we can’t get people to fill tags,” Cavitt said in a statement. “Younger generations just aren’t as interested in hunting. We need to expand the season to allow avid outdoorsmen the time to fill their tags and help us get the deer population back under control.”

Cavitt’s House Bill 5395 will be referred to committee for further consideration.