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ALPENA -- Though the Sportsmen Club in Alpena never has an off season, the club is gearing up for this year's hunting season. With winter leagues starting up soon, sight-in days, and more, the club is busy serving sportsmen across the state.
Steve Kaminski, Alpena Sportsmen's Club voting director, told The News on Thursday that the club is actively preparing to update the club's indoor shooting ranges. Members plan on replacing the matting on the shooting ranges and the club is applying for grants to install a new heating and air conditioning system.
Kaminski said another goal the club is working towards is changing the club’s status from a 501c4 to a 501c3.
"That's what we're in the process of doing and we're going to apply for some grants," he said.
He added that the club is always open to private donations from the community to help keep the club up to date.
Ahead of bow season starting on Oct. 1, the club has installed new targets for the archery ranges.
"I see more people coming out to the bow range," he said. "We got new targets for that, for the practice range. All brand new."
He added that the Armed Women of America group has also attracted new interest from the community and attracts women who then bring their families to the club. Kim Mills organizes the league and hosts CPL classes for women who wish to get certified.
"They really took off, the ladies, and they've been a real nice part and they've pitched in and they help when asked, because it's all volunteers," he added. "I'm pretty proud of them."
Ahead of the 2026 deer season, the club will host "sight-in days" from Nov. 1 to 14. Anyone wishing to sight in their firearms can utilize the shooting ranges on the property. Kaminski said that club members will be in attendance to assist visitors.
Overall, Kaminski said that hunters at the club have been commenting on the robust deer population and the new regulations coming in 2027, like the "one-buck limit" rule.
"A lot of deer, the deer population is good in some areas," he said. "They want to talk about the complexity of the new law coming out. A lot of questions."
In May, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved changes to both the 2026 and the 2027 deer hunting seasons in the Lower Peninsula, though the Upper Peninsula deer regulations will remain unchanged in 2027.
According to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) press release on May 15, the following changes were made to the 2026 deer hunting season:
- Elimination of the antlerless access drawing in the Upper Peninsula.
- The Statewide Muzzleloader Season was reduced from 10 days to three days and will begin the first Friday in December. In the Lower Peninsula, any legal firearm may be used during this season, which will now be called the December Firearm Deer Season.
- The Late Antlerless Season will open earlier, beginning on the Monday following the December Firearm Deer Season and continuing through Jan. 1. The season will be open across the Lower Peninsula.
- The Limited Firearms Deer Zone was eliminated in the Lower Peninsula, allowing the use of all legal firearms throughout the Lower Peninsula. Firearms larger than .22 rimfire are now permitted statewide.
- Residents with a valid senior deer license, senior deer combo license, or senior antlerless deer license are allowed to use a crossbow during the Late Archery Deer Season in the U.P.
- The Extended Late Antlerless and January Archery Seasons were eliminated, concluding all deer hunting seasons after Jan. 1.
- The Early Antlerless Firearm Deer Season will run concurrently with the Liberty Hunt during the second weekend in September. The Liberty and Early Antlerless seasons will be Sept. 12 and 13 in 2026.
- Authorization for the department to establish universal antlerless deer license use limits in consultation with the commission.
New regulations for 2027, which apply to the Lower Peninsula, are as follows:
- Buck harvest is limited to one buck per hunter.
- A single deer license will be valid for one deer with at least three antler points on one side or for one antlerless deer.
- A combo license will allow hunters to take one antlered deer and one antlerless deer, or two antlerless deer.
- Existing DMU-specific antler point restrictions will remain in place.
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.