UPDATED: Michigan’s 2023 Deer Harvest Numbers to Date vs 2022

With the remainder of Michigan's firearm deer season coming on the 30th, and the 'muzzleloading' for all zones falling December 1 - 10, 2023, it looks like there will have to be a major uptick in the amount taken to match or exceed the 2022 harvest.

Related: Michigan's 83 County Ranking for Whitetail Deer: 2022 Bucks and Does

Of course, the numbers won't be final until the late antlerless season is over (December 11, 2023 - January 1, 2024) but, with the 2023 season closer to the end than the beginning, there have been a total of 187,326 deer harvested as of November 23, 2023. Compare that to 2022's total of 303,056 reported deer and a total of 115,730 deer will have to be taken to match last year.

Michigan's 2023 Deer Season Totals to Date: County-by-County Breakdown

Michigan deer hunting numbers have been on a decline since their apex in 1998 597,980 deer licenses were sold. The state has lost over 250,000 hunters in the last 25 years and, based on the below numbers, it looks like 2023 will be another year of decline.

Related: Look at That Rack! Lansing DNR Office's Poachers' Wall of Shame

Can Michigan combat the lure of other activities that seem to be keeping Michigan youth out of the woods? With a population of deer hunters that is in danger of aging out without another generation to take its place, the sport is in danger of extinction.

Related: Michigan Firearm Deer Season: Making Opening Day a 2nd Saturday

Using data gathered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) mandatory reporting program, let's look at each county's deer harvest: antlered, antlerless, and total to date vs the '22 harvest. If you'd like to look a the same report from last week, click here.