Michigan Firearm Deer Season Preview & 2022-23 Harvests by County

Another firearm deer season is approaching in the State of Michigan, and hunters around the Mitten are gearing up for what promises to be a busier opening day than in recent years. Why? This year's opener falls on a Friday, and according to Tom Knutson of Knutson's Sporting Goods in Brooklyn, we'll see a measured increase in hunters in the woods and deer tagged.

A Friday opener means more hunters are likely to take a three-day weekend and spend time in the woods, but high school athletes who participate in winter sports will be forced to choose between practice and opening-day hunting. Knutson says the best thing the DNR could do for whitetail hunting is to move the firearm opener to the first or second Saturday of the month, allowing hunters of all ages to experience an opening day hunt.

Will 2024 Be the "Year of the Doe"?

The DNR has begged and pleaded with hunters to take more doe as the state deals with a deer herd estimated to be north of 2 million. Extra tags and extended hunts don't seem to change Michigan hunters' habit of opting for a rack over back straps. Knutson speculates that the decrease in does tagged may be tied to license and processing costs exceeding the value of the meat.

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Duran Martinez, host of Wild Michigan, which can be heard on Saturdays at 7:30 am WVFN in Lansing, says it all depends on the weather. Martinez elaborates by saying that some hunters have a tendency to spend more time in the field in favorable conditions versus the bitter cold, rain, snow, or extreme heat. He feels if the weather is moderate, a Friday opener could net a tremendous harvest.

Regardless of predictions, Michigan's 2024 Firearm Whitetail Deer Season is almost here. So, let's review how 2023 and 2022 panned out and reveal which counties tagged the most deer.