Michigan Deer Hunting

In Michigan’s early archery season, hunters bagged 75,239 deer, including 54,407 bucks. The strong showing reflects cool weather, rut activity, and a hungry hunting community.

EHD, a virus spread by biting midges, is back in Michigan’s deer herd with confirmed cases in 14 counties. The good news? It doesn’t threaten people, pets, or the statewide herd.

Michigan’s 2025 archery deer season kicked off strong: 6,045 deer down in week one. Southern counties lead the tally while the U.P. trails. Antlered deer outpace antlerless nearly 2:1, raising management questions.

The 2024 archery deer harvest in Michigan hit 77,060 total, dominated by antlered deer. Jackson, Saginaw, Lapeer, Montcalm, and Allegan led. For 2025, southern zones will stay hot; northern Michigan may offer more solitude.

PFAS contamination spotted in northern Michigan deer has sparked fresh do-not-eat warnings. If you hunt near Clark’s Marsh, this could be your final chance to harvest safely.

n Michigan, poachers face not just fines and jail—but public humiliation at the DNR’s Poachers’ Wall of Shame in Lansing. If you hunt out of season or without permissions, your trophy might hang there.

Hunters, mark your calendars: Michigan’s 2025 deer season kicks off with a rare Saturday opener expected to draw record crowds.

Deer season is back, and so is the annual debate: hunters vs. DNR. See the 2024 county-by-county harvest totals for Michigan.

Michigan hunters can legally take certain species year-round—no “opening day” required—under rules that balance wildlife management with property protection.

In 2024, Michigan hunters said they harvested 280,000 deer. The DNR crunched the numbers and estimates it was actually closer to 373,000. That's a pretty big whoops.