Michigan DNR: Deer numbers look good heading into hunting season

GAYLORD — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has released its annual deer hunting preview, indicating a mild winter has produced a robust deer population in the state.

"Overall, conditions are looking excellent for the upcoming seasons, and hunters can expect conditions that meet or exceed 2019," the department said in a statement.

Last winter had little to no impact on deer abundance in the northern Lower Peninsula, with numbers high across much of the region, the DNR said.

"Antler development and body size look exceptionally good this year, likely due to mild winter conditions and good natural food sources available in the spring and summer," the DNR said.

Soft mast (berries, apples, etc.) appears spotty, but acorn production seems quite good throughout the region in areas with oak trees. The DNR said hunters can anticipate an even better hunting season this year, weather permitting.

Under the new regulations, the early and late antlerless firearm seasons are open on private lands only in all mainland Lower Peninsula deer management units. Additionally, hunters in all deer management units may take an antlerless deer with a single deer license or deer combo license during the early and late antlerless seasons and the archery, firearm and muzzleloading seasons.

The DNR said the Upper Peninsula deer herd seemed to fare well last winter. This, coupled with a good spring and excellent summer growing season, has most areas reporting more deer sightings than last year. Field staff members are anticipating a slightly better hunting season.

While soft mast appears spotty across the region (likely a result of late frost conditions in spring), the hard mast (nuts, acorns, etc.) — particularly acorns — appears to be excellent in those areas with oak trees. Hunters should be on the lookout for oak trees producing acorns and invest time determining if deer have trails near these areas, DNR officials said.

During the archery season, hunters now can take an antlerless deer with either a deer or deer combo license, except in deer management units 027, 031, 036, 042, 066, 127 and 131.

Hunters who have seen the 2020 Hunting Digest may have noticed quite a few regulation changes that reflect the evolution of deer hunting in Michigan.

“The last 20 years have resulted in dramatic and sustained declines in hunter numbers,” Chad Stewart, DNR deer and elk program leader, said in a statement. “When combined with an abundant and resilient deer herd that continues to grow, and the added challenge of managing deer diseases, that shifting dynamic required some significant changes.”

Hunting actually got under way last weekend with the Liberty Hunt for young hunters and those with disabilities. Here is this year's schedule for deer hunting in the state:

• Early antlerless firearm — Sept. 19-20
• Hunters with disabilities — Oct. 15-18
• Archery — Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, 2021
• Regular firearm — Nov. 15-30
• Muzzleloading — Dec. 4-13
• Late antlerless firearm — Dec. 14 to Jan. 1, 2021