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Check out up-to-date DNR Press Releases here.
May 10, 2012
The Northwest Michigan Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association, in partnership with Leelanau Whitetails, has proposed new antler point restrictions (APR) for the following 12 counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Missaukee, Mason, Osceola and Wexford.
For the full article click here.
April 23, 2012
The Northwest Michigan chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), in partnership with Leelanau Whitetails, has proposed new antler point restrictions (APR) for deer hunting in the following 12 counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Missaukee, Mason, Osceola, and Wexford.
For the full article, click here.
Feb. 10, 2012
Sportsmen’s clubs and other interested parties are reminded that the Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative (DHIPI) application deadline is March 31, the Department of Natural Resources announced today. The DHIPI is a cooperative grant program designed to support private-land deer habitat improvement projects in the Upper Peninsula.
For the full article click here.
Feb. 9, 2012
With the approval of the Michigan Deer Management Plan on May 6, 2010, the Department of Natural Resources committed to establishing a Deer Advisory Team (DAT) for each Michigan region. Each DAT corresponds to the boundaries of the DNR Hunting and Trapping Zones -- Zone 1 being the Upper Peninsula, Zone 2 the Northern Lower Peninsula and Zone 3 the Southern Lower Peninsula.
For the full article click here.
Feb. 8, 2012
The Department of Natural Resources’ Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council (CAC) will meet Thursday, Feb. 16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Comfort Inn in Newberry, located at 13954 State Highway M-28. The meeting will take place in the motel’s conference room.
For the full article click here.
Feb. 3, 2012
Contact: Ashley Hippler, 989-732-3541, ext. 5044
The inaugural meeting of the Northern Lower Regional Deer Advisory Team (NLRDAT) is set for Saturday, Feb. 11. The meeting will be held at the Ramada Inn Conference Center, 2650 I-75 Business Loop, Grayling, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For the full article click here.
The Department of Natural Resources has indicated the 2011 firearm deer season harvest appears to have increased slightly compared to the 2010 season. Southern Michigan is the only region where final firearm harvest figures are expected to decrease. Preliminary estimates are based on cumulative reports from the field, license sales figures, and check station activity, and are later replaced by the final harvest figures generated using the annual mail survey.
For the full article click here.
The 2011 firearm deer season opened Tuesday, Nov. 15, and impressions regarding deer observations, hunting activity, and check station operations from the first few days of the season have been compiled by the Department of Natural Resources. Overall, hunting activity started slow but appeared to increase later in the week and over the weekend. Deer condition throughout the state has been reported as good to excellent.
For the full article click here.
Nov. 10, 2011
Deer hunters will be allowed to use bait in Presque Isle County and southern Iosco County in Deer Management Unit (DMU) 487, after the Natural Resources Commission changed regulations at its meeting in East Lansing today (Nov. 10). Recreational feeding of deer in DMU 487 remains prohibited.
For the full article click here.
2011 Deer Forecast released. Click here for the report.
DNR Releases Baiting and Feeding Video
Baiting and feeding is allowable except in Deer Management Unit 487. For more information watch the Michigan Baiting and Feeding Rules video or visit the Baiting and Feeding Deer web page.
New State Law Allows 10-Year-Olds to Hunt Deer, Elk or Bear With a Firearm
Contact: Dean Molnar, 517-373-1230 or Mary Dettloff, 517-335-3014
Agency: Natural Resources
Sept. 14, 2011
A change in state law that took effect Sept. 1 makes it legal for 10- and 11-year olds to hunt deer, bear or elk with firearms in Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources announced.
The change is not reflected in the 2011 Hunting and Trapping Digest as the publication went to press before the law was changed.
For the rest of the article, click here.
To view the most current Weekly Winter Severity Report, click here.
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Deer are adapted to survive most Michigan winter weather conditions. However, research suggests that winter weather can affect deer mortality, fawn production, and deer physical condition (including antler development). Factors such as the quality and quantity of habitat types, deer population density, food availability, weather conditions of the previous summer, timing and duration of severe winter weather events, and timing of spring green-up affect the relationship between overall winter weather and the impact on the deer population. Deer may also avoid the worst winter weather by moving to wintering habitat that provides shelter from wind and snow and provides food sources to maintain energy reserves to counteract the effects of low temperatures.
Although the exact nature of a winter's impact on the deer herd can never be predicted, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitors winter conditions by calculating a winter severity index (WSI). The WSI reflects the estimated effect of winter weather conditions on the energy reserves of deer; the higher the index value, the larger the potential impact on the herd. More severe winters may require deer to expend more energy than they have available or may require the deer to use energy stores for survival rather than fawn or antler production. Using the WSI can help DNR biologists understand potential impacts of winter weather on the deer herd.
The current WSI system takes advantage of standard weather data available from the National Climatic Data Center. The DNR uses weekly data on air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation from weather stations throughout Michigan and the surrounding area in a series of mathematical equations to calculate a weekly index value from November through April. The WSI values from individual stations are averaged across the three regions of Michigan to give a regional perspective on winter severity. The DNR plots these values over time to provide insight into the pattern of winter severity over the course of the winter and to identify severe weather events. Extended periods of severe weather and very early or very late peaks in severity tend to have the greatest effect on deer.
Due to the complexity of the relationship between the deer population and winter conditions, no single index can predict over-winter mortality, fawn production, or physical condition. Using the WSI as a tool to qualitatively evaluate winter weather severity, the DNR can identify winters that have the potential to severely impact the deer herd. DNR biologists may also measure snow depth and make field observations of deer wintering areas to assess winter mortality and winter physical condition. The biologists use the WSI and their field observations along with a variety of other information to assess the deer population and adjust annual harvest quotas and make management decisions.
2011 MICHIGAN DEER HUNTING PROSPECTS
THE STATEWIDE FORECAST
Brent Rudolph, Deer and Elk Program Leader
517-641-4903 ext. 248
Click here for full the report.
Statewide
Over the last few years, around 700,000 individuals have purchased a license to hunt deer in Michigan. These hunters ultimately spend more than 9.6 million days afield and take more than 400,000 deer. Over 300,000 hunters participate in Michigan's archery season, about 600,000 hunt with a firearm and 200,000 with a muzzleloader. While the number of firearm season hunters often rises and falls as the traditional November 15th opening day rotates through days of the week, expanded youth hunting programs and crossbow hunting opportunities have increased participation among other segments of the hunting population. Although surveys show that the leading reasons many participate in deer hunting is simply the opportunity to spend time outdoors with friends and family, many hunters prepare each season to give themselves the best chance tosee and take deer.
Deer are not evenly distributed across the state. There are considerable differences in habitat and deer numbers across Michigan's three regions - the Upper Peninsula (UP), northern Lower Peninsula (NLP), and southern Lower Peninsula (SLP). In addition to this regional variability, every year hunters only a few miles apart have very different experiences observing and harvesting deer.
Across the state, reports on the soft mast crop are generally positive, with particularly good production of apples. The hard mast crop has shown low production overall, though some scattered areas have noted fair amounts of acorns and beechnuts. Maps and computer-based tools are increasingly available to narrow in on the best locations to focus scouting efforts, including the Mi-HUNT interactive web application available at www.michigan.gov/mihunt. While these and other resources are a great benefit for hunters, there is no substitute for personally scouting areas in advance of a hunting trip.
As an important reminder, those hunting within the UP and the multi-county deer Management Unit (DMU) 487 in the tuberculosis (TB) zone must decide, before purchasing their deer license, if they wish the opportunity to take one or two antlered deer. Those desiring the opportunity to shoot two bucks must purchase a combination license. Both bucks have antler point restrictions. One buck must have one antler with at least 3 antler points; the other buck must have one antler with at least 4 antler points. Those choosing to purchase a firearm deer license and/or an archery deer license are limited to taking only one buck from within these areas during all seasons combined. Within most of the areas, a deer must have just one antler 3 or more inches in length, but point restrictions remain in place for some individual DMUs as well. These include DMU 117 (Drummond Island) and DMU 122 (primarily in southern Dickinson County, along the Wisconsin border) in the UP, and one small DMU (DMU135 in Iosco County) in the TB zone. In DMU 117, bucks must have at least one forked antler. In DMU 122 bucks must have at least one three-point antler. And in DMU 135, bucks must have at least one forked antler to be legal. Finally, within DMU 487 ONLY, hunters may harvest an antlerless deer with a firearm or combination license within the Nov. 15-30 firearm season or the Dec. 9-18 muzzleloader season.
Click here for full the report.
As of Jan. 17, 2012 – Numbers represent data uploaded from all deer checked since September 2011. In many instances, staff in the field have checked additional deer but have not yet been able to submit most recent records. The final numbers will be posted soon.
Eastern UP
Total Deer: 554
Adult Males: 473
Adult Females: 60
Male Fawn: 9
Female Fawn: 12
Northeastern LP
Total Deer: 6733
Adult Males: 3812
Adult Females: 2228
Male Fawn: 363
Female Fawn: 330
Northwestern LP
Total Deer: 2360
Adult Males: 1541
Adult Females: 660
Male Fawn: 87
Female Fawn: 63
Saginaw Bay
Total Deer: 4265
Adult Males: 2669
Adult Females: 1212
Male Fawn: 201
Female Fawn: 183
South Central LP
Total Deer: 4413
Adult Males: 2373
Adult Females: 1529
Male Fawn: 280
Female Fawn: 231
Southeastern LP
Total Deer: 6648
Adult Males: 3440
Adult Females: 2332
Male Fawn: 470
Female Fawn: 406
Southwestern LP
Total Deer: 4220
Adult Males: 2334
Adult Females: 1423
Male Fawn: 230
Female Fawn: 233
Western UP
Total Deer: 2283
Adult Males: 1745
Adult Females: 443
Male Fawn: 37
Female Fawn: 58
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