Deer populations across Michigan present a diverse range of challenges and opportunities for wildlife management. From the overabundance in the Lower Peninsula to the varying dynamics in the Upper Peninsula, managing deer numbers effectively is crucial for ecosystem health, agricultural interests and the balance of natural predators. Recent regulatory changes highlight the state’s efforts to address these issues through strategic antlerless deer harvest policies.
Overabundance in the Lower Peninsula
Many locations in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, including many urban and suburban areas, are experiencing high deer population densities. This overabundance can lead to various problems, including increased vehicle collisions, damage to crops and gardens, and the spread of diseases such as chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis where they exist.
To mitigate these issues, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have implemented several regulatory changes, hoping to increase antlerless deer harvest.
Extended (urban) archery season: For the 2024-2025 hunting season, Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (excluding Deer Management Unit 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne counties will benefit from an urban archery season running through Jan. 31, 2025. This extension, known officially as the urban archery season but that takes place countywide including nonurban areas, allows hunters more time to manage deer populations effectively, helping to alleviate the pressure on local ecosystems and reduce conflicts with human activities. This season is open on both public and private lands. Landowner permission is required for private land or government lands not publicly open to hunting.
Legal firearm expansion: Hunters in Zone 2 during the muzzleloading season can now use all legal firearms, providing greater flexibility and opportunity at making a successful harvest. This change is aimed at making it easier for hunters to target antlerless deer, contributing to population control.
Antlerless firearm season expansions: The early and late antlerless firearm seasons have been expanded to include public lands in addition to private lands. The recently concluded early season ran Sept. 21-22, while the late season extends from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, 2025. A new extended late antlerless season, Jan. 2-12, 2025, will also be available in many counties across southern Michigan, with the option to purchase a discounted $5 antlerless deer license. Unused licenses are eligible for use during this season as well. These expansions aim to increase harvest opportunities and help manage the deer population more effectively across varied landscapes. More information on specific areas can be found at Michigan.gov/Deer.
Population dynamics in the Upper Peninsula
In contrast, the Upper Peninsula faces a different set of challenges related to deer populations. Here, some areas are experiencing low deer densities, while others have growing deer populations that require careful management.
Antler point restrictions: In Deer Management Unit 122, a three-point antler point restriction has been reinstated on the single deer license. This regulation, originally put in place with the support of local hunters, was subsequently removed due to the initial detection of chronic wasting disease in the U.P. With no additional CWD-positive animals identified, the Natural Resources Commission supported the reinstatement of the APR given previous support.
Antlerless deer hunting access permits: Fewer hunters in DMU 352 are now eligible to obtain an antlerless deer hunting access permit in addition to a universal antlerless deer license. This change, which applies to areas including DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252, is aimed at moderating antlerless harvest in specific units while still allowing for minimal harvest opportunity. The permit system is designed to ensure antlerless harvest is managed in a way that aligns with management goals without overharvesting.
Conversely, DMU 351, including DMUs 017, 021, 117, 149, 249 and 349, will be closed to antlerless hunting with a universal antlerless deer license in 2024. This regulation reflects an effort to restrict antlerless harvest in areas where densities are currently low.
Exception: A single deer license or deer combo license can be used to take an antlerless deer in both DMU 351 and 352 during the early archery season and during the late archery season through Dec. 10. An antlerless deer hunting access permit is not required. This approach allows archery hunters opportunities to target antlerless deer in localized areas where minimal antlerless harvest can be tolerated.
Balancing deer populations for ecological and human benefit
The strategies and regulations implemented by the NRC and the DNR reflect a regionalized approach to managing deer populations across the state. By developing regulations to try and address both overabundance in the Lower Peninsula and low deer numbers in many parts of the Upper Peninsula, these regulations aim to balance ecological health, reduce human-wildlife conflicts and promote sustainable deer management.
Effective deer management is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and minimizing negative effects on agriculture and property. The focus on antlerless harvest, supported by regulatory changes, is a key component of this management strategy, helping to ensure that deer populations remain balanced and sustainable across Michigan’s diverse landscapes.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD
While additional antlerless deer harvest is needed across much of the Lower Peninsula, there are localized areas across southwest Michigan that are experiencing an outbreak of EHD in 2024. This viral disease can have a large impact on local populations where it is on the landscape for several weeks. High mortality rates can be seen in some of these areas, but the effects are often localized, with some sections of a county or township experiencing high mortality rates while just a few miles away, no effects are seen. This is due to local environmental conditions in some areas being more favorable to this virus and how it is transmitted through the bite of a midge. Once a hard frost occurs, the midges die off and virus transmission will stop. Until then, we will continue to see additional reports across parts of southern Michigan. However, since effects tend to be localized, most hunters will not need to adjust their harvest strategies and should still target antlerless deer where appropriate; localized impacts of EHD may require hunters in highly affected areas to minimize their antlerless harvest strategies.
