Contact: Brent Rudolph, 517-730-8802

Note:  In a DNR release issued earlier Wednesday, the wrong start date was given for Michigan’s late antlerless firearm season (Dec. 1 instead of the actual date, Dec. 15). The full, corrected release follows. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Deer season forecast

• Report your deer harvest online
• 2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary out now
• Planning for EHD
• Safety is key to a successful hunt
• Testing deer for disease
• Help control the deer population — harvest a doe
• Support your community, donate a deer
• Hunter appreciation days: Nov. 17 and Dec. 1
• Purchase a deer patch
• Pure Michigan Hunt
• Questions? Contact us

Deer season forecast

This year could bring a strong deer hunting season, mirroring a robust 2024, although hunters will encounter varying conditions across the state. Hunters in the northern Lower Peninsula, for example, should be aware of the lingering effects of the devastating March 2025 ice storm that downed trees and limbs across 13 counties. Prepare for your season by checking out our 2025 deer season forecast.

Report your deer harvest online

Online harvest reporting is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer. You can report your deer through the DNR Hunt Fish app or at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport.

Reporting your harvest gives us a real-time snapshot of how the season is going. Check out harvest totals across the state in the reporting dashboard.

2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary out now

Our 2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary contains up-to-date information on deer hunting regulations across the state, including season dates, license types and fees, baiting rules, bag limits, deer management unit boundaries and more. For on-demand access to this info that travels where you do, without the need for internet access, download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Read more

National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) has partnered with Track’n Trail, a new mobile app that allows users to use smartphones as blood-trailing devices. NBEF will receive a donation from Track’n Trail for each paid subscriber using NBEF’s affiliate code: NBEF25.

Ethical game recovery is a crucial part of NBEF’s bowhunter ed and cross bow hunter education classes. The Track’n Trail app may lead to quicker game recovery by using patent-pending machine vision technology to detect blood and generate vibrational and visual alerts when blood is located. This technology may be especially helpful for people who are visually impaired or have color vision deficiencies. Hunters can find download links at NBEF.com or at the Apple App Store and Google Play.

“NBEF encourages ethical game recovery,” said NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz. “Recent field reports support that this app can aid with recovery. If hunters subscribe using the NBEF25 code, they can feel good knowing NBEF will receive a donation from Track’n Trail.” Read more

In this episode of the award-winning “Wildtalk” podcast, we talk about work going on in southwest Michigan. Then, we fly away with a discussion about the Wilson’s snipe and wrap things up with a lengthy chat about white-tailed deer.

Don’t forget to participate in the wildlife quiz part of the show for a chance to win a “Wildtalk” podcast camp mug. The deadline for submission is November 15, so don’t delay. These mugs are exclusive and not available for purchase, so be sure to listen and submit your answer via email to DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov with the subject line “Mug me.” Keep an ear out for the December episode, when we will announce the lucky winners.

You can be on the show Read more

Leica Sport Optics USA and onX Hunt today announced a new partnership and product integration that connects Leica’s premium sport optics with onX’s industry-leading digital mapping platform. The integration allows users to send a precise location from supported Leica devices directly to onX Hunt to “drop a waypoint” and save critical waypoints, streamlining navigation, planning, and game recovery in the field.

This collaboration advances Leica’s open ecosystem strategy: building powerful, user-first software connections around best-in-class hardware. onX Hunt, recognized as the category leader in digital hunting maps, was a priority partner in that ecosystem.

Leica’s North American customers who purchase participating devices receive the integration benefits at no extra charge. Existing owners of compatible Applied Ballistics (AB)–linked Leica products will automatically gain access via firmware/app updates, ensuring a simple, zero-friction setup.

“With onX’s waypoint drop integrated into Leica’s open ecosystem, hunters can seamlessly transition from planning to precision in the field,” comments Ryan Holm, Marketing Director, Leica Sport Optics. “Integrating onX within Leica’s open ecosystem enhances the precision and interoperability hunters depend on. By connecting industry-leading mapping data with our advanced rangefinding and ballistic technology, we’re enabling a truly unified field experience—where every decision is informed, efficient, and accurate.” Read more

Nov. 5, 2025

Media contact: 1st Lt. Tom Wanless, DNR Recreational Safety, Education and Enforcement Section supervisor, 810-577-6887

Opening day of Michigan’s traditional firearm deer hunting season (Nov. 15) is right around the corner, and many hunters are busy scouting land, watching trail cameras and preparing equipment.

To ensure a safe season on both public and private land, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to follow best practices to help them avoid the most common violations conservation officers see every year. Read more

Nonresident Disabled American Veterans applying for tags in the Nonresident Tag Drawing for 2026 general season deer and elk hunts will have opportunities in two drawings.

Those eligible for DAV privileges, which require a service-connected disability rating of 40% or greater, will be eligible to apply for 500 discounted deer tags, and 300 discounted elk tags for 2026.

To apply, nonresident disabled veterans must buy a hunting license, which is discounted to $31.75, but there is no additional application fees.

Tags available to DAV hunters: Read more

Nov. 4, 2025
Contact: Scott Eggeman, 517-983-8119 or Brent Rudolph, 517-730-8802

The DNR welcomes public feedback on proposals through Jan. 23

Michigan elk hunters would have longer harvest periods for the 2026-27 hunting cycle under draft proposals by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The proposals would lengthen both elk hunting periods in the northern Lower Peninsula, home to Michigan’s elk herd.

• Hunt Period 1 would run from the second Saturday in September through the second Sunday in October – a 30-day, continuous period. Currently, Hunt Period 1 is broken up into three, four-day hunts stretching across August and September – 12 total hunting days.
• Hunt Period 2 would run from Dec. 1 through Dec. 15 – a 15-day period. Currently, Hunt Period 2 runs from Dec. 13 through Dec. 21 – a nine-day period.

Combined, the two hunting periods would provide 45 total days of harvest time, more than double the current 21 total days of harvest time. The proposals, which do not affect the 2025 elk hunting season, must be approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.

In addition to making Hunt Period 1 longer and continuous, the change would move the period later in the season when the weather is generally colder and better for elk hunting. Read more

Help fight hunger and ensure Michiganders have access to a nutritious protein source when they need it the most by contributing to the DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program.

The program makes a positive difference in communities across Michigan, connecting hunters, wild game processors and charities to feed those in need.

Hunters can share their harvest by donating their deer at a participating processor or by taking part in Hunters Feeding Michigan deer donation drives. We’ll be taking deer donations in several locations across the state – including Clare, Eau Claire, Escanaba, Gaylord, Howard City, Linwood and Sterling Heights – Nov. 21-23. Read more

Trophy Scan, the most innovative scoring technology in the hunting industry, has just launched an upgraded version of its mobile app – now available free to download on the Apple App Store.

This latest update gives hunters the ability to scan, score, store and share their trophies faster and easier than ever before, delivering instant, accurate scoring right from the field. Using your phone’s camera, Trophy Scan creates a precise 3D model of your Whitetail, Mule Deer, or Elk in minutes – providing a reliable, repeatable digital score that takes the guesswork out of traditional measuring. Stop Guessing. Start Scoring.

Scan. Score. Store. Share.

With Trophy Scan, every hunter can now: Read more

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This fall, the Department of Natural Resources wants to say “thank you” to Michigan hunters. The DNR’s Hunter Appreciation: Deer Drop-In Mondays are happening at locations across the state, and all hunters are invited to drop-in and say hello. Harvested deer are welcome but certainly not required!

Each Deer Drop-In Monday offers the chance to bring in a deer or lower jaw for aging, pick up free hunting swag* like patches, stickers, hand warmers, field-dressing gloves and more, and connect with DNR staff and fellow hunters and talk about the season. We hope you’ll stop by and share your story with us.

Mark your calendar and drop in at a location near you!

*Swag may vary by location, while supplies last.

Remaining event dates – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the following Mondays:

• Nov. 3.
• Nov. 17.
• Dec. 1. Read more