LANSING, Mich. — Don’t forget, Michigan hunters, there’s still time shoot deer in 2024, including later-antlerless firearm and archery deer seasons that stretch through Jan. 1. This is followed by an extended antlerless firearm season for the southern Lower Peninsula in 2025.
“We encourage hunters to take those opportunities,” said Andrew Vermeesch, legislative counsel for Michigan Farm Bureau. “Some of those opportunities include this additional pilot firearm season for the southern Lower Peninsula, which includes a discounted fee of $5 per license.”
Until Jan. 1, 2025, hunters can participate in late-antlerless firearm season on public and private lands in the Lower Peninsula. (See page 9 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for a map of open deer management units.) During this season, a hunter may harvest an antlerless deer with an unused single deer license (including the license issued through the Mentored Hunting Program), deer combo license (regular and/or restricted tags), universal antlerless license or deer management assistance permit if issued for the area/land where hunting.
Michigan hunters can also participate in late-segment archery season through Jan. 1 on public and private land. Changes to antlerless harvest have occurred in the Upper Peninsula. Antlerless hunting with archery equipment on the single deer license and deer combo license is prohibited after Dec. 10 for units 027, 036, 152, 252, 021, 349, 249, 017, 117 and 149. Antlered hunting with archery equipment can continue through Jan. 1 in these units. (See page 14 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for the Upper Peninsula antler point restrictions chart.)
The extended antlerless season starts Jan. 2 and ends Jan. 12 for Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, and Ottawa counties.
“Managing the deer population is crucial, and hunting remains the primary tool we must have to keep numbers in check,” Vermeesch said. “Antlerless seasons are another tool to combat deer overpopulation and rampant crop damage experienced by farmers.”
Harvest reporting
Deer hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer (to another person, a processer or taxidermist). Reporting your harvest takes about three minutes and provides critical information for managing Michigan’s deer herd.
Find the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary and report your harvest at Michigan.gov/Deer.
For more information on firearm deer season, hunting safety, lands open to hunting, and hunting regulations, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting.
For those interested in a hunting lease, visit Michigan Farm Bureau’s website.
— Michigan Farm Bureau
