9 Need-to-Know Things About Michigan Deer Season

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Tens of thousands of Michigan residents and non-residents will take to fields and forests sunday for the beginning of deer season, which runs through Nov. 30.

According to the magazine, the odds of scoring a trophy buck are even better in the lower two tiers of Michigan counties this fall.

“The reason why is more hunters than ever before are voluntarily passing up small or young bucks to let them get older,” Game and Fish wrote. “The fact that most of the largest-antlered deer recorded in Michigan every year come from counties where mandatory antler restrictions are not in effect is confirmation that voluntary restrictions work just fine.”

Here, from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, are nine things you need to know:

1. Wear blaze orange so other hunters will see you. It’s not just a suggestion, but a requirement.
2. You must be licensed. Licenses may be purchased at a license agent or online at E-License. Once you’ve gotten your tags, don’t loan them to anyone else. Public- and private-land antlerless deer licenses still available.
3. Antler point restrictions vary, depending on the are where you’re hunting.
4. The use of drones to locate deer or harass hunters is against the law. Also, be aware of baiting and feeding rules and restrictions for deer in Michigan.
5. If you bag a deer, don’t forget to take it to a DNR check station and pick up one of the DNR’s deer cooperator patches. Find the check station nearest you on the 2015 Deer Check Station Map.
6. Bovine tuberculosis is still a major concern in the northeastern Lower Peninsula deer herd, so please be sure to bring your deer to a check station if you hunt in DMU 487.
7. Due to finding chronic wasting disease in free-ranging deer in Ingham County, there is mandatory deer registration for the following townships in Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties: Alaiedon, Bath, Delhi, DeWitt, Lansing, Meridian, Wheatfield, Williamstown and Woodhull.
8. If you don’t have permission to hunt on private land, check out places to hunt on public land at Mi-HUNT, an interactive mapping application that can help hunters plan their next trip.
9. Hunters who have filled their freezers but want to keep hunting are encouraged to consider donating a deer through Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger. Find a participating processor at www.sportsmenagainsthunger.org.

» Photo via Michigan Department of Natural Resources