Michigan hunters kicked off the start of firearm season by taking more than 41,000 deer on opening weekend, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR said several factors across the state could impact deer harvest totals in 2025. High snowfall last winter could lead to lower deer numbers in areas of the Upper Peninsula, an ongoing EHD outbreak in the southern Lower Peninsula, and the March 2025 ice storm in the northern Lower Peninsula also could affect hunting.
“Hunters always benefit from being prepared,” said Brent Rudolph, the deer, elk and moose management specialist for the DNR’s Wildlife Division. “These are extra factors to look out for this year.”
In the first two days of the 15-day season, Michigan hunters have take 41,573 deer, including 10,851 bucks.
Since the start of the fall hunting season on Sept. 13, hunters have reported 88,966 bucks, or antlered deer, taken and 50,301 does, or antlerless deer. Hunters in Michigan so far in 2025, have taken 139,345 deer as of 10 a.m. Nov. 17.
In 2024, Michigan hunters harvested 136,524 deer over the entire firearm season, including 50,252 does, or antlerless deer, and 86,272 bucks, or antlered deer.
Here’s a look at the first firearm season weekend numbers of the 2025-26 Michigan deer hunting season.
The numbers across the state for firearm season
As of Nov. 17, here are the top five counties for total deer harvested during regular firearm season:
Where did hunters shoot the fewest deer?
As of Nov. 17, here are the five counties with the fewest deer harvested during regular firearm season:
Where were the most bucks shot?
As of Nov. 17, here are the five counties with the most bucks harvested during regular firearm season:
Where were the most does shot?
As of Nov. 17, here are the five counties with the most does harvested during regular firearm season:
Deer hunting numbers in 2024 were strong
A report from the Michigan DNR shows for all 2024 seasons combined, 532,926 people hunted deer, which was 1% greater than the year before.
Data shows 604,088 people purchased a license in 2024.
According to the DNR’s deer harvest reporting site, hunters claimed 299,517 deer for all 2024 seasons.
Where can I find property to hunt near me?
Generally, you can hunt on land you own if it meets safety regulations. You also can hunt on other private land, with permission. You can find places to hunt by visiting Michigan.gov/MiHunt.
Some state parks allow hunting, but national wildlife refuges are closed to hunting unless expressly permitted.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan hunters claim 40K deer on opening weekend. Where most deer were shot
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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