When state officials put out their 2025 deer hunting preview, they suggested that this year’s harvest could be strong, as it was in 2024: Harvest reports so far are proving them right.
Hunters have taken 39,434 deer already this year, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, Oct. 15.
The DNR said several factors across the state could impact deer harvest totals as fall continues. High snowfall last winter could lead to lower deer numbers in areas of the U.P., an ongoing EHD outbreak in the southern Lower Peninsula, and the March 2025 ice storm in the northern Lower Peninsula all could affect hunting this fall.
“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.”
Since the start of the fall hunting season on Sept. 13, hunters have reported 3,101 bucks, or antlered deer, taken and 16,085 does, or antlerless deer.
Saginaw County hunters led the way with 1,696 deer harvested this fall, including 241 bucks, according to the MDNR.
Here’s a look at the first few weeks of the 2025-26 Michigan deer hunting season.
The numbers across the state
As of Oct. 15, here are the top five counties for total deer harvested:
Where did hunters shoot the fewest deer?
As of Nov. 18, here are the five counties with the fewest deer harvested:
Where were the most bucks shot?
As of Nov. 18, here are the five counties with the most bucks harvested:
Where were the most does shot?
As of Nov. 18, here are the five counties with the most does harvested:
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.
As of Sept. 25, hunters had taken 21,215 deer in 2025, more than half — 11,800 — through deer damage permits. Another 5,200 were killed during the youth/Liberty hunt and 3,400 during the early antlerless firearm season.
How is the ice storm impacting hunters?
The DNR says the historic ice storm earlier this year that left thousands of residents cold without power, also left snapped trees and broken branches throughout northern Michigan, despite cleanup efforts.
Backcountry tracks might remain inaccessible and hunting areas might look different to hunters, the DNR says.
What is Epizootic hemorrhagic disease?
EHD is a viral, sometimes fatal, disease that affects white-tailed deer in late summer and early fall. Infected deer with EHD often seek water to lower their body temperature and rehydrate.
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 have harvested more than 39,000 deer. Here’s where they’re seeing success
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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