Current/Upcoming Seasons

• Deer Season Dates
  • Early Archery: Oct. 1 through Nov. 14, 2017
  • Late Archery: Dec. 1, 2017 through Jan. 1, 2018
  • Regular Firearm: Nov. 15 through Nov. 30
  • Muzzleloading
    • Zone 1: Dec. 1 through Dec. 10
    • Zone 2: Dec. 1 through Dec. 10
    • Zone 3: Dec. 1 through Dec. 17
  • Late Antlerless Firearm: Dec. 18, 2017 through Jan. 1, 2018

Archery Season

Season opens Oct. 1! Watch the video below for things you should know. Happy Hunting!

Wildlife Biologist Deer Season Updates

Are you wondering what the upcoming archery deer season is looking like for your area? Here are your local wildlife biologist updates!

Know Before You Go

Part of hunting preparation includes reviewing and understanding pertinent deer regulations. Visit mi.gov/deer, which provides highlights of regulation changes, information about deer management and links to additional resources, such as deer check stations. Refer to the 2017 Hunting and Trapping Digest and Antlerless Digest, also available at DNR Customer Service Centers and license agents, for a map of all Deer Management Units (DMUs) and other regulation details.

An overview of the 2016 deer season and other information such as deer harvest numbers can be found in the 2016 Deer Season Summary (PDF).

Wondering what to expect for this year’s deer hunting season? Check out the 2017 Michigan Deer Hunting Forecast (PDF)!

Antler Point Restrictions (APRs)

APRs vary throughout the state based on hunting location. Check out the map from the Hunting and Trapping Digest to see APRs in your area.

Mandatory Deer Check in DMUs 333 and 359

• DMU 333 includes: Bath, DeWitt, Eagle, Olive, Riley, Victor, Watertown, and Westphalia townships in Clinton County; Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing, Meridian, Wheatfield, and Williamstown townships in Ingham County; Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County; Delta, Oneida, and Roxand townships in Eaton County; and Danby and Portland townships in Ionia County. 
• DMU 359 consists of Mecosta, Austin, Morton, Hinton, Aetna, and Deerfield townships in Mecosta County, and Cato, Winfield, and Reynolds townships in Montcalm County.
• Due to chronic wasting disease (CWD) being detected in these areas, deer registration is mandatory for deer harvested in DMUs 333 and 359; however, we highly encourage deer harvested in DMU 419 also be checked.
• All deer harvested in DMUs 333 or 359 must be submitted to a DNR check station that is located within that DMU within 72 hours of harvest.
• If your deer tests positive for CWD, you will be notified by phone. If CWD is not found, test results will be posted online at mi.gov/dnrlab within seven business days of head or carcass submission.
• Deer check station hours and locations can be found at mi.gov/deer.

Drummond Island Deer Regulation Changes

New for 2017: DMU 117 (Drummond Island) has a new three-point antler point restriction on the single deer license (the antler point restriction on the regular and restricted tags of the combination license remains in place) and a one-buck limit for the entire deer season. This means any hunter participating in the deer hunting season on Drummond Island may harvest only one buck for the entire deer season, and that buck must have a least three antler points on one side, each 1 inch or greater in length. Drummond Island hunters may purchase a combination license, but the second tag must be used in any DMU other than 117.

Places to Hunt

Mi-HUNT

• No matter where you are in Michigan, you can find public hunting land. This interactive map application, which now works on mobile devices, contains the most up-to-date information to help you plan your next hunting trip, and includes both public hunting land and private land open to the public for hunting.

HAP - Hunting Access Program

• There are private lands open to public hunting through the Hunting Access Program. HAP is a voluntary land-leasing program. There are thousands of private-land acres across the state that are open to public hunting.

Questions?
Call 517-284-WILD (9453)