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Before you head into the field, be sure to check the latest hunting regulations in your area by looking at the 2020 Hunting Digest. The sections below refer to specific pages of the digest for more information on these topics.
Baiting and feeding is banned in the entire Lower Peninsula and the Core CWD Surveillance Area in the Upper Peninsula.
- Exception: Hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements may use bait, five days before and during the Liberty and Independence hunts only, in areas where baiting is banned. See pages 33-34.
- Note: Youth hunters may not use bait in areas where baiting is banned during the Liberty Hunt.
- See pages 44 and 50 for additional information about the baiting and feeding bans.
Antler point restrictions (APR)
- New this year: mainland Lower Peninsula hunters may harvest an antlered or antlerless deer on their deer or deer combo licenses during archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
- Be sure to check the APR chart before heading out this year:
- Lower Peninsula APR chart, see pages 42-43.
- Upper Peninsula APR chart, see pages 48-49.
This firearm deer hunt will take place Sept.12-13 statewide on private and public lands open to firearm deer hunting. Individuals with qualifying disabilities may participate in this hunt in addition to youth 16 years of age and younger.
Youth hunting in areas with a baiting ban in place may not use bait during the Liberty Hunt. Antler point restrictions do not apply for the Liberty Hunt. Youth and hunters with disabilities may harvest either an antlered or antlerless deer on a deer or deer combo license. Youth age 16 and under may hunt with a firearm on public land.
See pages 29 and 33 for details.
The early antlerless firearm season is open on private lands only in all mainland Lower Peninsula deer management units. See page 40 for open DMUs.
Valid licenses for the early and late antlerless firearm deer seasons include: a private-land antlerless deer license issued for the DMU upon which you are hunting, a Deer Management Assistance permit valid for that DMU, a deer or deer combination license (used for take of antlerless deer only during the early or late antlerless seasons), or a deer kill tag issued under the mentored youth license which must be used to harvest an antlerless deer during the antlerless only seasons.
Leftover antlerless licenses
All remaining antlerless deer licenses will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until license quotas are met in each DMU. Current leftover license availability may be viewed at Michigan.gov/Deer.
Archery deer hunting is open statewide Oct. 1-Nov. 14 and Dec. 1-Jan. 1.
This firearm deer hunt will take place on private lands, and some public lands requiring an access permit, Oct. 15-18.
During this hunt, a deer or deer combo license may be used to take an antlered or antlerless deer. Antler point restrictions do not apply. An antlerless deer license or deer management assistance permit may be used to take one antlerless deer only, if issued for the area/land being hunted on. The bag limit for this season is one deer. All hunters participating in this season must wear hunter orange.
Additional details can be found on page 34.
Check out the DNR's annual deer hunting preview, including a regional forecast. Overall, conditions are looking excellent for the upcoming seasons, and hunters can expect conditions that meet or exceed 2019.
Learn more about deer management and hunting at Michigan.gov/Deer.
DNR deer check station hours, days of operation and locations will be limited in 2020. DNR deer check stations will not be available in September.
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