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Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, aimed at arming deer hunters with important, useful information:
See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.
PHOTOS: Larger, high-res versions of some of the photos used in this email are available: white-tailed deer, Hunt Fish app, hunter orange and successful hunt.
 Before you head out in hopes of bagging a whitetail, bag the DNR Hunt Fish app to make hunting easier.
Available for download on the App Store for Apple devices and on the Google Play store for Android devices, the app is an essential tool that keeps your hunting info at your fingertips. Download the Hunt Fish app to:
- Buy hunting applications, licenses and digital eHarvest tags. The option to use eHarvest tags — and to never need to worry about losing your license — is only available when you purchase through the app. You can validate eHarvest tags directly on the app immediately after you take the deer, with no internet connection required.
- Report harvests.
- Look up regulations.
- Find your license history, including point/chance balances.
- Get timely and important DNR messages.
- View maps to locations including shooting ranges and state parks.
- See current weather conditions and sunrise/sunset tables before heading into the field.
Learn more at Michigan.gov/DNRHuntFishApp. If you have questions about the app, call the DNR licensing help desk at 517-284-6057 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
With archery deer season well underway and regular firearm deer season quickly approaching, many hunters agree this is the best time of the year! Here are a few reminders to ensure a safe, efficient time in the woods.
Digital eHarvest tags are now available for deer hunters. You can download the DNR HuntFish app on your mobile device and buy your tags using that option. If you purchase your licenses using the eLicense website, those kill tags will still be mailed to you, which could take a couple weeks. You can also purchase physical kill tags at a retail location.
Before field-dressing or moving a deer, kill tags must be validated to include the month and date the deer was harvested, animal gender and number of antler points, if any. For eHarvest tags, complete this validation step on your mobile device. No cellular service is required. If you are using physical kill tags, properly place them on your deer.
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Keep the hunter orange handy
Take the time now to ensure you have the required hunter orange garments ready to wear. While not required during archery season, all deer hunters — including those using archery equipment — are required by law to wear hunter orange during Michigan's regular firearm deer season, Nov. 15-30.
Acceptable items include caps, hats, vests, jackets or raincoats of hunter orange that are worn as the outermost layers of clothing at all times and visible from all directions. Hunter orange is required on private or shared public land, even if hunting from within a blind.
These garments may have a camouflage pattern if that pattern is at least 50% hunter orange. The DNR recommends wearing as much hunter orange as possible to increase your visibility to other hunters. Don’t worry; hunter orange does not deter deer.
Questions about hunting licenses? Call 517-284-6057.
Questions about hunter safety? Email DNR-LED-RecSafety@Michigan.gov.
Learn about deer hunting seasons, regulations and more at Michigan.gov/Deer.
Whether you’re a fan of archery season, firearm season or both, the return of crisp, fall weather gets deer hunters thinking about one thing: getting outdoors. Before going afield, though, the DNR wants all hunters to stop, think and plan for the safest possible outing.
Lt. Tom Wanless, who heads the DNR's Recreational Safety, Education and Enforcement Section, said that although some tips seem like common sense, it’s critical to consider safety basics.
“Success is not always about filling your tag, it’s about enjoying the hunt, connecting with nature and returning home at the end of the day to share that experience with friends and family,” Wanless said.
General reminders
- Tell someone the specific time, duration and location that you will be hunting and schedule check-in times.
- Update your contact if plans change. Medical incidents are unplanned — staying in contact with someone who knows your plan could save your life.
- Carry a two-way communication device that receives service in remote areas, such as a phone or two-way radio. Ensure the device is always within reach in case you need to call for help.
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During firearm season
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Be aware of your surroundings; know your target and what is beyond it.
- Unload firearms when crossing obstacles and/or getting in or out of an elevated stand.
- Obey “no trespassing” signs; they are there for a reason.
- Obtain landowner permission to retrieve game that has wandered onto private property.
- A piece of advice that bears repeating: Wear hunter orange hats, vests and other items to ensure you are visible to other hunters from all directions.
Get more information and guidance including firearm, tree stand and trespass videos at Michigan.gov/HuntingSafety. Find the latest season and regulation details in the 2026 DNR Hunting Regulations Summary.
Questions about safety? Email DNR-LED-RecSafety@Michigan.gov.
Beyond the regular safety checks hunters go through before going afield, the American Heart Association has another recommendation to ensure everyone gets home safely: Learn the signs of a heart attack or stroke and put a heart-smart plan in place.
According to the AHA, there are several simple steps hunters can take to reduce their risk of a cardiac emergency while enjoying the outdoors. Here are a few:
- Give yourself a break! Take frequent rests so you don’t overstress your heart, and pay attention to how your body feels.
- Stay hydrated and choose healthy snack options.
- Prior to hunting, consult a doctor if you have a medical concern or question or if you are experiencing symptoms of a medical condition (like heart disease or diabetes), especially if hunting is a substantial increase over your usual level of activity.
- Learn CPR. In fact, find the right CPR and first-aid training and be ready for any health emergency. No time right now for a class? Try an AHA 90-second tutorial; those 90 seconds could help save a life.
- Minutes matter! Don't wait to call 911 if you feel like something is off.
Know the signs
Additionally, learning the different signs of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke can prepare you for faster, confident response in an emergency. Short of breath? Arm weakness? Pain in your jaw or neck? Change in vision? Cold sweat? If you or someone in your hunting party exhibits any of these symptoms, don't risk valuable time wondering what they mean. Check out the AHA Heart Healthy Hunting fact sheet and arm yourself with accurate, easy-to-understand information.
Questions about heart health? Contact Remi Monaghan, director of communications and marketing for the American Heart Association in west Michigan, at 248-840-3339.
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The DNR continues to see similar levels of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in 2026 compared to previous years. This viral disease is sometimes fatal in deer and spreads by biting midges. It typically occurs in late summer and early fall, until frost kills the midges.
To confirm this disease through laboratory testing, the DNR must collect a sample within 16 hours of a deer’s death. In 2026, EHD has been confirmed in deer from Allegan, Branch, Clinton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Lenawee, Montcalm, Oakland, Oceana, Saginaw and Washtenaw counties. DNR biologists and disease staff also recognize that EHD is occurring in other areas where laboratory confirmation has not yet been made.
The disease can have a dramatic local impact on a landscape, sometimes wiping out groups of deer in small areas. This can lead to significant impacts on family hunting traditions, investments in private hunting lands and hunting opportunities on local public lands. It's important to remember that local herds can and do recover from impacts of this disease, usually within three to five years.
If you suspect you have found a deer that has contracted or died from EHD, please submit a diseased wildlife report through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field observation reporting system.
 Hunters know that some of the most beautiful places you'll ever see are right here in Michigan! See more pictures by Michigan state parks social ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, email Stephanie Yancer. This photo is by Sarah Goodwin, for the Michigan DNR, at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Chippewa County.
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