NRC approves MI deer hunting regulation changes for upcoming season

A new extended late antlerless firearm season in January 2025, with a discounted fee of $5 per license, is the most significant change approved by the state’s Natural Resource Commission, according to Michigan Farm Bureau Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch. Image credit: MDNR

Date Posted: July 26, 2024

Michigan Farm Bureau

Changes for Michigan hunters this fall include, among other regulations, restrictions on antlerless permits in the Upper Peninsula and earlier- and later-antlerless firearm seasons for the Lower Peninsula.

On July 11, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved the scheduled deer hunting regulations for this fall, with additional updates taking effect in January 2025.

According to Michigan Farm Bureau Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch, the revised hunting regulations expand flexibility in firearm options during muzzleloading season and implementation of a pilot program for an extended antlerless season in January.

Calling the revisions a step in the right direction, Vermeesch expects the regulations will help maximize hunting opportunities — a crucial tool for deer population control.

“However, we need to continue exploring additional methods, both within and beyond hunting, to manage the deer population effectively before it escalates further,” Vermeesch said. “Farmers across the state are facing increased challenges from an escalating deer population, causing major and costly crop damage.”

The most significant change approved by the NRC, according to Vermeesch, is the new extended late antlerless firearm season, with a discounted fee of $5 per license. Scheduled to open Jan. 2-12, 2025, the late antlerless season include the following counties:

Wide shot of a buck and two does standing in a clearing in a field with names of counties with upcoming regulation changes listed above them.

Other changes for the Lower Peninsula include expanding early and late antlerless firearm seasons in open counties to include public land in addition to private land. The early antlerless firearm season runs Sept. 21-22, 2024, and the late antlerless firearm season runs Dec. 16, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025.

Archery season is extended through Jan. 31, 2025, for select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.

Muzzleloading season will be expanded to include all legal firearms in Zones 2 and 3. If you are hunting deer during the muzzleloading season in the Lower Peninsula, you can use all legal firearms to take a deer. If you are hunting in the limited firearms deer zone, you must follow equipment requirements for that zone.

In regard to the Upper Peninsula, a three-point antler point restriction — or APR — was implemented on the single deer license in DMU 122.

In the western central part of the Upper Peninsula’s DMU 352, when using a universal antlerless deer license it is required to also have an antlerless deer hunting access permit. DMU 352 is made up of DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252. 500 access permits will be available in DMU 352 with applications opening July 15 to Aug. 15.

The eastern central part of the U.P., DMU 351, is closed to antlerless hunting with a universal antlerless deer license in 2024. DMU 351 includes DMUs 017, 021, 117, 149, 249 and 349.

See the online deer management units map for locations of all DMUs.

Antlerless deer can be taken in DMUs 017, 021, 027, 036, 117, 149, 152, 249, 252 and 349 during archery season on the single deer license or the combination deer license until Dec. 10, 2024.

According to Vermeesch, baiting regulations, as well as antler point restrictions (except for DMU 122), remain unchanged from 2023. The combination license, with opportunity for two antlered deer, also remains unchanged from 2023.