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MDNR Report
Whitetail Deer
The Michigan DNR has released its annual deer hunting preview just ahead of the deer hunting seasons, which begin Sept. 11. Overall, conditions are looking excellent for the upcoming seasons, and deer hunters can expect hunting to be as good as or better than last year.
Hunters who have viewed the 2021 Hunting Digest may have noticed a few regulation changes in place this year, including a universal antlerless license that can be used across deer management units in most of the state. Some northern Upper Peninsula DMUs are closed to antlerless deer hunting, and two U.P. DMUs, 351 and 352, require an access permit along with the universal antlerless license. See pages 60 and 61 in the 2021 Hunting Digest for more details.
"These regulation changes reflect the evolution of deer hunting in Michigan," said Chad Stewart, DNR Deer and Elk Program specialist. "The last 20 years have resulted in dramatic and sustained declines in hunter numbers. When combined with an abundant and resilient deer herd that continues to grow, and the added challenge of managing deer diseases, a change that represented this shifting dynamic was necessary."
Regional outlooks follow. The full 2021 deer hunting preview is available at Michigan.gov/Deer.
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IDNR Report
Indiana DNR’s Division of State Parks is seeking volunteer hunters to participate in deer management hunts at 17 locations this fall.
Properties where hunting will be allowed with firearms only (i.e., any firearm legal to take deer on public land in Indiana) are Chain O’Lakes, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles, and Whitewater Memorial state parks, and Cave River Valley Natural Area.
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MDNR Report
The wait is over! You can pick up your 2020 deer patch at one of the DNR customer service centers or field offices listed below, while supplies last. After a long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these offices have reopened to the public three days a week.
These customer service centers and field offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from now until Labor Day. Starting Sept. 7, they will be open Monday through Friday.
To obtain a deer patch, you will need to show either a kill tag or a photo of your 2020 deer. Supplies are limited and will not be restocked.
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MDNR Report
Doe Deer
Preparing for antlerless deer hunting will be a little different this year, as most deer hunters will not need to apply for an antlerless license. Hunters in specific areas may need to apply for an access permit.
For most deer hunters, a universal antlerless license is all that will be needed to hunt antlerless deer. This license is valid on public and private lands in all deer seasons. It can be used across deer management units open to antlerless deer hunting.
Select hunters will need to apply for an access permit to hunt deer in certain areas of the Upper Peninsula and in reserved deer hunts at the Sharonville State Game Area, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Shiawassee River National Wildlife Refuge and Shiawassee River State Game Area.
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MDNR Report
If you’re an early bird when it comes to buying licenses, we wanted to let you know about a few changes to antlerless deer licenses that will make your purchase choices easier.
Deer Management Unit-specific antlerless deer licenses have been replaced with a universal antlerless license that can be used across multiple DMUs on public or private land.
- Antlerless licenses may now be purchased without an application for use in the Lower Peninsula and portions of the south-central Upper Peninsula (DMUs 022, 122, 055, 255, 155 and 121).
- In the mid-zone Upper Peninsula, a deer hunting access permit must accompany each universal antlerless license. The deer hunting access permit, intended to limit participation where the population can be sensitive to harsh winter weather, will be available through a drawing. The access permits will be available by lottery in two DMUs: DMU 351 (consisting of DMUs 117, 017, 149, 249, 349 and 021) and DMU 352 (consisting of DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252). The application period for the access permits will be July 15 - Aug. 15.
- The northernmost DMUs of the U.P. (DMUs 127, 066, 131, 042, 031, 007 and 048) are closed to antlerless deer hunting in all seasons.
- If you hunt in Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda and/or Presque Isle counties (DMU 487), you may purchase a reduced-cost antlerless deer license for $5. The DMU 487 antlerless license may be used on public and private lands in those six counties only, which includes DMU 452. People hunting in those counties may also purchase the universal antlerless license for $20 to hunt those counties or any other qualifying DMU as mentioned above.
The 2021 deer hunting regulations will be printed in the 2021 Hunting Digest, which is expected to be finalized in late spring and available at license agent locations and online at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests around July 1.
More information on deer hunting in Michigan is available at Michigan.gov/Deer.