Hunting News

Deer hunting seasons open Sept. 19-20

Deer hunting seasons open Sept. 19-20

By Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The early antlerless firearm season opens Sept. 19-20 on private lands only in all mainland Lower Peninsula deer management units. Find the open Deer Management Units here.

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.

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 online.

Archery deer hunting is open statewide Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Jan. 1.

The Independence Hunt, a firearm deer hunt for hunters with disabilities, will take place on private lands, and some public lands requiring an access permit, Oct. 15 to 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 in the Michigan Hunting Digest.

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