Deer Season Numbers Down

Michigan’s 16-day firearms deer hunting season came to an end Sunday across Michigan and by most accounts, it was, as predicted, not the best of seasons for hunter success. Brent Rudolph, Deer and Elk Program Leader at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says the number of deer checked at its various stations was down significantly from last year. He blames a doubling of license fees this year keeping the number of hunters down, early winter blizzard conditions, especially in the Upper Peninsula, keeping hunters from getting to deer camps, and fewer deer being seen by hunters and DNR officials. Rudolph says the DNR will release Preliminary Firearms Deer Season numbers later this week, but a final tally won’t be completed until next summer following responses to an annual hunter survey once the December bow hunting and Muzzleloaders seasons end later this month. The Muzzleloaders season runs through December 14th, while the late archery season ends on December 31st.