(WWJ) Deer hunters are back in the woods and fields across Michigan.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, is the start of bow hunting season, which runs through November 14, and starts again on December 1.
Firearm hunting begins in mid-November in Michigan.
Here's the complete 24-25 deer season schedule, as provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
Independence hunt: Oct. 17 – 20, 2024 (a firearm deer hunting season in Michigan that's open to veterans and people with disabilities)
Archery: Oct. 1 – Nov. 14 and Dec. 1, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025
Extended 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.
Regular firearm: Nov. 15 – 30, 2024
Muzzleloading (Zones 1, 2 and 3): Dec. 6 – 15, 2024
Late antlerless firearm: Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025 on private and public lands in the Lower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 115, 145 and 245).
A new extended late antlerless firearm season: Jan. 2-12, 2025, in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Shiawassee, Wayne and Washtenaw counties; DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties); DMU 312 (Branch, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties); and DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties).A discounted antlerless license for this extended season will be available for $5 per license (in December).Unused tags (DMAP, Combos, Deer, Universal Antlerless) are eligible to be used. Season bag limit is 10 deer.
All Michigan deer hunters should note that mandatory online harvest reporting remains in effect, which means all deer must be reported within 72 hours of harvest or before you transfer possession, whichever comes first.
Here's what to know about that (from the DNR):
What is mandatory harvest reporting and when did it take effect? Beginning in 2022, there was a new requirement of all successful deer hunters to report their deer harvest through our website or mobile app. The system will allow us a near real-time estimate of deer harvest as it occurs.
Hunters must report their deer within 72 hours of harvest, or before they transfer possession.
Who is required to report their deer harvest? All successful deer hunters with a state-issued deer license, including those with deer management assistance permits, are required to report their deer harvest.
NOTE: Hunters who wish to submit a deer head for TB or CWD testing must first report their harvest. Heads will not be accepted without a harvest report.
How do I report my harvest? You can report your harvest through eLicense (Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses) or the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Once your harvest report is completed, you will be given a confirmation number and the option to receive a copy by email.
• To report your harvest through eLicense, visit Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport on a computer or mobile device to go directly to the reporting page. Enter your kill tag license number and date of birth to begin the harvest report. If you don’t have your hunting license/kill tag number, you can log in to eLicense (using your driver’s license and birthdate, or user ID and password), then click on the Harvest Report tab to see the tags available to report. If you don’t already have an account, you will have the chance to create one to enter your report.
• To report your harvest through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, download or open the app on a mobile device. You must sign in or create an account to use the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Select the kill tag you used and enter the harvest report information. The app is available for download at the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Scan here to download the app.
Deer hunters should note that you're still required to tag your deer, and you must still report any deer that you process yourself.
Need more details? Deer hunters can find all the hunting regulation information they need from the Michigan DNR HERE.
To buy your hunting license online, visit this link.