Strong Start to Michigan’s Archery Deer Hunting Season

Michigan’s archery deer hunting season began with a significant harvest. Just over one week into the season, 12,419 deer were harvested statewide as of October 9, according to Hearst Community Newspapers. This early segment showcases robust participation and a successful kickoff for bow hunters across Michigan.

Breakdown of Harvested Deer

The total harvest includes 7,710 antlered deer and 4,709 antlerless deer. This data is drawn from the most recent Michigan Harvest report, reflecting the enthusiasm for both types of harvest permitted during the archery season.

Comparing Harvest Numbers Year-Over-Year

The first week’s michigan deer harvest tally marks an increase of nearly 5,000 deer compared to the same time last year. On October 8, 2025, hunters had reported harvesting 7,530 deer. This substantial year-over-year growth indicates increased activity in deer hunting season participation and reporting.

Leading Counties in Deer Harvests

St. Clair County leads the state for the archery deer hunting harvest this year, with a total of 404 deer. Of these, 270 were antlered deer and 134 were antlerless deer. Lapeer County follows with 387 deer harvested. Other notable counties include:

• Big Rapids Area: Mecosta (232), Osceola (149), Lake (102), Newaygo (363), Montcalm (353)
• Thumb Region: Huron (221), Sanilac (302), Tuscola (289)
• Manistee Area: Manistee (100), Benzie (50), Mason (184)
• Midland Area: Midland (170), Bay (96), Gladwin (192), Saginaw (292)

These michigan hunting counties are among those seeing high levels of activity as the bow hunting michigan season progresses.

Deer Harvest Reporting Process

Reporting harvested deer is required and designed to be quick for hunters. According to the Michigan DNR, there are two main methods for reporting:

1. Online Submission: Hunters can report their harvesting at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport. They need to enter their kill tag license number and date of birth or access eLicense with a driver’s license and birthdate or by using their account credentials.
2. Mobile App: The new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app is available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, providing an on-the-go option for deer harvest reporting.

Archery Season Dates and Participation

The early segment of Michigan’s archery deer hunting season runs from October 1 through November 14. During this period, hunters are encouraged to report their harvests promptly to contribute accurate deer hunting statistics for the state. Efficient deer harvest reporting helps inform management decisions and tracking across the season.

Summary

The strong start to Michigan’s archery deer hunting season reflects an increase in both hunter participation and overall harvest, with notable increases compared to the previous year. Counties like St. Clair and Lapeer are leading in reported deer harvested. The Michigan DNR continues to make deer harvest reporting accessible, whether online or via a new mobile app, as the archery season continues through November 14.

Source: manisteenews.com.