AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Michigan Deer Harvest Surpasses 42,000 Ahead of Halloween Weekend
As Michigan's archery season progresses through its fourth week, over 42,000 deer have been harvested statewide, with new totals reflecting the efforts of hunters as Halloween weekend arrives.
Breakdown of Harvest Totals
To date, 28,094 antlered deer—roughly 66% of the total—have been reported, with an additional 14,546 antlerless deer. Several counties across the state have posted significant numbers, with some individual counties recording multiple hundreds of harvested deer.
Recent Increases in County Harvests
Since the last update on October 26, the statewide total has increased by 6,375 deer. Most of this recent uptick is attributed to an additional 4,858 antlered and 1,517 antlerless deer being reported. Newly released figures show that Newaygo and Montcalm counties saw the highest week-over-week increases—each adding 212 more reported deer to their totals.
Counties With Highest Harvest Totals
- Newaygo County: 1,339
- Montcalm County: 1,259
- Kent County: 1,167
- Saginaw County: 1,154
- St. Clair County: 1,141
These counties lead Michigan in the current archery season's deer harvest totals, reflecting robust participation in hunting activities as the season continues.
Reporting a Deer Harvest in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers two primary methods for hunters to report their deer harvests. Reporting online is available at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport. Hunters need their kill tag license number and date of birth to begin a report. Alternatively, hunters can log in to their eLicense accounts to access and complete the harvest report. Account creation is available for those without an existing login.
The DNR also provides the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app, accessible via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This app can be used to streamline and simplify the deer reporting process for hunters across the state.
Regional Harvest Figures
An overview of county-by-county totals highlights the distribution of reported deer harvests across Michigan:
- Thumb Region: Huron (588), Sanilac (935), Tuscola (878)
- Big Rapids Area: Mecosta (898), Osceola (733), Lake (490), Newaygo (1,339), Montcalm (1,259)
- Manistee Area: Manistee (448), Benzie (172), Mason (685)
- Midland Area: Midland (645), Bay (335), Gladwin (662), Saginaw (1,154)
These figures illustrate active participation and varying harvest yields across different Michigan regions as archery season continues.
Ongoing Archery Season and DNR Resources
With archery season ongoing, the Michigan DNR emphasizes the importance of timely reporting for accurate records and resource management. The streamlined digital and mobile reporting options are designed to encourage hunter compliance and ensure up-to-date harvest data throughout the hunting season.
Source: manisteenews.com.
