Tens of thousands to take part in fall harvest



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"DNR News"



Nov. 12, 2025
Contact: Brent Rudolph <[email protected]>, 517-730-8802

*Firearm deer hunting season begins Saturday*

A successful deer hunter is pictured with his buck at the state game area.

It’s almost time for Michigan’s popular firearm deer season! This 2025 hunt starts Saturday, Nov. 15, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 30. Hunting will be open statewide on public and private lands.

Last year, hunters harvested nearly 180,000 deer during the two-week regular firearm season, which was about half of the total deer harvest from all seasons combined. Additional upcoming harvest periods include late segment archery (Dec. 1- Jan. 1), muzzleloader season (Dec. 5-14), late antlerless firearm (Dec. 1-Jan. 1) and others.



* Deer season forecast [ #link_1 ]
* Report your deer harvest online [ #link_2 ]
* 2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary out now [ #link_12 ]
* Planning for EHD [ #link_3 ]
* Safety is key to a successful hunt [ #link_4 ]
* Testing deer for disease [ #link_5 ]
* Help control the deer population — harvest a doe [ #link_6 ]
* Support your community, donate a deer [ #link_7 ]
* Hunter appreciation days: Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 [ #link_8 ]
* Purchase a deer patch [ #link_9 ]
* Pure Michigan Hunt [ #link_10 ]
* Questions? Contact us [ #link_11 ]

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Deer season forecast

This year could bring a strong deer hunting season, mirroring a robust 2024, although hunters will encounter varying conditions across the state. Hunters in the northern Lower Peninsula, for example, should be aware of the lingering effects of the devastating March 2025 ice storm that downed trees and limbs across 13 counties. Prepare for your season by checking out our 2025 deer season forecast [ [link removed] ].

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Report your deer harvest online

Online harvest reporting [ [link removed] ] is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer. You can report your deer through the DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ] or at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport [ [link removed] ].

Reporting your harvest gives us a real-time snapshot of how the season is going. Check out harvest totals across the state in the reporting dashboard. [ [link removed] ]

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2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary out now

Our 2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary [ [link removed] ] contains up-to-date information on deer hunting regulations across the state, including season dates, license types and fees, baiting rules, bag limits, deer management unit boundaries and more. For on-demand access to this info that travels where you do, without the need for internet access, download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ].

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Planning for EHD

So far in 2025, epizootic hemorrhagic disease has been confirmed in wild deer in at least 16 counties in southern Michigan: Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Mecosta, Saginaw, Van Buren and Washtenaw. Initial confirmation of EHD mortalities were announced in early September, and frost and snow in early November killed the adult midges that transmit the EHD virus by biting deer.

Learn more about the infectious, often fatal disease at our EHD in white-tailed deer webpage [ [link removed] ].

Though EHD can cause high deer mortality, the impact tends to be localized, with some areas seeing heavy losses while nearby areas show no effects. There is no evidence humans can contract the EDH virus.

Most hunters won’t need to change their harvest plans and should still target antlerless deer. However, some hunters in areas that were highly affected by EHD may consider modifying their harvest plans to reduce hunting pressure while the deer population recovers. After a widespread EHD outbreak in 2012, local herds showed signs of rebounding after just a couple of years and were fully recovered after four to five years.

As always, hunting plans are up to the hunter’s discretion. For those considering moving to a new hunting location this fall, there are ample opportunities for public land hunting across the state. Find new locations through Mi-HUNT [ [link removed] ] or check out a state game/wildlife area or Hunting Access Program properties at our Where to hunt page [ [link removed] ].

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Safety is key to a successful hunt

A young hunter poses with his deer harvest during the youth deer hunt.

With Michigan’s firearm deer season starting Saturday, the DNR reminds everyone to put safety first. All firearm deer hunters should:


* Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
* Be aware of your surroundings – know your target and what is beyond it.
* Unload firearms when crossing obstacles and/or getting in or out of an elevated stand.
* Obey “no trespassing” signs; they are there for a reason.
* Obtain landowner permission to retrieve game that has wandered onto private property.
* Wear “hunter orange.” This is mandatory and increases your visibility to other hunters. Hunter orange garments must be worn as the outer layer of clothing (such as caps, hats, vests or jackets) and must be visible from all directions.

During the firearm deer season, all hunters and nonhunters are encouraged to wear bright colors, especially hunter orange, when recreating near woods or fields where hunting may occur.

Get more hunting and tree stand safety tips at Michigan.gov/HuntingSafety [ [link removed] ]. Questions about safety? Email [email protected].



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Testing deer for disease

Chronic wasting disease

We need hunter assistance with our efforts to monitor chronic wasting disease again this year. CWD is a contagious illness that affects the nervous system of deer and elk. This year, the DNR is conducting focused testing for CWD [ [link removed] ] in 11 counties in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula: Baraga, Chippewa, Dickinson, Houghton, Iosco, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Ogemaw, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft.

CWD testing is free for deer harvested in these counties when submitted through DNR drop boxes and staffed sample submission sites [ [link removed] ]. If you would like to keep the antlers, remove them from the head. All heads tested for CWD are also screened for bovine tuberculosis. Results are posted to the DNR lab results webpage [ [link removed] ]. 

Hunters in all other counties are eligible for free CWD testing by using a free lymph node kit that includes overnight shipping. Hunters must extract lymph nodes to submit to Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Results from deer submitted to MSU will be sent directly to the hunter and will not appear on the DNR lab results webpage. Kits can be picked up from the locations listed on the CWD testing page [ [link removed] ]. Hunters should call the office prior to arriving to ensure someone will be available to assist. 

**Bovine tuberculosis**

Bovine tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease that can infect all mammals, including humans. It’s transmitted either directly (contact between infected and noninfected animals) or indirectly (contaminated feed and water). Hunters should take caution when field dressing deer since humans can become infected with bovine tuberculosis.

This year, the DNR is conducting focused bovine tuberculosis monitoring in 11 counties in the northern Lower Peninsula: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon.

To submit your deer for TB testing, take it to a DNR staffed deer check station, drop box or cooperating processor or taxidermist [ [link removed] ]. Report your harvest and remove deer heads prior to visiting a sample submission site. Learn more on the Bovine tuberculosis page [ [link removed] ].

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Help control the deer population — harvest a doe

a white-tailed doe and buck with 8-10 antler points stand chest-deep in the sparse, golden grass of a sunlit field

In many areas in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, there are more deer than the habitat can support. This overpopulation can cause problems for people, such as more vehicle collisions, damage to crops and gardens, and the spread of wildlife diseases.

Hunting regulations are in place to encourage hunters to harvest more antlerless deer. Hunters play a critical role in helping to manage deer numbers, which is important to protect public safety, reduce property damage and limit disease spread.

If you’re hunting in an area with high deer numbers or an area where chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis are present, consider taking a doe this year to do your part in managing Michigan’s deer herd.

Purchase a universal antlerless license for $20 online at eLicense [ [link removed] ], through the DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ] or anywhere DNR licenses are sold [ [link removed] ].



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Support your community, donate a deer

Help fight hunger and ensure Michiganders have access to a nutritious protein source by taking part in the DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan deer drives. We’ll take deer donations in different locations across the state on the following days in November and January:

*Nov. 21-22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, and Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.*


* Buried Stone Farms, 1519 Sheridan Road, Escanaba.   
* Clear Water Meats, 5976 Old Pipestone Road, in Eau Claire.
* Deer Camp Coffee, 35279 Dodge Park, Sterling Heights.
* Frank’s Great Outdoors, 1212 N. Huron, Linwood.
* Jay’s Sporting Goods, 8800 S. Clare Ave., Clare.
* Jay’s Sporting Goods, 1151 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord.
* Mac’s Rustic Sport Shop, 519 Ensley St., Howard City.

*Jan. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Jan. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.*


* Knutson’s Sporting Goods, 151 Wamplers Lake Road, Brooklyn.

In addition, hunters can make deer donations directly to participating processors. Find the list of processors on our Hunters Feeding Michigan page [ [link removed] ].

All deer must be whole (with head attached), legally harvested/tagged, harvest-reported and field-dressed prior to donation. All donated venison will be distributed to Michigan food pantries.

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Hunter appreciation days: Nov. 17 and Dec. 1

The DNR is saying "thank you" to Michigan hunters this fall with a series of Hunter Appreciation: Deer Drop-In Mondays at locations across the state. There are two more drop-in Mondays coming up: Nov. 17 and Dec. 1. Both events run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Each Drop-In Monday offers the chance to bring in a deer or lower jaw for aging, pick up free hunting swag like patches, stickers, hand warmers, field-dressing gloves and more, and connect with DNR staff and fellow hunters and talk about the season. We hope you’ll stop by and share your story with us. Harvested deer are welcome but certainly not required!

Here is the list of locations [ [link removed] ] for the Deer Drop-In Mondays.

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Purchase a deer patch

2025 deer patch

You can now purchase a successful hunter deer patch for $10 through the Michigan DNR Licenses & Permits eLicense store [ [link removed] ]. Click on the "Purchase a license, permit, and application, or reprint your license" tile, log in and select the "Patches" tab to order. 



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Pure Michigan Hunt

The Pure Michigan Hunt is a unique multispecies hunting opportunity, with a random drawing held every year. It’s $5 to apply, and you can apply as many times as you like. The money goes directly to pay for wildlife habitat management and restoration in Michigan. The winner will obtain licenses for the following species: one any-elk (only Michigan residents are eligible to obtain the elk license), one bear, one spring turkey, one fall turkey, one antlerless deer and one base license. In addition, the winner may have first pick at a hunting location at a managed waterfowl area during the reserved hunt period.

Learn more and buy applications at our Pure Michigan Hunt page [ [link removed] ].

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Questions? Contact us

Contact the DNR Wildlife Division <[email protected]> at 517-284-9453.

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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR [ [link removed] ].

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