Michigan DNR offers info on 2024 deer hunting regulation changes

By: Tim Mosier

Posted: Jul 24, 2024 3:51 PM EST

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Earlier this month, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the scheduled deer hunting regulations for the coming fall, and the Department of Natural Resources is releasing information to help hunters maximize their time and tags.

The following updates apply to the fall 2024 deer hunting seasons in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Extended archery season

Archery season is extended through Jan. 31, 2025, for select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except Deer Management Unit 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.
Legal firearm expansion – Zone 2 muzzleloading season
If you are hunting deer during the muzzleloading deer season in the Lower Peninsula, you can use all legal firearms to take a deer. If you are hunting in the limited firearms deer zone, you must follow equipment requirements for that zone.

Early and late antlerless firearm season expansion to public land

Early and late antlerless firearm seasons in open counties have been expanded to include public land in addition to private land. The early antlerless firearm season runs Sept. 21-22, 2024, and the late antlerless firearm season runs Dec. 16, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025.

New EXTENDED late antlerless season

A new extended late antlerless firearm season is open 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 Deer Management Unit 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.

Other clarifications

Baiting regulations remain unchanged from 2023.
Antler point restrictions, with the exception of DMU 122, remain unchanged from 2023.
The combination license, with opportunity for two antlered deer, remains unchanged from 2023.
Early and late antlerless season counties remain unchanged from 2023.

"The commissioners and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources thank everyone who gave their time, insight and feedback to the work of the DNR's Deer Management Initiative, which contributed to many of these regulation changes and decisions," state officials said.

If you still need information or assistance, you can visit the DNR's website or contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-WILD (9453).