Michigan’s regular firearm deer hunting season kicks off this weekend

MICHIGAN, USA — Michigan’s traditional firearm deer hunting season has officially kicked off. 

Opening on Nov. 15, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding hunters to follow key safety practices and regulations to avoid common violations.

The DNR emphasized the importance of proper licensing and tagging procedures. 

Hunters must purchase licenses and receive tags by mail, which takes several business days. Kill tags must be completed immediately after harvest, including the date, animal gender and antler points, then attached to the deer with string, wire, or a zip-tie. 

Conservation officers frequently encounter wrong tags on game, such as fish or turkey licenses mistakenly used on deer. Hunters must also report their harvest within 72 hours.

The DNR recommends hunters familiarize themselves with their weapons and practice at local shooting ranges before hunting. When transporting firearms, they must be unloaded in both barrels and the magazine and enclosed in a case or carried in a vehicle’s trunk. 

Hunters are responsible for knowing their target and what lies beyond it, as rifle rounds travel long distances. It’s illegal to hunt within 450 feet of occupied structures without landowner permission. Conservation officers investigate property damage from firearms each year.

Respecting property rights is critical. Hunters must observe all “no trespassing” signs and cannot retrieve deer that run onto private land without permission. The DNR advises contacting neighboring landowners ahead of time rather than waiting until tracking game.

On state-managed public land, tree stands and ground blinds operate on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved or posted. Any stands left overnight must display the owner’s name and address, driver’s license number or DNR Sportcard number. Conservation officers regularly respond to disputes over hunting spots and illegally posted signs on public land.

From Nov. 15-30, all deer hunters—including those using archery equipment—must wear hunter orange caps, hats, vests, jackets or raincoats as the outermost layer, visible from all directions. Camouflage patterns are acceptable if at least 50% hunter orange.

Baiting regulations vary by region. Deer baiting and feeding are banned throughout the Lower Peninsula. In the Upper Peninsula, baiting is permitted from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1, with a maximum of 2 gallons spread over at least 100 square feet.

Legal hunting hours during firearm season run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. 

The DNR asks anyone witnessing violations or hunter harassment—such as sabotaging blinds or creating barriers—to contact the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Tips can be left anonymously, and monetary rewards may be offered for information leading to prosecution.

Some hunters celebrated opening day on Saturday with a buck pole.

“You know, in the 90s it was pretty big, and then it faded out,” said Derek Drye, the owner of Hilltop Sports in Greenville. “Our way of life is just coming back. Everybody’s trying to get back to what we grew up with.”

Drye brought the tradition back at the hunting store he took over four years ago.

With prizes awarded for the biggest bucks, hunters were eager to show off their shots.

“My wife got an 8-point,” said William Thompson, a hunter from Ionia. “My son got an 8-point, and I got a 10-point.”

Warmer temperatures on Saturday made the deer less active, a challenge for hunters.

“It’s been pretty warm, unseasonably warm, which makes it a little more difficult,” said Thompson. “You’ve got to process them very quickly.”

Still, for the hunters who came back empty-handed, Drye said there’s no such thing as a failed day in the woods.

“Just think of all them people out there sharing memories with each other,” said Drye. “Even if it’s not a successful hunt, it’s still a successful hunt.”

More information is available on the DNR’s website.