The Michigan DNR says the state;s deer herd continued to grow over time and seemed to peak in the 1990’s. In 1998, a record harvest of nearly 600,000 deer occurred. The deer herd doesn’t seem to be as big as it was then, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that the deer herd can grow rapidly over time. Many of the changes in deer regulations over the past several years have been implemented to attempt to curb growth that is being seen throughout much of the Lower Peninsula, where most of Michigan’s deer and deer hunters reside.
A lot of this talk has focused on the Lower Peninsula, but the Upper Peninsula will experience changes this year as well. The universal antlerless license will be an option for hunters hunting in the southern part of the UP where deer are essentially considered non-migratory. Though these areas can certainly still experience difficult winters, they also have lower hunter numbers than many locations in the Lower Peninsula. Certainly, locations like Menominee County and parts of Dickinson County continue to have abundant deer numbers, and many of the statements above can apply to these areas. Other locations open to the antlerless license, such as DMU’s 022, 121, 122, 155, and 255, have smaller deer densities than DMU 055, but also fewer deer hunters as well. About 19,000 hunters hunt those five units combined, across over 2,000 square miles of land. That means that on average, those units only experience about nine hunters per square mile throughout the hunting season. Compare that to downstate, where places like Mecosta County (DMU 054) still experience >20 hunters per square mile, the level of pressure is completely different.
Throughout the mid-snowfall zone of the UP, antlerless opportunities will exist for all archery hunters and some lucky firearm hunters. Hunters had the opportunity to apply for a Midwest and Mideast Access Permit, that if successfully drawn, they could use their universal antlerless license for in each specified region. This is a new concept meant to maintain the flexibility of the universal antlerless license, while still limiting participation in sensitive areas.
Again, it’s certain that some hunters will view any antlerless harvest in these areas as potentially damaging given their current level of concern for deer populations in the area. With quotas set at 1,000 in each unit, and average success rates for UP hunters being ~36%, we would anticipate no more than 350-360 antlerless deer being taken in each unit. With nearly 3,000 square miles in the west and >3,700 square miles in the east, this roughly translates to one antlerless deer for every 10 square miles. So, while the concept of antlerless harvest might be new and perhaps worrisome in some of these locations, by no means will it be damaging to the overall population.
One final note is that Michigan is testing an online harvest reporting system this year, and we are encouraging successful hunters to record the information about the harvest of their deer and provide feedback. The online reporting will expedite the information available and allow staff to give near real-time reports in how the season is progressing. With this being the first year of testing the system, it’s important to understand how the functionality is received by hunters across the state. Feel free to contact your local biologist at a check station or visit our website at Michigan.gov/Deer to report your harvest and help improve deer management in the future.
With all that stated, our deer population is thriving throughout much of the state, and the below regional preview will hopefully get everyone excited for the upcoming season. Information was provided by DNR Wildlife staff from across the state who have a great understanding of the trends seen in their coverage area. Their expertise and input have been invaluable in putting together the observations summarized below.
REGIONAL DEER FORECAST
UPPER PENINSULA
Last year was challenging for U.P. deer hunters, with overall harvest down nearly 6% from 2019, and buck harvest down nearly 11%. Though harvest numbers are not to the lows experienced in 2014-2016 after the severe winters in 2013-2015 that impacted harvest, they are down from harvest numbers in 2017 and 2018.
The 2020 U.P. winter was far milder than normal, which was a welcome respite for the deer population. The fast spring green-up meant that many adult deer were able to recover quickly from the tolls of winter. With abundant mast (nuts, seeds and fruits) production in the fall of 2020, deer headed into winter in overall good shape. Population trends seem to be on the upswing this year for the U.P.
Mast production this year seems very spotty. Look for areas with oaks producing acorns, as they are sure to attract deer. Buck numbers seem to be improving, but there are still areas where persistence is going to be necessary to be successful. Overall fawn production seems to be good. With the new changes allowing antlerless deer to be taken in the lower two-thirds of the peninsula, hunters have an increased opportunity to fill their freezer for what is hopefully another mild winter ahead.
The department is still focusing on CWD surveillance in southern Dickinson County after the first case of CWD was detected in the Upper Peninsula in 2018. For hunters interested in getting their deer tested, check out the “For Hunters” tab at Michigan.gov/CWD to view the map of the priority area in the Upper Peninsula.
NORTHERN LOWER PENINSULA
In the 2020 hunting season, the NLP saw an estimated harvest of 135,906 deer, which was up 7% from 2019. While buck harvest declined about 5%, from 68,168 in 2019 to 64,725 last year, antlerless harvest increased by 21%, with over 12,000 additional antlerless deer taken in 2020 than in 2019.
The winter of 2020 didn’t seem to have adverse effects on the deer herd in the NLP due to fewer periods of extreme cold and an overall shorter winter. Another important factor that ensured winter survival was that forest management practices (new growth of young trees and leaving treetops from harvested trees) provided plenty of winter browse for deer throughout the winter.
The mast crop in the NLP this year looks good except in places that were impacted by gypsy moth infestations. Those areas are not likely to see much in terms of acorn production. Elsewhere, acorns and soft mast, including apples in old homestead sites, blackberries and hawthorn are all producing nicely.
Deer numbers look very good in many locations, though it’s important to point out that deer are not evenly distributed across the landscape, and certain areas may hold fewer deer than others. Overall, staff are seeing good fawn production this year with many twins trailing does.
The spring and summer rains seemed to provide optimal forage for deer, and the bucks have been turning that into nice antler growth. There are some reports of people seeing better bucks relative to recent years – something hunters can start getting excited about. Some locations have noted that there is still a long way to go towards balancing the buck to doe ratio, so hunters are encouraged to take advantage of new regulations that allow antlerless deer to be taken on the deer and/or deer combination license during firearms and muzzleloader seasons.
Bovine TB surveillance is still a priority in the NLP, with testing occurring in the primary counties of Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Oscoda, but also in all surrounding counties as well (Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Otsego, Crawford, Roscommon, Ogemaw, and Iosco). TB is a significant threat to the livestock industry, and hunters wanting to do their part to assist with surveillance can have their deer tested at any deer check station this year.
SOUTHERN LOWER PENINSULA
2020 was quite a year in the SLP with antlerless harvest increasing 29% from 2019. Buck harvest also increased by over 12%, and when you factor in deer harvested by Deer Management Assistance Permits, nearly 250,000 deer were taken in the SLP alone. Much of this antlerless pressure has been needed as numbers throughout most units have been on a steady rise for years.
With winter rarely being a factor for population level impacts in the SLP, the agency relies on hunters for the bulk of the management for deer in this region, and the recent regulation changes seem to be a step in the desired direction for deer management.
The soft mast crops appear weak this year, likely due to the drought conditions experienced through June and the heavy rains throughout July. Though there doesn’t appear to be a bumper crop of acorns in the SLP this year, some oaks are producing, and if you are in an area with acorns, it’s sure to be a magnet for deer in early fall.
With the agricultural fields performing well, deer certainly haven’t been hungry this summer. The corn progression is on par with 2020 and ahead of the five-year average, so with any luck, many of the fields will be picked by the firearm opener which should lead to continued success this season.
Deer numbers seem consistent with previous years, and as always, there have been some nice bucks observed. The fawns observed are well-developed and well on their way to entering winter strong and healthy.
It’s important to note that throughout much of the SLP, surveillance for chronic wasting disease is occurring in the southernmost counties. Hunters are encouraged to visit check stations and submit their deer for testing. A complete list of check stations is available at Michigan.gov/DeerCheck.
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