Michigan’s popular firearm deer season starts Saturday, Nov. 15, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 30, with hunting open statewide on public and private lands, as reported by The Outdoor Wire.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 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. 15-Jan. 1) and others.
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.
Report your deer harvest online
Online harvest reporting is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer. You can report your deer through the DNR Hunt Fish app or at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport.
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.
2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary out now
Our 2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary 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.
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.
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 or check out a state game/wildlife area or Hunting Access Program properties at our Where to hunt page.
