News
Michigan extends deer hunting windows
The state of Michigan is supporting efforts to address an overpopulation of deer.
Michigan Farm Bureau Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch tells Brownfield there are less than a half of million hunters in the state today, down about 200,000 from 20 years ago.
“Deer repopulate at astonishing rate,” he says. “In order to maintain a population, we have to take 40 percent of the deer off the landscape. That’s a lot. Let’s assume that Michigan has roughly two million deer in the state. That means we have to take 800,000 deer off each and every year, just to maintain.”
He says the declining hunter trend is only expected to continue.
“Michigan’s mild winters, abundant food supply and less deer being harvested each and every year has kind of caused the perfect storm for increased deer populations,” he explains. “We used to have a few hot spots in the state where farmers had some big concerns. Those spots are getting larger with more deer, and more spots are popping up.”
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission recently expanded regulations to allow for longer firearm, archery, and muzzleloading hunting seasons and encourage more antler-less hunting.
The state legislature this year also approved $500,00 to help supply refrigerated trailers for off-season harvests, increase food bank donations through the Sportsmen Against Hunger program, and support farmers impacted by crop damage.
Vermeesh says solutions need to be multifaceted, stretching beyond increasing the number of permits and hunters to better balance the deer herd.
AUDIO: Andrew Vermeesch, Michigan Farm Bureau
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I don’t agree with the early season. I would like to see a one buck limit.
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Im a hunter and I know for a fact in my area there are less deer then there was 20 years ago. Makes me not even want to hunt. If your making season longer then it should be by area. I live in the gladwin country area and see a quarter of the deer I use to.
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Thanks Mike for the comment. These season expansions are by region. Here’s what MDRN says: https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=901593678672049&id=100064642755671
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Greed has killed the deer hunter population. Selfish trophy hunters have driven the population up. People leasing hundreds of acres from farmers and only killing their trophy’s for wall hangers have been the driving force to push out the ok hunter. You want more deer killed every season? Cut out the block permits and force the farmer to open back up his land to the guy that doesn’t have the luxury of expendable cash. You give the farmer block permits for summer kill offs and he makes thousands of dollars from his lease to a select group of well off hunters . So the top feeds the top. The average joe gets what’s left. That is where the hunters have gone. And why less deer are being harvested.
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When they stopped people from being able to bait alot of us knew what the consequences we’re going to be as far as the deer population getting out of control and causing more crop damage and insurance claims. I understand if you were worried about that wasting disease but obviously due to the population of the Whitetail it doesn’t seem to be affecting it much and just my opinion I think they should open up baiting and all counties in the state of Michigan again not so much as the hunting aspect of people saying you’re not a hunter if you use a bait pile that’s about getting this population down and protecting the farmers crops and maybe even make it a safer on the roads. I am a Avid Hunter and around my home alone I see 50 to 60 deer a night which is way over what is normal for my area. Maybe even allow us to take more Whitetail during the season then to prolong it.
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The price of license is why I don’t go hunting anymore.
By the the time you by that then pay for processing if you have to by a gun ammo hunting clothes deer blind all that adds up.
Then if you don’t have a place to hunt you are not going to take up hunting.
I have all that but I would hunt and give the deer away but I’m not going to pay for a licence and give the little meat away.
Yes there are going to be less and less hunters out every year.-
Thank you Neil for your comments! MDNR says this year antlerless deer licenses during the extended season are $5. https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=901593678672049&id=100064642755671
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I would like to see the state cut the price of out of state do tags so that Hunter from other states can come in and help you with the problem