Michigan 2025 deer harvest underway. How many deer have been taken

When state officers their Preview of the 2025 deer huntthey urged that this yr’s harvest could possibly be as robust as in 2024: the harvest stories to date show them proper.

Hunters have already taken 39,434 deer this yr, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resourcesfrom Wednesday morning, October 15, 9:00 am.

The DNR mentioned a number of elements throughout the state may impression deer harvest totals as fall continues. Excessive snowfall final winter may result in decrease deer numbers in areas of the UP, an ongoing development EHD outbreak within the southern Decrease Peninsula and the March 2025 ice storm within the northern Decrease Peninsula may impression searching this fall.

“Hunters all the time profit from being ready,” mentioned Brent Rudolph, deer, elk and moose administration specialist for the DNR’s Wildlife Division. “These are extra elements we have to take note of this yr.”

Because the begin of the autumn searching season on September 13, hunters have reported 3,101 antlered deer, and 16,085 antlered deer.

Saginaw County hunters led the best way with 1,696 deer harvested this fall, together with 241 bucks, in keeping with the MDNR.

Here is a have a look at the primary few weeks of the 2025-26 Michigan deer searching season.

The numbers throughout the state

As of October 15, listed here are the highest 5 counties by complete deer harvested:

• Saginaw County: 1,696
• Sanilac Province: 1,380
• Tuscola Area: 1,295
• Huron County: 876
• Gratiot County: 809

The place did hunters shoot the fewest deer?

As of November 18, these are the 5 counties the place the fewest deer have been harvested:

• Keweenaw County: 0
• Luce County: 0
• Baraga Area: 1
• Crawford County: 1
• Kalkaska area: 2
• Ostego area: 2

The place was probably the most cash shot?

As of November 18, these are the 5 provinces the place probably the most cash has been harvested:

• Tuscola Area: 417
• Sanilac Province: 416
• Huron County: 340
• Saginaw County: 241
• Kalamazoo County: 181

The place had been probably the most deer shot?

As of November 18, these are the 5 provinces the place probably the most species have been harvested:

• Saginaw County: 1,455
• Sanilac County: 964
• Tuscola Area: 878
• Gratiot County: 800
• Department district: 628

Deer searching numbers had been robust in 2024

A report from the Michigan DNR reveals that for all 2024 seasons mixed, 532,926 folks hunted deer, which was 1% greater than the yr earlier than.

Information reveals that 604,088 folks bought a license in 2024.

In accordance with the DNR’s deer harvest reporting web site, hunters claimed 299,517 deer all seasons from 2024.

From September 25th hunters had taken 21,215 deer in 2025, greater than half of which – 11,800 – by deer injury permits. One other 5,200 had been killed throughout the youth/freedom hunt and three,400 throughout the early antlerless firearms season.

How will the ice storm have an effect on hunters?

The DNR says the historic ice storm earlier this yr that left 1000’s of residents with out energy additionally left snapped timber and damaged branches all through Northern Michigan, regardless of cleanup efforts.

Backcountry trails might stay inaccessible and searching areas might look completely different to hunters, the DNR says.

What’s epizootic hemorrhagic illness?

EHD is a viral, typically deadly illness that impacts white-tailed deer in late summer time and early fall. Contaminated deer with EHD typically search water to decrease their physique temperature and rehydrate.

The place can I discover a searching property close to me?

Basically, you possibly can hunt on land you personal if it meets security rules. With permission you may additionally hunt on different personal land. You could find locations to hunt by visiting Michigan.gov/MiHunt.

Some state parks enable searching, however nationwide wildlife refuges are closed to searching until expressly permitted.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter on the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.