Michigan DNR Announces 2007 Firearm Deer Season Harvest Estimates

Dec. 6, 2007 -- Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife officials today announced preliminary harvest estimates for the 2007 Michigan firearm deer season.

The early estimate indicates approximately 249,000 deer were harvested. An estimated 63 percent were antlered and 37 percent were antlerless.

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The preliminary harvest estimate is based upon information available immediately following the firearm season. This includes observations by employees, hunters and processors, along with the number of deer license buyers, licenses sold and the number of deer voluntarily brought in to DNR check stations.

Final deer harvest figures, which will be announced in July 2008, will be based on a mail survey of more than 50,000 of this year's deer hunters. Information provided by deer hunters who participate in the DNR's online deer harvest survey also will be included to determine the annual harvest numbers. This online survey can be accessed at www.michigan.gov/dnr beginning Monday, Dec. 10.

"Hunter success during the 2007 firearm deer season appears to be similar to that of 2006; however, there appeared to be a reduction in the number of deer hunters who participated this year," said Rodney Clute, DNR big-game specialist. "The winter of 2006-07 was the third consecutive mild winter which caused deer to enter the spring of 2007 in excellent condition. Hunters reported seeing more deer than last year in almost every location."

The 2007 preliminary estimate is about five percent lower than the 2006 estimated harvest of 261,000 deer. The decrease in harvest was throughout the Lower Peninsula. The state's record firearm season harvest occurred in 1998 when an estimated 351,000 deer were harvested.

Click here to see the preliminary estimate with a comparison to last year's total estimated harvest.

Upper Peninsula hunters harvested an estimated 36,000 deer this fall, up six percent from last year's final estimate of 34,000 deer. The northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) harvest of 78,000 deer was down by six percent. The deer harvest in the southern Lower Peninsula (SLP) also was down about six percent from 2006. The preliminary harvest estimate for the SLP is 135,000 deer compared to last year*s estimated final harvest of 144,000 deer.

The first week of the firearm season was normal mid-November weather although windy conditions during the first two days likely limited deer movement. Snow accumulation was spotty across the NLP and the UP, but was not deep enough to affect a hunter's mobility.

"Historically, hunting success is highest during the first three days of the firearm deer season," said Acting Wildlife Division Chief Doug Reeves. "This year, the noticeable reduction in hunters appears to be related to factors other than the number of deer or deer license sales. The statewide deer population in 2007 is estimated to be larger than the deer population of 2006."

Approximately 60 percent of the total annual harvest occurs during the firearm deer season. The archery season contributes about 25 percent, muzzleloader season about 10 percent and the special antlerless seasons add approximately five percent. The total deer harvest numbers from all 2007 seasons are expected to be below the 2006 estimated harvest of 450,000 deer.

Archery deer hunting season continues through Jan. 1, 2008. Muzzleloading deer hunting season runs Dec. 7-16 in the UP, Dec. 14-23 in the NLP and Dec. 7-23 in the SLP.

There also is a late firearm antlerless deer season, Dec. 17 through Jan. 1, 2008, on private land for antlerless deer in 36 deer management units in the Lower Peninsula (check the 2007 Hunting and Trapping Guide for the open units). The DNR continues to encourage hunters in the southern Lower Peninsula to harvest more antlerless deer in an effort to reduce the deer herd.

DNR-operated deer check stations will continue to be open until Jan. 11, 2008. A list of check stations and hours of operation is available on the DNR Web site.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources