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If weather permits, the 2000 deer harvest is expected to exceed 500,000 deer, or about the size of our entire deer herd of 1970. There will be more than 11 million days of deer hunting recreation during archery, firearm, and muzzleloading seasons combined, which is more deer hunting than is provided in any other state or Canadian province. Deer hunting in Michigan is big business to the states^ tourist industry. It is estimated that 780,000 individuals will spend more than $500 million for food, lodging, transportation, and equipment to pursue deer hunting in Michigan.
The expected harvest of antlered deer (244,000) should be lower than the 1999 harvest of 265,800. The expected antlerless harvest of 258,000 is lower than the 1999 antlerless harvest of 279,000.
Upper Peninsula
Deer in the UP experienced a moderate winter. Because of this, fawn production was good resulting in a population increase of about 8 percent. Most of this increase will be seen in the south-central part of the UP (Menominee, Delta, Dickinson, Iron, and southern Marquette counties). Winter losses were estimated to be low, while the herd condition was excellent. The UP buck harvest is expected to be up about 14 percent, which will produce a good buck harvest. Some counties in the UP still have more deer than desired by the Department. Antlerless deer hunting opportunities on private farm lands this year in the UP may help to offset some of the increase in the population. There are 31 deer management units open to deer hunting in 2000, totaling 10,119 square miles of land. This compares to 6,971 square miles in 1999.
Northern Lower Peninsula
The deer herd in the northern LP is about 7 percent smaller than it was in 1999. As in the UP, favorable winter conditions for deer enhanced overwinter survival of adults and increased fawn survival. Antler development will be good in 1½-year-olds, and deer weights should be good this fall. Because of the intentional reduction in the population last year, about 8 percent fewer bucks are expected to be taken this fall. The herd in this part of the state was intentionally reduced from a peak in 1989. At that time, car/deer crashes and crop damage were at unacceptable, record levels. This year the herd still remains over goal. The Department is responding with antlerless deer hunting areas and licenses to address deer numbers in many northern Michigan units, especially private land units. There are 21,034 square miles of land open to take antlerless deer in 2000, the same as in 1999. In addition, to help eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) in deer and reduce winter starvation losses, an unlimited number of licenses to take antlerless deer in the Bovine TB Management Area is continued.
Southern Lower Peninsula
The southern Michigan deer herd is down about 5 percent from 1999. Deer hunters should see a good number of deer this year. With the intentional reduction of the population in southern Michigan during the past three years, about 14 percent fewer antlered bucks are expected to be taken this fall. However, it appears that the 2000 herd remains above the desired level, with the number of deer in southern Michigan exceeding public tolerance for damage. The Department is responding to concerns of too many deer in this part of the state with significant numbers of antlerless deer hunting on private lands. Southern Michigan should produce some of the best white-tailed deer hunting in the nation for both antlered and antlerless deer.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has 87 deer check stations set up to help evaluate and monitor Michigan^s deer herd. Hunters are encouraged to bring their deer to a check station. By bringing in their deer or deer head, hunters can share valuable information with the Department and earn a 2000 Deer Management Cooperator patch.
Western Upper Peninsula Management Unit
Crystal Falls
(Western Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron,
Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, and Ontonagon counties)
Contact: James Hammill (906-875-6622)
Deer numbers in the Western UP Wildlife Management Unit continue to increase, rebounding from the lows seen after the winters of 1995-1996 and 1996-1997. Since those winters, deer have experienced mild to normal conditions, resulting in good fawn production and recruitment. Preliminary reports suggest excellent numbers of yearling bucks, plus a greater than normal number of 2½- and 3½-year-old bucks in this population. Antlerless permits have been made available over most of the western UP, and leftover permits are available beginning September 25, 2000.
Oak mast crops are light to moderate in the western UP this year. Best bets for buck hunting success will be in those areas where agricultural land is mixed with forestland. Delta County and the counties along the Wisconsin border will again be the biggest producers of deer. However, good season prospects also are expected in Baraga, south Marquette, Houghton, and parts of Ontonagon counties.
Hunters are requested to bring deer to a DNR check station for examination. Increased tuberculosis surveillance in Dickinson, Menominee, and Delta counties will be conducted by collection of 1,500 heads from harvested deer in this area. In addition to the normal western UP deer check stations, a new highway deer check station will be operated at the intersection of M-95 and US-2 in Dickinson County. Hunters should be aware of potential changes in buck harvest regulations for the year 2001 seasons (see page 31 of the 2000 Hunting and Trapping Guide).
Eastern Upper Peninsula Management Unit
Newberry
(Eastern Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft counties)
Contact: Thomas Weise (906-293-5131)
All indicators point to higher deer numbers in the Eastern UP Management Unit compared to last year. The deer population and harvest have increased steadily since the severe winters of 1995 and 1996. The 1999-2000 winter started late and broke early giving us a third mild winter in a row. Overwinter losses were again minimal and survival good. Deer observations for July and August are up from last year with the most notable increases in Alger, Chippewa, and Mackinac counties. The highway deer kill and deer damage complaints are up from last year.
Deer can be found in all areas of the Eastern UP, but densities are not uniform throughout. Deer are more abundant in the southern parts of the area south of M-28 and least abundant in the Lake Superior watershed. Few deer winter in the northern parts of the eastern UP with some deer moving long distances to more southerly wintering areas. This produces periods of noticeable deer movements with increased hunting opportunities in some areas but reducing chances in the north. The timing of the deer movement varies from year to year depending when the first significant snowfall occurs.
Deer numbers are highest where agricultural fields are associated with a mixture of young aspen or mixed-age upland timber with nearby swamp-conifer areas. Hard mast is not abundant in the eastern UP. Oaks form only a minor part of the forest. Beech trees are a component of the northern hardwoods, but beechnut production is scattered and not abundant in most areas this year.
Deer densities in the eastern UP are not as high as in some other parts of the state, but there is abundant public land open to hunting with lower hunter densities. The lowest hunter density is in the northern areas. Most deer hunting occurs during the first few days of rifle season and most hunters hunt close to roads and trails.
Eastern UP deer harvest rates are lower than many parts of the state resulting in a few more bucks moving into older age classes. This results in some nice bucks being taken from all counties each year so there is a chance to get a trophy buck in the eastern UP.
Because of the increased deer numbers, the antlerless hunting opportunities have been increased in the southern management units in the eastern UP. There should be private and some general permits available over the counter for most of these units. We expect a slightly increased deer harvest over last year in the eastern UP for the 2000 deer season.
Northeastern Management Unit
Gaylord
(Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon counties)
Contact: Glen Matthews (517-732-3541)
The Northeast Management Unit will enter the fall deer seasons with a herd that is 5-10 percent lower than in 1999. Antlerless harvests in 1998 and 1999, especially in the five-county DMU 452, are responsible for most of the reduction. The buck kill for 2000 should be down a corresponding 5-10 percent. Fairly liberal antlerless quotas in some DMUs will result in nearly as many antlerless deer being put in the freezer as bucks this fall.
As with last year, the best success rates for hunters will occur on private lands in Ogemaw, Iosco, and western Antrim and Charlevoix counties in the mixed forest and agricultural areas. Alpena and Alcona counties will also have good success despite lower deer numbers. Public forest lands in Roscommon, Crawford, and Otsego counties will provide good hunting opportunities.
Because of poor mast and wild apple crops this year, hunters looking for natural deer feeding areas will have to work harder. Deer will be feeding on ground vegetation in openings, farm fields, and wet areas until snowcover.
A high number of deer samples are needed for the ongoing bovine TB surveillance effort, and hunters are urged to submit their deer head for testing. In northeast Michigan, all the check stations that were operated last year will be open in 2000. In addition, a new check station will be operated during the firearms season in Boyne City.
In recent years, very few elk have been accidentally shot; however, deer hunters coming to the elk range in southern Cheboygan, northeastern Otsego, southwest Presque Isle, and western Montmorency counties are reminded to be careful and avoid the unintended shooting of an elk.
Northwestern Management Unit
Cadillac
(Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola counties)
Contact: Raymond Perez (231-775-9727)
In general, the Northwest Management Unit experienced another mild winter with minimal deer losses. Fawn survival was good, and adult does came through in good condition. With the addition of a new fawn crop, the expected deer herd on October 1 (pre-season population) will be above goal. More antlerless permits have been issued to lower deer numbers over most of the DMUs. Crop damage complaints to date are similar to last year.
For the northernmost counties of Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee, Grand Traverse, and Kalkaska, the acorn crop is excellent and so are beechnuts. Additional antlerless permits have been issued for many of the DMUs in these counties. Field reports indicate higher deer numbers in forested areas. Antler development is expected to be good. The early archery season should be excellent.
For the central counties of Wexford, Missaukee, Mason, Lake, and Osceola, the acorn production is more spotty, but it is still good in southeast Missaukee County and Lake County. Beechnuts seem to be plentiful in all counties. The deer harvest is expected to be similar to last year. Hunters are expected to see good deer numbers. Antler development appears to be good, and nice bucks are being seen. The early archery season should be excellent as well.
For the southern counties of Mecosta, Newaygo, and Oceana,the mast crops are similar as counties to the north. Deer numbers continue to be high in Mecosta County. Deer shooting permits have been higher, mainly due to TB concerns. Deer numbers in the agricultural areas of Newaygo and Oceana counties are also pretty high. High antlerless quotas have been set to lower deer numbers. The early archery season is expected to be excellent in these counties.
Saginaw Bay Management Unit
Bay City
(Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Huron, Isabella, Midland,
Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties)
Contact: Douglas Reeves (517-684-9141)
Hunters in the Saginaw Bay Management Unit are expected to find a deer population that is approximately 14 percent smaller this year as compared to fall 1999. That is in keeping with the population goals for the area both from the standpoint of the capacity of the habitat to support the population and the tolerance of the human population for deer. Differences in deer densities within the Saginaw Bay Management Unit are becoming more pronounced, with some areas still having very high numbers of deer and others having quite low deer numbers. Often that is in keeping with the desires of the people who live in those areas, with many agricultural interests desiring lower deer numbers and hunters desiring a relatively high deer population.
The buck harvest in the Saginaw Bay Management Unit is expected to drop again this year, not only because the deer herd is somewhat reduced but also because of the number of button bucks that were harvested as antlerless deer during the 1999 hunting season. Some hunters have been very careful to avoid taking button bucks, and as a result, we have not seen as much reduction in the antlered buck harvest as we expected in this area during the last few years.
Early indications are that fawn production in this area has been low relative to other recent years in the Saginaw Bay Management Unit. Numbers of fawns seen per adult doe by Wildlife staff this summer appear to be lower than normal for this area, although we will have to wait until all of the summer observation data and fall harvest information are in before we know if the difference is real and measurable.
Agricultural harvest this year is expected to be substantially later than it has been for the last two years. That will affect deer distribution in agricultural areas. Instead of being confined to forested "winter" areas, deer will probably be scattered across a broader landscape during much of the season this fall which will make them somewhat more difficult to find and pattern. If the corn harvest is delayed into the firearm season, deer will undoubtedly use large, unharvested cornfields as refuges.
There is a fair to good white and burr oak acorn crop in parts of the Saginaw Bay Management Unit this year. Some scouting by archers will help them locate these stands, and deer will use those crops until they are gone, which is usually prior to the firearm season.
The pin and red oak acorn crops seem to be small in many areas. Hunters who do find a good stand of either red or pin oak with a substantial crop of acorns should find good hunting during November and into December.
The apple and soft mast crops are minimal this year over most of the Management Unit.
Hunters are reminded that there are special regulations in place for DMU 107 in Clare County again this year. Bucks may only be taken there if they have at least 3 points on one antler that are 1 inch long or longer.
This year two new deer check stations will be in operation in the Saginaw Bay Management Unit during the firearm deer season. One will be at Chipp-a-waters Park on M-20 west of Mt. Pleasant, and the other will be at Mr. Chipps in Sandusky. Because more deer heads are needed for TB sampling again this year, we expect greater turnout at the usual check stations too.
Southeastern Management Unit
Livonia
(Genesee, Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne counties)
Contact: Timothy Payne (734-953-0241)
Hunters should find deer numbers similar to down slightly throughout most of the Southeastern Management Unit. Liberal antlerless permits issued for the last two years gave landowners the ability to reduce deer numbers where there were agricultural conflicts. For the first time ever, car-deer accidents for the Unit declined from the previous year, even if it was a small 1.5 percent decline. Throughout most of the Unit, antlerless permit numbers are still liberal enough to allow landowners to take enough deer to reduce conflicts.
Lapeer, southern St. Clair, northern Macomb, and northern Oakland counties still have the highest deer levels with scattered "hot spots" on private lands in these areas. Hunters need to check with landowners and with local units of government for hunting restrictions that may exist in the more urban areas. Archery hunting still remains a popular and important hunting method in the more urban settings. This "quieter" method seems more acceptable to landowners in these areas and is key to controlling these populations.
In northern St. Clair, Genesee, and Monroe counties, deer numbers are down. There are limited public land hunting opportunities in these areas. This means hunters may need to scout out new areas, or renew the hunting privileges they may have had in the past on lands of another.
South Central Management Unit
Morrice
(Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Montcalm, Shiawassee, and Washtenaw counties)
Contact: David Dominic (517-625-4600)
The deer harvest in 2000 should be slightly less than 1998 and 1999 which were record or near record harvests in those years. We still have a lot of deer throughout the South Central Management Unit and will be anticipating a good bow and gun season. We are expecting an antlerless harvest similar to last year throughout most of the Management Unit, but in some areas it will be slightly down. The buck harvest expectations are slightly less than last year, especially during the gun season. The counties with the highest deer populations are Montcalm, Ionia, Jackson, and Hillsdale. The mid north/south corridor of Livingston and Shiawassee counties should also be excellent. We have an adequate quota for private land antlerless deer licenses in hopes of lowering the deer populations in problem areas. We are still trying to lower our deer population throughout most of the Management Unit, and private land access is the key to any success we have. Hunters need to start early scouting and acquiring access to these lands.
Hunting conditions should be excellent. The agricultural crops should be harvested on schedule, and in some areas, the corn harvest may be harvested ahead of schedule. The archery season should be very good also, due to the early corn harvest in some areas.
Southwestern Management Unit
Plainwell
(Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties)
Contact: Michael Bailey (616-685-6851)
The deer herd in southwestern Michigan continues to be in excellent shape. Deer populations have either stabilized or dropped slightly throughout most of the Management Unit. However, this population change will not be noticeable in most areas. Many localized areas, especially in eastern Barry and Calhoun counties, actually have more deer than last year. Deer are also becoming increasingly numerous in semi-urban and residential areas. Deer numbers continue to be very high in Barry and Calhoun counties. Portions of Cass, Branch, Kalamazoo, and Kent counties also have higher than desired deer populations.
Deer are once again becoming visible throughout southwest Michigan during the early fall period. There has been a good fawn crop throughout southwest Michigan, especially in those areas with locally reduced deer numbers. It appears corn harvest will be on schedule, except in those areas on the west side of the Management Unit where heavy spring rains forced farmers into a late replant of flooded fields. It appears to be an average year for most wild hard mast, with below average wild apple crop in most areas.
Antlerless licenses are once again under a quota allocation in all southwest DMUs. Hunters are restricted to three antlerless licenses for the year. These may be for any DMU and may be purchased at one time. All southwest DMUs have excess private land licenses, which go on sale over-the-counter on September 29. Many DMUs also have excess general antlerless licenses, which go on sale on September 25. These antlerless licenses, plus the opportunity to use them during the special late holiday season, should result in continuation of an excellent harvest of antlerless deer in this Unit. Block permits are up significantly throughout the Unit in response to the cessation of unlimited antlerless licenses and continued deer crop damage.
Hunters are urged to take advantage of the opportunity to assist in the proper management of the deer herd. The deer harvest in 1999 was the fourth year in a row where the antlerless harvest exceeded that for antlered bucks. Last year was the first year since 1992 where the actual harvest in the Unit decreased from the previous year.
As the herd continues to decrease, as desired, the number of antlered bucks will also naturally be fewer and buck harvest will decrease. However, average body size of all deer and the average antler size of bucks should increase. Thus, hunters should expect to see fewer deer, with a slightly higher percentage of larger antlered bucks with bigger racks. This trend should continue as hunters, landowners, and the state cooperate in deer management. Landowners in areas of high deer populations appear to be more willing than ever to allow responsible hunters on their property. It is important to remember that access opportunities are most available to hunters who project a sportsmanship image and contact the landowner well before the season.
MAJOR REGULATION CHANGES FOR 2000
For the 2000 deer hunting seasons, a hunter may not purchase more than three antlerless deer hunting licenses. The DMU 452 licenses and antlerless deer licenses for Upper Peninsula DMUs do not count toward the limit of three.
New baiting and feeding regulations:
Volume allowed for baiting deer:
Two (2) gallons per hunting site per day and a maximum amount of 2 gallons at any time in the Lower Peninsula and five (5) gallons per hunting site per day and a maximum amount of 5 gallons at any time in the Upper Peninsula. (EXCEPT baiting for deer and feeding deer is illegal in the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Crawford, Iosco, Mecosta, Montmorency, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle.)
Volume allowed for recreational feeding (deer and elk):
Two (2) gallons per residence per day (within 100 yards) statewide.
Type of bait and recreational feed permitted:
No restrictions
Criteria used to "trigger" inclusion of areas where baiting and recreational feeding will be prohibited:
Counties with one (1) or more confirmed bovine TB positive deer. The trigger becomes effective immediately, once a positive deer is determined, except between the time the DNR Hunting and Trapping Guide is published (summer) and January 1, and then the trigger takes effect January 2.
Supplemental feeding in the Upper Peninsula:
Same as in 1999 on public and private lands; additionally, beginning January 1, 2002, supplemental feeding will only be allowed in UP DMUs north of US-2 between Escanaba and the Wisconsin border that had an antlerless hunt in the previous season.
Bait and recreational feeding must be:
Spread by any means, including mechanical, spin-cast feeders with a total volume placed not to exceed the daily limit.
Hunters may place bait for deer:
Any day during the permitted deer hunting season (October 1 through January 1).
Uploaded: 10/3/2000
Uploaded: 10/3/2000