Changes to Deer Hunting in Michigan

The changes to deer hunting in Michigan are minimal but will be something new for deer hunters around the state. Hunters will now have to submit their harvest online. This is a change many states seem to be adopting in the digital world. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put the system into place after volunteer testing it with nearly 7,000 deer hunters last year.

“The decline in response rate to our post-season mail surveys increases the amount of uncertainty in our harvest estimates, which can lead to incorrect regulation recommendations in some locations,”

Chad Stewart, DNR ELK

You have 72 hours after taking a deer to report it. You can do online at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport or with the DNR mobile app. Available in the Google Play store and the Apple App Store.

If you don’t have internet access or a smart device available, family members or friends with access can file for hunters as long as they are provided with the kill tag license number, date of birth and the harvest location.

Is there a penalty for not reporting your deer harvest? Follow the link for more frequently asked questions.

What do you think about the changes to deer hunting in Michigan?