With Michigan's whitetail deer season archery opener happening on October 1, 2026, expect more preparation and more traffic on state land and on the other side of your fence. Trail cams will be moved, shooting lanes will be cleared, and camo will be hung to air out that human stink.
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The 2026 season may be the last season for many Lower Peninsula hunters to take more than one antlered deer, as 2027 marks the beginning of Michigan's new "One Buck Rule." Upper Peninsula hunters will be allowed to take two... if they can find them.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a report earlier this year addressing last year's harsh U.P. winter and the effect it may have on the 2026 deer harvest. With deep snow blanketing most of the area for the season, foraging for food made survival difficult for the northern deer herd, meaning numbers may be slimmer this year.
The 2026 season will also bring some changes. The DNR is now offering tagless harvest reporting, with a digital tag you can update online with the date, time, and location of your kill. Traditional tags are available in 2026, but you'll have to purchase them in person at a licensed retailer or DNR field office.
RELATED: Michigan DNR Passes Controversial ‘One Buck’ Rule for 2027
With the countdown officially on to the 2026 Michigan whitetail deer season, here's a look at last year's harvest, broken down county by county, to help you figure out where your trail cam needs to be this year.
2025 Michigan Deer Season All Seasons Harvest Report
Gallery Credit: Scott Clow