Michigan Deer

Michigan’s 2026 deer season is approaching, with digital tags, U.P. winter concerns, and last year’s harvest broken down by county.

Deep snow and lingering winter conditions left Michigan’s Upper Peninsula deer herd struggling to survive.

Starting in 2027, Lower Peninsula hunters in Michigan will be limited to one buck under a newly approved DNR rule.

Michigan is considering a new one buck rule that would limit deer hunters to one antlered whitetail per season beginning in 2027.

Michigan officials confirmed the first bovine TB-positive cattle herd in Iosco County, raising new concerns about deer-to-cattle disease spread.

Michigan officials confirmed new bovine TB cases in cattle herds in two counties.

Michigan officials confirmed a new bovine TB case in a dairy herd outside the usual zone, highlighting ongoing risks for farmers.

Michigan is ranked 4th nationwide for animal-vehicle collisions, with a 1-in-61 chance of hitting a deer or similar critter on the road, trailing only West Virginia, Montana, and Wisconsin.

The HB 4445 deer baiting bill cleared the Michigan House and now awaits action by the Senate and potential DNR input before the ban could end.

Early Michigan DNR data shows the 2025 deer harvest totaled 295,739, slightly below 2024’s early count and awaiting final updates.