Michigan Deer Population:  More than a million and possibly 1.5 and up to 2 million deer in 2022 and 2023.  The state doesn't make a formal estimate.  Other sources have estimated up to 2 million deer in 2023.  An estimate of 1.7 million deer in 2020 and 1.75 million deer in 2016 through 2018.  Up from an estimated 1.58 million deer in 2015.   Based on harvest data about 1.4 million deer in 2014, 1.6 million in 2013 and 1.7 million in 2012.  The herd declined following harsh winters of 2013-2014 with the Upper Peninsula hit hardest.  About 2 million deer in the 1990s and around 1980.  2023 Deer Forecast


Michigan Deer News

Deer finally finds the shore after breaking through Six Mile ice March 15, 2024 Michigan, 

... After repeatedly getting its front hooves on the ice only to have it give way, the deer figured out it could thrash out a route, using its legs and then body to cut a path to open water... it had spent at least 90 minutes in icy waters ...


One mild winter won't impact deer herd long-term March 15, 2024 Michigan, Daily Press

...“To really see a big increase in your deer population, you need multiple mild winters in a row,” said DNR Wildlife Technician Colter Lubben. “Because all a mild winter does is — it gives you one year class.” ... The overwhelming majority of deer harvested during hunting season are one-and-a-half, two-and-a-half, and three-and-a-half years old ..,


DNR study shows how snow affects deer populations March 14, 2024 Michigan, Upper

... data about how many deer were hunted by predators ... “Body mass and cumulative winter severity are important, but when that snow leaves is twice as important as either one of those,” said Belant... watch the entire presentation on the Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ Facebook page...


Michigan DNR says early spring causes more active deer populations March 12, 2024 Upper on MSN

...  due to early spring... could be potentially dangerous for drivers... south-facing roads are most likely to attract deer.  “They green up first, so it attracts the deer to them,” ...


Charlevoix,  25 deer killed in Charlevoix as part of cull, city unsure about results February 9, 2024 Michigan, YAHOO!News

... When asked why the community at large wasn't notified ahead of time, McDonnell said, "We didn’t want people coming out and protesting or being looky-loos and creating more of a nuisance or creating a danger for themselves." ... 


Michigan bear populations climbing fast in lower peninsula, more gradually in UP February 8, 2024 FOX 2 Detroit

...Estimates from the Department of Natural Resources report there are more than 12,200 bears across the state, with more than 10,200 of those being reported in the U.P. However, it's the lower peninsula that's seeing the largest increase in the number of bears, with a 55% increase in populations since 2012..,


DNR reports Benzie County's first TB-positive deer February 1, 2024 State of Michigan

... A 4-year-old doe harvested in Benzie County, Michigan, during the 2023 deer hunting season has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. This is the first bTB-positive wild deer from that county....


DNR announces $100,000 available for UP Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative grants January 29, 2023 Michigan Department of Natural Resources

... Now in its 16th year, the initiative is supported by the state’s Deer Range Improvement Program, which is funded by a portion of deer hunting license revenue. More than 132 projects in nearly all U.P. counties have improved thousands of acres of deer habitat...


Michigan DNR's 2023 Deer Harvest Report January 27, 2024 Michigan, The Lasco Press

... Since 1996, the Upper Peninsula has experienced more than three times as many severe winters as between 1980 and 1996, along with three instances of back-to-back and two instances of three consecutive severe winters... Buck harvest was at an all-time high from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, and winters were noticeably milder during this time..,


Deer harvest total drops in Michigan, DNR talks regulations with FOX 17 January 19, 2024 fox17online

... The department's goal at the beginning of deer season—that hunters take more does than bucks— also failed, with the antlerless harvest dipping to 40%, as compared to 43% from the prior year..,


DNR to form groups for deer management January 18, 2024 Michigan, The Iron Mountain Daily News

... “We’ll be developing two separate groups, one for each peninsula, since the challenges in each area are unique,” DNR deer management specialist Chad Stewart said. “Our focus with each group will be to pull together people with different perspectives and experiences but a common passion for improving Michigan’s deer herd for future generations.” ...


97 elk harvested during unseasonably warm late-season elk hunt January 16, 2024 Michigan, MLive

... In total, 171 elk were harvested in 2023 ... Michigan’s elk herd is estimated to have a population between 870 and 1,684 animals, according to the 2022 elk survey..,


Michigan firearm deer hunt numbers plummet, particularly in U.P., and locals blame wolves January 11, 2024 Michigan, YAHOO!News

...Despite selling more deer hunting licenses than the previous year, the 2023 firearm deer season resulted in a significantly lower deer take in Michigan than in 2022 — with the falloff even more pronounced in the Upper Peninsula..,


Wildlife vaccination strategies for eliminating bovine tuberculosis in white-tailed deer populations

A Pandey, AB Feuka, M Cosgrove, M Moriarty… - PLOS Computational Biologu, 2024

... We evaluated the impact of pulse vaccination across a range of vaccine properties. Pulse vaccination was effective for reducing disease prevalence rapidly with even low (30%) to moderate (60%) vaccine coverage of the susceptible and exposed deer population and was further improved when combined with increased harvest... By fitting the model to the core endemic area of bovine tuberculosis in Michigan, USA, we identified feasible integrated management strategies involving vaccination and increased harvest that reduced disease prevalence in free-ranging deer...


Michigan's Deer Population January 1, 2024 100.7 WITL

... Chad Stewart, deer, elk, and moose specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was asked ... if the estimated deer herd was around 2 million (a number reported and attributed to the DNR in multiple reports):  "I think that's fair. But, you know, whether it's 1.5 million, which can give you a pretty large error rate there. I couldn't say the difference, but I think it's easily safe to say that we have more than a million, and I certainly couldn't dispute 2 million." ..,


Michigan DNR Takes Stock of 2023 Deer Harvest  December 29, 2023 WHMI

...  the DNR reported a 33% decline in Michigan hunters, or, an average annual decline of 1.7%, since 1995... predicts ...  a 25% decline ... in 2030...


Five reasons why Michigan deer herds are surging: hunting declines are just one December 25, 2023 Bridge Michigan

… Michigan’s deer population has grown to about 2 million … Climate change, sprawl, hunter habits, a decline of predators and a lack of accessible hunting land all play a role ..,


Taking stock of Michigan’s latest deer harvest December 21, 2023 Marquette WLUC

...Some hunters and others question the results of DNR surveys, which calculate minimum population estimates for wolves in the U.P. (643 average since 2010), with some suggesting the true population is more likely in the range 2,000-3,000 animals.  The DNR acknowledges the number is an estimated minimum calculated during winter surveys when wolf numbers are at their lowest ..,


Big Rapids contracts with USDA Wildlife Services for deer culls in 2023-24 December 16, 2023 Michigan, Midland Daily News

... Since 2001, there have been 16 deer culls... Wildlife Services will coordinate with the city to locate bait sites ... annual survey on the city of Big Rapids website ... three respondents said they enjoy having the deer around or have no issues, and 31 respondents said they find them to be a nuisance and have caused damage...


Preliminary estimates show 11.8% decline in Michigan’s 2023 deer harvest, led by steep decline in U.P. December 15, 2023  Outdoor News

... though the reasons why may not become clear until next year.  With roughly 85% to 90% of expected deer registrations in through Dec. 8, the total statewide harvest was down 11.8% compared to the same time last year ...


Charlevoix approves $15,014 for deer cull December 8, 2023 Michigan, YAHOO!News

... The cull was developed due to several complaints from residents about garden destruction and an increasing rate of deer-car traffic accidents within the city limits...


East Lansing, Council Floats Regional Strategy Following Deer Management Presentation December 5, 2023 Michigan, 

East Lansing Info

...  the city is interested in keeping the deer population at a socially acceptable carrying capacity, as opposed to a biological carrying capacity. In other words, the city is trying to keep the deer population at a level that is acceptable to city residents, not at what is biologically possible...


"We need help. Help with freezer space": Deer processors have concerns over new donation requirements December 5, 2023 Michigan, fox17

... the processor must wait for negative chronic wasting disease, bovine tuberculosis, and lead test results... "... we've got to hang on to these deer for almost a month or month and a half. And we have no freezer space to do that.”...


Michigan may have fewer deer hunters, but venison donations to food banks are up November 27, 2023 The Gander

... while the number of deer hunters has been on the overall decline, MSAH reports a more than five-fold increase in donated venison over the past ten years, with more than 1.1 million pounds collected and donated between 1991 and 2022 ... additional deer donations come in from post season deer management efforts in the MetroPark System ..,


Chronic wasting disease found in new county November 23, 2023 Michigan, The Mining Journal

... “Ogemaw County is our northernmost detection in our Lower Peninsula, so it represents a whole new geographic area that we’ve identified the disease in where it previously wasn’t known to exist,” DNR deer biologist Chad Stewart said..,


Michigan deer hunting has a unique history November 21, 2023 Midland Daily News

Tom Lounsbury

... … When Europeans first made their appearance in the Great Lakes State, the southern Lower Peninsula featured more open areas, including prairies and bogs, which were ideal habitat for whitetail deer and elk.  The northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula, meanwhile, entailed a very dense, unending old growth forest ... ideal habitat for woodland caribou and moose, and detrimental to whitetail deer...


Deer harvest down in U.P. November 20, 2023 Michigan, Daily Press

... As of Friday morning, the Upper Peninsula saw just under 4,800 bucks harvested during the first two days of the 2023 deer season, down from 6,200 during the same time period in 2022. The harvest of does also saw a significant decrease compared to last year ...


In antler-obsessed Michigan, the state begs hunters to shoot more does November 7, 2023 Bridge Michigan

... By Stewart’s estimate, Michigan hunters are tens of thousands of does short of the number the state would like them to kill to keep populations stable. But in a state where hunters seem to be infatuated with antlers, it’s unclear whether it’s possible to change enough minds to reverse the trend...


Whitetails can detect predators in any direction November 15, 2023 Michigan, Manistee News Advocate

... deer possess a roughly 300-degree field of vision... deer will usually stand with their backs against the oncoming wind. That way they can detect the scent of any predators sneaking up behind them, according to a report from DeerLab.com...


Ahead of opening day, DNR expects fewer deer hunters November 14, 2023 Michigan, Yahoo

...“I think over the years there has been a steady decline in the hunter base and through COVID we saw those numbers pick back up for two or three years and they’re starting to edge back downward again,” said owner Steve Hayes.  The DNR says in 2000 there were more than 800,000 deer hunters and expects about 550,000 to participate this year ..,


Firearm deer hunting season starts Wednesday in Michigan: What to know November 13, 2023 Bridge Michigan

... Typically, over 1 million deer licenses are sold by the end of the year, and only about 25 to 30 percent of hunters shoot a deer... Kills are down for several reasons, including a phenomenon of oak tree overproduction known as masting. The trees are overproducing acorns, prompting deer to stay put and eat, making them less visible ...


PFAS poisoning: Don’t eat deer from near Clark’s Marsh November 6, 2023 Michigan, MLive.com

...  health officials are reminding hunters not to eat venison from deer killed within three miles of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township ...  likely contamination with various harmful per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in the animals’ livers and muscle tissues...


Responsible management to reduce TB in deer, cattle November 3, 2023 Michigan Farm News

... Infected deer numbers are not high. Last year, 5,194 deer in NE Michigan were checked for bTB and only 28 deer were found positive ...cattle herds within a 10-mile radius need to be tested for bTB. The percentage of infected deer detected has decreased, but as long as the bacteria is alive in deer, there will be new infections in the deer herd, and potentially in cattle herds...


DNR reports Ogemaw County’s first CWD-positive deer; hunters in north-central part of county encouraged to check deer October 31, 2023 Michigan DNR

...  a wild deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Trempealeau County. The deer was harvested in the town of Hale... a hunter-harvested 3-year-old doe and is the first confirmed wild deer CWD-positive detected in Trempealeau County...


Officer fired for killing ‘friendly’ neighborhood deer known as Annie October 27, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... The Pokagon Band Tribal Police has terminated an officer who killed a deer that was known as being friendly to people in the community...


U of M Study: Chronic Wasting Disease could spread through deer processing equipment October 24, 2023 Michigan, Northern News Now

... New research from the University of Minnesota finds Chronic Wasting Disease can be spread through equipment touched by contaminated meat.  “Knives and cutting boards and meat grinders can be contaminated with prions from venison that is contaminated from CWD,” said Tiffany Wolf, a professor with the University of Minnesota...


Company sues to let hunters use drones to find downed deer October 24, 2023 Michigan, WOOD Grand Rapids

... Drone Deer Recovery operates in 15 states, allowing hunters to find downed deer with the use of drone technology ... suing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources ...


Ludington Council approves deer cull Monday October 23, 2023 Michigan, Shoreline Media

... “For the sake of argument, if there are 300 deer here and the DNR may take 40 in a cull… you still have 260 left… Their experiences are not going to change with 260 deer or 300 deer.  “The whitetail deer is very adaptive. The more you kill, the more they will reproduce.” ...


Small town in Van Buren County upset following killing of beloved community deer October 21, 2023 Michigan, WZZM-TV 

... The Tribal Police were conducting a warrant on a home Friday, Oct 20., for an unrelated issue. That's when they say a Tribal Officer killed the deer... The police are now facing an onslaught of community backlash due to what the community feels was the wrongful killing of the deer...

      Michigan officer on leave after killing Annie, the ‘friendly’ deer October 24, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... The deer is seen flailing on the video before the officer puts it down. Clips of it are circulating on social media, including one that includes the shooting and another video that cuts off before the shooting. ...


Hunters can expect fewer deer this season October 18, 2023 Michigan, WNMU-FM

... while major die-offs were avoided last winter, deer numbers remain low in many locations, especially along Lake Superior and in the western counties.  The southern portions of the U.P.—especially Menominee, Delta, and Dickinson counties—have consistent populations..,


DNR implements 2nd year of mandatory deer harvest reporting October 18, 2023 Michigan, WILX

... Deer hunters are required to report successful deer harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer...


Why is Michigan's opening day of deer season Nov. 15? October 16, 2023 Michigan, Farmers' Advance

... By 1913, the main firearm season ran from Nov. 10 through November 30. Just one year later, state Game Commission William R. Oates suggested there were only 45,000 deer in the entire state, according to a 1980 DNR report — there are roughly 2 million in the state today ..,


Michigan DNR wildlife biologists provide updates on UP wolf population October 12, 2023 Upper Michigan's Source

...  Michigan DNR Wildlife Biologist Brian Roell said the estimated minimum population of wolves in the U.P. is 631.  “Wolves have been stable for basically the last 12 years..,


Additional CWD-positive deer identified in Grand Rapids city limits October 11, 2023 Michigan, Grand Rapids Herald-Review

...  harvested by an archer during the city hunt has been confirmed as the city’s third CWD-positive wild deer. The yearling female deer was harvested west of the Grand Rapids airport...


Deer overpopulation a growing concern, according to DNR October 10, 2023 Michigan, Huron Daily Tribune

... If this overpopulation is such an issue, why haven't there been more incentives to hunt antlerless deer? According to Alexander, there have been, but the problem is the mindset of the hunters themselves, which is very buck-centered.  "Everybody wants the horns," ...


Bay County man prohibited from owning livestock after starving 36 deer to death October 5, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... “Upon approaching the enclosure approximately 25 dead deer could be seen from the outside of the fence [sic]. The remaining 90-100 deer appeared thin, ribs showing on some, visible hip bones, hair loss, etc.” ...  received a probation sentence during which he’s prohibited from being responsible for livestock...


DNR to test for chronic wasting disease in Northern Michigan this year October 2, 2023 9&10 News

... Starting in 2021, the DNR began a rotational approach to testing for CWD ....  testing has occurred in and around areas where CWD has been detected. This has led to detection of CWD in 12 of Michigan’s 83 counties ..,


Meridian Township’s program to reduce deer overpopulation to begin Oct. 1 September 25, 2023 Michigan, WILX-TV

... The cull will also be the subject of a study by Michigan State University. This year’s project is a research study to determine whether it’s practical to use food-based delivery methods to administer tick medication to deer...


An open letter to Michigan’s deer hunters September 21, 2023 Michigan DNR News

... Since 2000, do you know how many years we have harvested more antlerless deer than antlered deer in the state of Michigan? The answer is one. In 2009, we had an estimated antlerless harvest of 220,913 and an estimated antlered harvest of 215,104. Every other year in this century, we’ve taken more antlered deer than antlerless deer. If you make a quick comparison with the states around us, such as Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, they all typically harvest between 8% to 25% more antlerless deer than they do antlered deer in a given year...


Injured deer saved and transported to vet by Shelby Township Police September 17, 2023 Michigan, FOX 2 Detroit

... A deer caught and injured in a fence was saved by Shelby Township Police on Saturday...


Get paid to help manage Michigan's deer population with DNR's Hunting Access Program September 15, 2023 Michigan Farm News

... launched in 1977, HAP is one of the oldest dedicated private lands public access programs in the nation. The program offers landowners in eligible counties (below) payments up to $25 per acre for enrollment of their land which allows for public hunting access...


20 Michigan communities with the most deer-vehicle crashes September 4, 2023 MLinve

... State police reported 58,984 deer-involved crashes throughout the state last year, which was a 13% increase from 2021 and a 20.5% increase from a decade ago ... Deer-involved crashes were most common in the fall, particularly in October and November. Those two months accounted for 19,490 of the 58,984 crashes, or 33%...  [Data for 2012 to 2022]


Does Grand Rapids have a deer problem? City data shows increasing nuisance August 23, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... “The next formal step would be that we request that the DNR maybe look at our community and see what the population is so we can make an informed and scientific decision about if we need to do anything or not,” ...


Entrepreneur sues Michigan over banning drones to find downed game July 28, 2023 The Center Square

... a 2015 Michigan law threatens fines of up to $1,000 and 90 days in prison for using drone-assisted “hunting,” which the Michigan Department of Natural Resources interprets to include using drones to locate downed game, even after the hunter has stored his weapons...


New law lessens the penalty for unreported deer harvests, removes jail time component July 11, 2023 Michigan, fox17online

... The policy, proposed in February by Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), enacts a one-time fine of $150, shooting down the threat of a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $50 to $500 fine or both...


Deer regulations approved for 2023-2025 hunting seasons July 8, 2023 The County Press

... The four-point antler point restriction on the restricted tag of the deer combo license has been reinstated in 19 Lower Peninsula counties ... The Upper Peninsula Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Zone ... has been removed... hunters in this area can resume baiting ...


Solutions still being sought to address regional deer population June 25, 2023 Michigan, candgnews.com

... West Bloomfield conducted its own survey in November of last year, and according to Township Supervisor Steven Kaplan, there was an “astounding” response to it, with 1,569 residents taking part.  “We have an interesting dynamic,” Kaplan said. “I would say there’s a split in the community — 50% love the deer and 50% don’t want the deer.”...


Michigan moose herds threatened by ticks, brain worms, the result of climate change June 22, 2023 Bridge Michigan

...  Officials counted 426 moose in the western U.P., a drop from 509 in 2019 ... Moose populations are being decimated in Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire and other states as parasites their toll ..,


State Department of Natural Resources updates deer hunting regulations in Lower Peninsula June 20, 2023 Michigan, WKAR

... In 2018 ... regulation allowed hunters in parts of the Lower Peninsula where [chronic wasting] disease was spreading rampantly to harvest deer with any number points ... But statewide deer biologist Chad Stewart says there was no impact on hunters’ behaviors and no change in the number of deer getting infected... "We are back to how we were before chronic wasting disease appeared," ..,


Zoey the therapy deer, Saginaw County woman split by DNR seizure June 17, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... The issue came to light again this spring when officials dropping off a fawn for her to rehabilitate noticed Zoey. Mau obtained her rehabilitator’s license after raising Zoey, inspired to keep helping fawns... 


Video Below:  Ronda Mau raised Zoey the deer from finding her dying as a fawn in her driveway over a year ago, and says she took the necessary steps to keep Zoey. However, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says Zoey is an illegally held deer  Read more.

Michigan wildlife rehab center shares do's and don'ts for fawn season June 15, 2023 WLNS

... “The number one thing is is that fawn crying... a starving fawn will cry for hours and hours on end all day long,” explained Clarke. “... it goes against everything inside of them because as soon as they start crying, every predator in the area is going to hear them... “The second thing that we look for is that animal approaching humans...  Another thing that we look for is the curling of the ear tips ..."


DNR to lift baiting ban in UP's CWD zone June 14, 2023 Michigan, Iron Mountain Daily News

... The Upper Peninsula’s first and only case of known chronic wasting disease was confirmed Oct. 18, 2018, in Dickinson County’s Waucedah Township. Later that year a roughly 10-mile-radius core surveillance area — encompassing 661 square miles — was created..,


Michigan deer goes for long swim in Straits of Mackinac, stunning onlookers June 14, 2023 Michigan, USA Today

... after the deer waded into the water near Fort Michilimackinac, it started making its way west toward McGulpin Point, 2 or 3 miles away...


Deer regulations approved for 2023-2025 hunting seasons June 13, 2023 Michigan DNR News

... “There are many challenges facing deer hunting in Michigan and across much of the Midwest in the coming years,” said Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose management specialist. “While the approved regulations for the 2023-2025 deer seasons are geared toward increasing opportunities for a declining hunter base, we recognize that we’ll have to continue to evaluate all possible options to sustainably manage Michigan’s deer herd in the future.” ...


DNR moose survey results show population in western UP statistically unchanged since 2019 June 8, 2023 Michigan DNR News

... “The 2023 moose survey estimate was 426* individuals, which is not statistically different from the 2019 estimate of 509 individuals ... This continues the trend of plateauing abundance where population growth over the last 12 years is now less than 1%.” ..,


Michigan DNR Investigating Saginaw Woman Trying to Keep Deer June 8, 2023 WRKR

... the DNR says she can't help anymore, and it has to be returned to the wild, where it likely will not survive... her website ...

     Embattled deer remains at Saginaw County retreat center June 7, 2023 Michigan, ABC12

... has kept Zoey for a full year as a therapy animal for children ... Zoey's mom was hit by a car .. has been working with the Michigan DNR on rehabilitating fawns and she has a license to do so...


Wildlife conversationalists plant tree saplings to improve deer winter habitat May 16, 2023 Michigan, WLUC

... planting more than 45,000 saplings across 100 acres of land in Iron River Township ... “Deer, historically, have used this area for the last 100 years for wintering. The amount of softwood, which is hemlock, white pine, balsam fir and spruce, has declined..."


Michigan officials propose changes to deer hunting regulations May 15, 2023, City Pulse

... Years after the [chronic wasting] disease was first identified in Michigan’s wild deer, the DNR removed antler-point restrictions that had applied to some deer licenses, in hopes of containing the outbreak. By steering hunters away from younger bucks, the agency hoped to encourage hunters to kill more does, thereby driving down herd numbers to keep CWD from spreading.   But DNR officials have found no evidence that easing restrictions made a dent in the deer population ...


Michigan officials propose changes to deer hunting regulations May 15, 2023 Bridge Magazine

... [recommended changes] ... In the area surrounding Dickinson County ...  DNR officials said hunters in the area can safely resume baiting deer, because CWD doesn’t appear to be spreading. Since the 2018 case, state officials have tested nearly 2,100 local deer and found no new infections... 


Chronic wasting disease found in Newaygo County deer May 2, 2023 Michigan, FOX 17

...  Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was detected in a white-tailed deer on a Newaygo County farm... diagnosed amid routine testing...


Michigan DNR awards 12 deer habitat grants May 2, 2023 WJMN-TV

... The projects set out with the goal to produce tangible deer habitat improvements, build long-term partnerships between the DNR and outside organizations ... The grant funding is supported by the state’s Deer Range Improvement Program, which is funded by a portion of deer hunting license revenue...


Fawn born at Potter Park is member of threatened species from China April 24, 2023 Michigan, WLNS.com

... Tufted deer are a threatened species in their native China, at risk of becoming endangered ... The fawn was found to have failure of passive transfer and she needed supplemental colostrum and antibiotics ...


Road Commission, DNR and Township Clash Over Roadkill April 21, 2023 Michigan, Old Mission Gazette

... when the DNR began receiving reports of deer being poached because of piles of carcasses found on state land, they started investigating. “What they’re discovering is that those deer have not been poached,” said Becky [Township Clerk] “They have been hit by cars. Somebody has picked them up and dumped them on state land.”...


Michigan lawmaker hopes to repeal order requiring e-reports for deer hunters April 4, 2023 Yahoo

... State Rep. Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) has introduced a measure to repeal a Michigan Department of Natural Resources order requiring deer hunters to report their harvests within 72 hours...


Sharpshooters remove deer from Kensington Metropark March 17, 2023 Michigan, hometownlife.com

... The number of deer culled at Kensington this winter was a dramatic drop from last year, when 80 deer were killed after a 1-year hiatus in the program due to threats of violence in 2021 shortly before a planned cull...


Few good options for shrinking Michigan’s problem deer herds March 9, 2023 Michigan, Bridge Magazine

... there may be up to two million deer in Michigan today [Chad Stewart,  deer, elk and moose management specialist] ... “We tend to see much higher survival rates in deer that live in urban settings,” ... hunting has been losing popularity for decades ... tend to target adult male deer known as bucks, which does little to control population since bucks don’t give birth..,


Michigan 2022 deer hunting season recap: Highlights from first year of required harvest reporting February 17, 2023, Michigan DNR News

...  Because of declining response rates with the traditional deer hunter survey, Michigan joined many other states in requiring deer harvests to be reported, which should improve harvest estimates and the timeliness of deer season reports in the future...


303,000 deer harvested during 2022 hunting seasons February 17, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... During 2022, 586,595 hunters purchased a deer license – about 1% less than in 2021. Hunters reported a total harvest of 303,087 deer ... [a 23.2% decline from 2021]


DNR announces $100,000 available for UP Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership February 17, 2023 Michigan, Marquette WLUC 

... “These projects are prime examples of how conservation minded partners and landowners can come together to enhance deer habitat all across the U.P.,” Scullon said...


Michigan bald eagles are dying of lead poisoning. The reason may surprise you February 1, 2023 MLive

... Testing showed that all of them had sky-high levels of lead in their blood. The culprit? Ingested fragments of lead ammunition...  a piece as small as a grain of rice can be deadly...  Cases like these are common every year at wildlife rehabilitation clinics across Michigan after deer season ... 


'I love to kill deer.' Man accused of poaching says he'd kill more deer, officials say January 31, 2023 Michigan, AOL

... A Michigan man was in jail on accusations of domestic abuse when he was interviewed as part of an illegal hunting investigation ... the man had taken at least 11 deer ...


Lansing, Residents upset after Lansing secretly culls deer January 30, 2023 Michigan, WLNS.com

...  Residents are upset after the City of Lansing failed to tell them about deer being killed in their parks... They fear that without the public knowing about this, it’s only a matter of time until someone gets hit by a stray bullet ... will work to get the cull replaced with methods that don’t involve killing the deer...


Bay County man accused of starving 36 deer to death set for trial after judge rejects plea deal January 25, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... Had Reinhardt received such a sentence and been successful on the supervision, he would then have been allowed to withdraw his felony plea and replace it with a plea to cruelty to two to three animals, a misdemeanor... scheduled his case for jury trial on April 25...


Local Volunteers Remove Halloween Bucket Stuck on Deer's Head for 'Two Weeks' January 22, 2023 Michigan, Yahoo

... Video recorded by South Lyon Murphy Lost Animal Recovery, a group that helped resolve a similar situation in the Detroit area in December, shows a net falling over the deer, before volunteers carefully hold down the animal and release the bucket...


Survey finds Michigan’s wolf population continues to remain stable January 18, 2023 clickondetroit.com

... Minimum wolf population in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is estimated at 631 wolves ... stable for more than a decade ... Officials said it is possible that wolves are in the Lower Peninsula ..,


Norton Shores, Deer fencing chosen over a targeted cull in Norton Shores to help protect property January 17, 2023 Michigan, MLive

... A new city ordinance allows for deer fencing at homes in Norton Shores...  plastic or nylon fencing up to 8 feet tall ... would be cheaper, and possibly more effective, than a targeted deer kill known as a “cull.” ...


East Lansing, Deer Cull Amended with Two Votes of Council January 12, 2023 Michigan, East Lansing Info

... Watson’s first motion, to prohibit the cull from taking place at East Lansing’s Aquatic Center and Softball complex .. passed 3-1.  The land is near Nottingham Nature Center, where injured and orphaned deer are rehabilitated and released... Watson’s second motion ... requires consideration of the latest science on lethal and non-lethal management methods as well as local data on deer collisions and car insurance rates, disease and more...


Feeding 1,000 deer a day; surviving winter in the Keweenaw January 10, 2023 Michigan, WLNS Lansing on MSN.com

... A lot of the hemlock and cedars that they would winter in are gone, and order to help them we’ve been doing supplemental feeding.” ... The club follows the Michigan Department of Natural Resources guidance and direction regarding supplemental deer feeding. Supplemental feeding is allowed in U.P. counties where feeding is allowed from January 1 through May 15...


Ludington, Ask questions about deer cull agreement December 18, 2022 Michigan, Shoreline Media

... State law requires the permission to hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of any residence by that resident. The DNR can dictate that a cull is not hunting so they don’t need your permission to allow shooting near your home. One state legislator tells me they are looking at this potentially hazardous practice now...


Deer with Halloween plastic bucket stuck on its face freed by South Lyon rescue group December 9, 2022 Michigan, WJBK

...  the heroes used a drop net to trap Bucky and then they cut the pumpkin bucket apart...


Extinctions, shrinking habitat spur 'rewilding' in cities December 6, 2022 Michigan, SFGate

... The U.S. Forest Service estimates 6,000 acres (2,428 hectares) of open space are lost daily as cities and suburbs expand...  Like it or not, rewilding will occur. The question is, how can we prepare communities and environments and societies to anticipate the presence of more and more wildlife?” ...


Larger deer herds eat saplings at Kleinstuck December 5, 2022 Michigan, WMUK

... The Detroit Free Press recently estimated the number of deer in Michigan at 2 million ... Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources wouldn’t confirm those figures.  “We don’t estimate population size. While the population trends we monitor are showing an increase, we can’t translate that to an estimated number of deer or a percent increase,” said MDNR’s Chad Stewart, in an emailed statement..,


Bay County man pleads to starving 36 deer to death December 5, 2022 Michigan, MLive.com

... pleaded no contest to one count of abandoning or cruelty to 25 or more animals. The charge is a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine...


East Lansing, Want to comment on East Lansing’s deer management program? Here’s your chance  December 5, 2022, Lansing State Journal

... In February 2020, the city council authorized a deer removal program, and the first culling of the population took place in January 2021.  The first year 65 deer were killed in city parks and the most recent cull this past year killed 79 deer ...


Michigan hunters say 252,000 deer killed in firearms season with new rules December 1, 2022 Bridge Michigan

… DNR statistics, compiled from the beginning of deer hunting in September, show there have been slightly fewer hunters in the woods this fall. [Note:  License buyers fell by 5.7% from 2017 to 2022 but harvest tags were virtually unchanged.]


Big Rapids contracts with USDA for deer cull December 1, 2022 Michigan, Houston Chronicle

... since 2001 there have been 15 prior deer culls in the city ... In 2014, the city commission received a petition signed by residents requesting that the city develop, establish and implement an ongoing plan to eliminate deer herds within the city...


Upper Peninsula hunters want more control over natural resource policy November 21, 2022 Michigan,  Interlochen Public Radio

... Tom Baird is chair of the NRC. He said there’s no conclusive evidence that wolves really are to blame for the U.P.’s shrinking deer population.  ... “The two factors that seem to be weighing very heavily are weather and habitat,” said Baird. He said extreme cold and a lack of food in the forests are believed to be the main causes of deer mortality in the winter and spring months...


Options to test your deer for chronic wasting disease November 16, Michigan DNR

Support from hunters and landowners is essential for early detection and monitoring of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer.  This year, there are several options for submitting samples for CWD testing depending on where you are in the state.  CWD self-submission kitsSample submission sites and participating taxidermistsTesting for a feeAdditional information


Deer numbers look good in Northern Lower Peninsula, spotty in Eastern U.P.  November 14, 2022 Michigan, Yahoo

... deer population trends in the Northern Lower Peninsula have generally been increasing in recent years while the Eastern Upper Peninsula has been experiencing lower deer numbers, according to Chad Stewart ..,


Making the switch from lead to copper ammunition November 13, 2022 Michigan, Traverse City Record-Eagle

... “When the deer is field dressed … (deer harvesters) will leave a gut pile out there … and lead can be distributed much further into the animal, including the gut region, than people think. And then other animals eat it, eagles specifically.”  Craven said a lead fragment the size of a grain of rice is enough to kill an eagle...


Why aren't there any wildlife bridges in Michigan?  November 11, 2022 WMUK

... There’s federal money to build wildlife bridges and crossings here. Is Michigan going to apply?...  In an email, spokesman Jeff Cranson said MDOT has nothing in the works that would “justify” asking for a grant right now...


DNR shares deer harvest update, new reporting requirements for firearm season  November 4, 2022 Michigan, WWMT Grand Rapids/Lansing 

... The reporting process requires hunters to pinpoint the exact location where they harvested their deer. Some hunters shared reservations about providing that specific information ...  The DNR plans to utilize harvest data to better understand deer populations and hunter activities for management purposes...


House Bill introduced to reduce deer baiting penalty to $1 fine Novembr 3, 2022 Michigan, Houston Chronicle

... Baiting remains illegal in most of Michigan after a bill to end the existing ban was vetoed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.  Republican lawmakers are taking another shot at the state's rules, introducing legislation reducing the penalty for baiting to $1...


Tecumseh City Council approves ordinance amendment allowing for bow hunting of deer  October 20, 2022 Michigan, YAHOO!News

... The primary complaint about deer is the aesthetic and destructive impact they have on landscaping and garden plants and the related cost of protecting or replacing the plants... On March 9, 2022, 184 deer were observed along the survey route.  On March 10, 2022, 372 deer were observed along the survey route...


Whitmer vetoes bill canceling criminal penalties for deer reporting October 16, 2022 Michigan, Detroit News

... Whitmer and her administration originally supported House Bill 6354, but Michigan's House of Representatives added language to the bill that would remove consequences for not reporting deer harvests within 72 hours of bagging a deer ...


Share the road: A look at vehicle-deer crash data in Michigan September 30, 2021 Michigan, clickondetroit.com

... Michigan officials don’t keep statewide deer population estimates, but an expert in 2021 estimated that there are around 2 million deer in the state... Since 2011, the state has recorded at least 50,000 vehicle-deer crashes each year...


Michigan House approves bill to stop deer harvesting rule September 23, 2022 The Center Square

... The Michigan House voted to eliminate a new rule, effective this year, from the Natural Resources Commission that could result in a misdemeanor charge for deer hunters who fail to report information to the Department of Natural Resources within 72 hours of harvesting a deer...


Southfield to hold town hall ballot question for reduction of deer population September 8, 2022 New York, C&G Newspapers

... the ballot question, which reads, “Do you support the reduction of the deer herd in the City of Southfield by humane, lethal means with the intent to engage local partners and ensure that donation of meat, deemed safe and where feasible, is made to local foodbanks and similar organizations?”  “The community is very split on this,” said Siver...


Deer hunting goes digital in Michigan this year August 20, 2022 WOODTV.com

... “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,” Stewart said...

      Rep. Green calls requirement to tag deer kills online 'overreach' August 20, 2022 Michigan, Huron Daily Tribune

... Has co-signed bill to eliminate misdemeanor penalty for non-compliance ... Green said he feels that this type of legislation should not be determined by an unelected committee ...

     

Michigan Hunters – Is It Time To Only Be Allowed to Shoot One Buck Per Season? August 3, 2022 WGRD

... The buck-to-doe ratio in Michigan is way off ... the problem is most of them are does ... This whole conversation was based on an article from National Deer Association ...


After finding deer carcass, Saugatuck man says he received 'a blessing'  July 1, 2022 Michigan, WZZM

... Shortly after finding a dead doe, Pete Palazzolo found her two fawns and with the help of a wildlife rehabilitation center, he saved their lives...


Goat milk sought by Howell Nature Center for hungry, rehabbing fawns June 30, 2022 Michigan, Yahoo

... has seven orphaned or injured baby deer in its rehabilitation clinic, and they're running low on supplies to keep the growing fawns happy and healthy.  The nature center feeds the fawns goat milk...


30,000 special deer hunting permits available on state parks, state forests June 27, 2022 Pennsylvania, Penn Live

... The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s DMAP allows landowners to apply for permits to encourage additional antlerless deer harvests on their properties, enabling DCNR and private landowners to more effectively manage deer populations and curtail damage to forests and crops...


'We saved its life': Chelsea football players rescue baby deer from lake June 24, 2022 Michigan, mlive.com

... a baby deer that appeared to be struggling to swim in the middle of the lake and in need of assistance... “Once we let it go, it ran off fine and looked healthy,” ...


DNR cautions UP motorists to be on the lookout for moose June 17, 2022 State of Michigan

... Over the past week, five bull moose have been struck and killed by vehicles along portions of M-95 and U.S Highways 141 and 41 ... The most recent DNR moose survey, conducted prior to the coronavirus pandemic in February 2019, estimated 509 moose in the western U.P. The next survey is planned for 2024...


Michigan Deer License Sales See a Post-Pandemic Drop June 14, 2022. Field & Stream

... While hunter numbers in Michigan show a long-term decline, deer numbers keep growing. Michigan’s deer herd increased from 1.7 million 10 years ago to around 2 million today, with most of the increase seen in the more populated southern half of the state.  "... your deer population is going to trend upwards toward its carrying capacity,” Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose management specialist told Bridge Michigan..,


Michigan deer hunters decline as pandemic boost in hunting wanes  June 13, 2022 Bridgemi

... The state’s deer hunting license sales were down almost 4 percent in 2021 from 2020 ... That decline follows a 5 percent jump in deer hunting licenses in 2020 ...


MDARD establishes 'potential high-risk area' for bovine TB in 4 counties May 31, 2022 Michigan Farm News

... The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announcement Tuesday follows a confirmed bovine TB case of a free-range white-tailed deer in Cheboygan County...


Deer kill count moves online May 17, 2022 Michigan, Interlochen Public Radio

... The survey will collect more accurate location data, and will be able to notify hunters when they’re in an area impacted by disease, like chronic wasting disease...Last year, the system was available on a volunteer basis ...


Chronic Waste Disease confirmed in Michigan deer  May 9, 2022 WJBK

... The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said it detected a case of chronic wasting disease in a deer in Mecosta County, which is west of Mount Pleasant...


Deer with can stuck on nose hasn't eaten in a week, Waterford man says May 5, 2022 Michigan, FOX 2 Detroit

... After such a long time without food, the animal is starting to move slower Sisk said. He's reached out to both the state and animal rescue groups to get the creature some help...


New research confirms old theory: Wolves really do prefer old and sick moose April 20, 2022 MIchigan,  Duluth News Tribune

... a new study by Isle Royale researchers from Michigan Technological University has documented that ... Wolves on the island showed a strong preference for elderly moose over prime-age moose, with wolves selecting their targets based on the age of the moose and whether it suffered from osteoarthritis ...


Michigan’s 2021 deer seasons included targeted CWD surveillance, 25 positive deer April 14, 2022 Michigan.gov

... The DNR has finalized its 2021 surveillance efforts for chronic wasting disease, ultimately testing just over 7,200 deer... In all, 25 CWD-positive deer were confirmed in 2021. Three cases of CWD were detected in Isabella County, which represents a new county where the disease has been found..,


DNR explains why there are headless deer carcasses on roadsides April 9, 2022 Michigan, WWMT

... “So with those ones being on the side of the roads, it’s generally a strong possibility that our Wildlife Division is doing some kind of chronic wasting disease or tuberculosis disease testing in the free-ranging wild deer herd," ...


Meridian Township, About 330 deer taken during annual cull near Lansing March 29, 2022 Michigan, MLive

...  Officials in Meridian Township, which is located just east of Lansing, concluded the 11th year of its deer management program earlier this year...


Once extinct in Michigan, elk are now thriving March 16, 2022 Michigan Radio

... Eastern elk went extinct here around 1875, thanks to forest clear-cutting and overhunting... “Our best estimate is about 1,277,” said biologist Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk, and moose management specialist ..,


DNR: Aerial survey shows Michigan's elk herd growing March 11, 2022 WZZM

... estimates that Michigan's elk population has increased 5% since 2019.  The aerial survey over eight days in January covered 1,080 square miles (2,797 square kilometers) of sample plots across the northern Lower Peninsula, according to the DNR, which put the estimated elk population between 870 and 1,684..,


Sharpshooters take 80 deer in Kensington Metropark cull after 1-year hiatus  March 11, 2022 Michigan, HometownLife

... The parks' deer management program has been in place since 1999, but not without controversy. Residents protested in early years of the cull, and the community voiced its ire after a rare albino buck was killed in a Kensington cull almost 10 years ago...


'Forest Of The Living Dead' March 4, 2022 Michigan, Interlochen Public Radio

... The state went from an estimated 45,000 deer in 1914 to 1.5 million by the late 1940s... Michigan which has about 30 deer per square mile...  Deer and many other wildlife depend upon young forest habitat, the vegetation growing down close to the surface where they can reach it for food..,


5-night deer cull starts on University of Michigan-Dearborn campus February 26, 2022 Michigan, Yahoo! Sports

... reduce the deer population on the ... campus by up to 50 deer ... the third deer population cull ordered by the university... will use rifles with silencers ...


UM Dearborn planning deer cull at school's 300-acre nature preserve February 25, 2022 Michigan, WJBK

... The University of Michigan's Dearborn campus will cull the local deer population ... opted for a population between 20-30 animals...


Kalamazoo, Citizens urge against killing animals as proposal made to manage deer population in Kalamazoo February 23, 2022 Michigan, MLive

... “Based on our resident survey results, our committee fully understands and appreciates that employing lethal methods as part of a Kalamazoo urban deer management program is a controversial approach, as many residents have very strong feelings both for and against the culling of deer,” the report states...


Tribal knowledge could rescue Great Lakes ‘ghost species’ from extinction, book says February 16, 2022 Michigan, MLive

...  the plight of the last 15 remaining genetically distinct Lake Superior woodland caribou which in January 2018  ... instead of being witnesses to the extinction of the species, both tribal and provincial officials intervened; wildlife specialists netted and helicoptered the large, deer-family animals to two “wolf-free islands” to foster their recovery...


DNR: Deer killed out of season in NE Kent County February 14, 2022 Michigan, WOOD-TV

... The state wildlife agency is working to find out who is poaching deer - so far about a dozen - in northeastern Kent County...


More cases of disturbing deer poaching in Cedar Springs area February 10, 2022 Michigan, FOX 17

... Since last week, residents have been spotting deer carcasses in fields and along the road in the Spencer and Nelson Township area – all of them deceased from gunshot wounds ...


Bay County man follows wife in being charged with starving herd of deer to death February 10, 2022 Michigan, MLive

...  The second half of a Bay County couple accused of starving dozens of deer to death has been arraigned on a felony, months after he reported the animals’ mistreatment to authorities...


Ann Arbor council shoots down deer management proposal in 6-5 vote  February 8, 2022 Michigan, MLive

... council debated and voted 6-5 to quash a proposal to consider resuming deer culls... Council Member Travis Radina, D-3rd Ward, said he could support more vegetation studies and trying to convince the state to allow non-lethal sterilization again ...


Bovine TB found at two cervid farms for first time in 13 years February 4, 2022 Michigan, MLive

...  bovine TB was found at regulated cervid facilities in Alcona and Sanilac counties. It’s the first time since 2009 the bacterial disease was found at such an agricultural facility...


East Lansing ends 2022 deer cull; 79 deer removed from city parks February 1, 2022 Michigan, Yahoo! Sports

... “The City intends to measure the outcomes of this removal by continuing to gather feedback from residents and monitor deer herds and deer-vehicle accidents,” ... more about East Lansing's deer removal operations on its website...


Couple charged with starving dozens of deer to death during divorce dispute January 20, 2022 Michigan, Penn Live

... “Upon approaching the enclosure approximately 25 dead deer could be seen from the outside of the fence [sic]. The remaining 90-100 deer appeared thin, ribs showing on some, visible hip bones, hair loss, etc.” ... a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine...


Deer culls will continue at Kensington Metropark, issuing a report calling it best option January 19, 2022 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... Huron-Clinton Metroparks officials recently released a 68-page report in which they determined that sharpshooters remain the best strategy for controlling overpopulation of deer herds... [non-lethal options]


Humane Society invites experts to make case against resuming Ann Arbor deer cull January 13, 2022 Michigan, MLive

... hosting a free webinar to make an ecological case for peaceful co-existence with urban deer...Council voted 6-5 last May to defund the program for a second year, freeing up $120,000 in the annual budget to reallocate other initiatives, including preliminary design work for a new downtown park and civic commons...


East Lansing wildlife rehabilitator is proposing a humane alternative to the city's deer cull   January 3, 2022 Michigan, WSYM-TV

... "You leave tracts of land that are open and green, that can bring them out of the city and encourage them to come into these big open areas." ... Green corridors got their beginnings in Europe and are being implemented across the United States...

      Wildlife rehabilitator expresses concern over East Lansing's deer culling plans January 1, 2022 Michigan, WSYM-TV

...  “To come in and start to cull deer that are located a half a mile from where I am required to release my fawns here. For them to come in a kill deer a half a mile from where they are released just doesn’t make any sense,” ..,


All Cougars Confirmed in Michigan Have Been Male: Why we Don't see Females, Kittens ... December 31, 2021 Michigan, The Chronicle

... 11 sightings of cougars in the U.P. so far this year ... researchers have only confirmed lone male cougars in Michigan ... Young male cougars often leave groups when they are out-competed...


East Lansing, Up to 300 deer to be killed during culls in East Lansing, Meridian Township December 29, 2021 Michigan, WKAR

... In Meridian, township police will kill up to 200 deer ...


License sales in 2021 means Michigan interest in outdoors remains high December 28, 2021 Monroe Evening News

... Hunting license purchases were up 1.6% from 631,138 bought in 2019...  641,588 people purchased hunting licenses ..,


Deer Habitat Improvement Program grant application period open December 16, 2021 Michigan DNR News

... Landowners with property in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties are eligible to apply for the grant... To learn more about the Deer Habitat Improvement Program grant, visit AlpenaMontCD.org


12 elk dead after falling through icy lake in Northern Michigan, DNR says December 15, 2021 MLive

... the incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday when an elk-hunting guide reported that 12 elk had fallen through the ice on Crapo Lake ...


Illegal hunting complaints reach record numbers during pandemic, arrests down  December 10, 2021 Michigan, Spartan Newsroom - Michigan State University

... 


The Nature Conservancy acquires over 10,000 acres in U.P.  December 6, 2021 Michigan, WLUC

... The property’s proximity to other protected lands, including Craig Lake State Park, the McCormick Wilderness and TNC’s Wilderness Lakes Reserve, also contributes to large stretches of habitat that wide-ranging species such as moose and deer need to thrive...


DNR study illuminates factors influencing deer abundance November 26, 2021 Michigan,  The Mining Gazette

... the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) published “Factors Limiting Deer Abundance in the Upper Peninsula,” a study that examines the impact of various factors – including weather conditions, habitat, and predation – on white-tailed deer abundance...


DNR urging hunters to test deer for bovine tuberculosis  November 22, 2021 Michigan, WPBN

... Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Health Specialist Emily Sewell said ...  it's really important that we have hunters come to our staff check stations or drop boxes to submit the heads of their deer for bovine TB testing.” ...


CWD Confirmed in Two Farmed Elk in Kent County November 18, 2021 Michigan, 9 & 10 News

... The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed Thursday two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk from a farmed facility in Kent County.  These are the first cases of CWD in Michigan elk...


Pastors find 10-point buck in church on opening day of deer hunting season November 16, 2021 Michigan, MLive.com

... A 10-point buck sought sanctuary inside a church for the opening day of hunting season... After roaming through the church, the buck found his way back to a first-floor window and jumped back out into nature through the same window he came in...


Michigan DNR Says Deer Season Should Be Good For Hunters November 15, 2021  Radioresultsnetwork.com

... The Michigan DNR says the state's deer herd continued to grow over time and seemed to peak in the 1990’s. In 1998, a record harvest of nearly 600,000 deer occurred. The deer herd doesn’t seem to be as big as it was then ...


USDA: 67% of tested Michigan deer have COVID-19 antibodies November 15, 2021 Michigan, WLNS 6 News

... 481 deer were tested from January 2020 through March 2021. The samples came from New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania. It was the Michigan sample of 113 deer that were found to have antibodies in two-thirds of the group...


Fewer licenses as deer hunting season gets underway in Michigan November 15, 2021 UPMatters.com

...  the Department of Natural Resources says it is seeing fewer hunters than last year based on license sales...  license sales are down 4.36% compared with 2020. Last year saw the highest number since 2016...


Deer numbers promising for season opener November 15, 2021 Michigan, Daily Press

... The 2020 U.P. winter was far milder than normal, which was a welcome respite for the deer population. The fast spring green-up meant that many adult deer were able to recover quickly from the tolls of winter. With abundant mast (nuts, seeds and fruits) production in the fall of 2020, deer headed into winter in overall good shape...


DNR places higher limit on antlerless deer hunting licenses in Michigan November 11, 2021 Michigan, WWMT

... Michigan has seen a 32% decline in the number of hunters statewide in the last 20 years...


Deer with head stuck in pumpkin on the loose in Cascade Township November 10, 2021 Michigan, WZZM

... the Cascade Township Fire Department has been chasing her around, and at one point even captured her briefly before she kicked loose of the restraints. ...


The Michigan moose among us November 4, 2021 Michigan DNR News

... Moose were native to Michigan but declined after settlement of the area progressed, with unregulated hunting and with mature forests altered through logging and subsequent forest fires.  “Moose were occasionally seen in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after World War II,” according to the interpretive display. “Then, in the 1970s, biologists noted changes in the U.P. that resulted in better habitat for moose. The prospects for reintroduction looked good...


Deer-vehicle crashes in Michigan fell in 2020, due in part to fewer drivers during the pandemic  October 25, 2021 MLive 

...   More than 51,000 automobile crashes on Michigan roadways involved deer in 2020, reversing an upward year-over-year trend of total deer crashes that dates back to 2016 ... five percent of the 245,432 automobile accidents in Michigan ...


Record elk hunting applications in Michigan fuel conservation efforts October 24, 2021 Michigan, The Detroit News

...  More than 49,000 hunters applied to hunt Michigan elk in 2021 ... They paid $5 for a chance for one of only 300 available tags ...


‘It’s like killing somebody’s dog,’ “Neighborhood deer” shot by police in yard October 19, 2021 Michigan, WLNS.com

... According to many residents, this wasn’t just any deer, it was the neighborhood deer... “I was pissed. Why would they shoot the deer? The deer comes to my house at least once a week, wants to be petted, wants to be loved,” Miller said...


Whitmer vetoes bill on bird feeding over deer fears October 8, 2021 Michigan, The Hill

...  bill would have taken away legal action that could be placed on residents if they feed birds where deer could travel...

 

These are the eerie remnants of Michigan’s Deer Forest Fun Park now up for auction October 7, 2021 Michigan, MLive

... You could get deer food and go into the deer pen and feed them... “It is sitting there dormant and it’s a shame,” ...


Michigan DNR issues deer contagion alert after six EHD deaths October 5, 2021 MLive

... white-tailed deer in Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair and Shiawassee counties have succumbed to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) ...


Watch for deer: Crashes increase during autumn months  September 17, 2021 Michigan, Big Rapids Pioneer

... Almost 50,000 deer vs. vehicle crashes are reported every year in the state of Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police, with more than 20,000 occurring in September through November...


Two cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) confirmed in deer in Oakland County September 16, 20201 Michigan, WLNS.com

... The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking outdoorsmen to report sightings of deer corpses near bodies of water...


Michigan hunting guide 2021 September 16, 2021 Detroit Free Press

... The first deer regulation was developed in 1859, which eliminated year-round hunting and set a seven-month season for taking deer... The DNR says the deer herd in Michigan peaked in the 1990s. A record 600,000 deer were harvested in 1998...


Michigan 2021 Deer Forecast September, 2021, Michigan DNR

... The mast crop in the NLP this year looks good ... The winter of 2020 didn't seem to have adverse effects on the deer herd ... Deer numbers seem consistent with previous years (in the SLP) ..,


Deer harvest on an upward trend in the U.P. this year September 9, 2021 Michigan, Upper

... “Not only was the winter mild, the deer actually coming into that winter were in much better condition than typical because of the really abundant acorn we had locally here and much of the northern parts of the U.P. where we had those mast crops available for them,” said DNR Wildlife Biologist Brian Roell...


A Microhistological Investigation of Winter Diets of White-Tailed Deer in Relict Eastern Hemlock Stands, Upper Peninsula of Michigan - Northeastern Naturalist, 2021

... we assessed foraging trends using microhistological analysis of fecal pellets from 2006–2018 across a network of monitoring plots in 39 relict Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) stands in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We found that deciduous browse comprised the majority of the diet, but conifer species were also eaten. During severe winters, Eastern Hemlock and Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir) were more prevalent in the diet, whereas in mild winters, Thuja occidentalis (Northern White Cedar) was more prevalent...


Gray wolf seen in one California region for first time in 100 years; population strong in Michigan September 3, 2021 Michigan, Our Midland MI

... The most recent survey of gray wolves, conducted between December 2019 and March 2020, by the Michigan DNR counted a minimum of 695 wolves, compared to only 20 wolves in 1992...


Farmington Hills takes steps to adopt a deer management plan September 2, 2021 Michigan, C&G Newspapers

... Of the various options that have been suggested for how to manage the deer population, Farmington Hills Council member Ken Massey said he is not satisfied with the “only option” the DNR has been pushing for, which is to kill them... “If there is a birth control available for the does, it would make sense ...


Deer Plummets From 50-Foot Waterfall, Casually Swims Away August 13, 2021 Michigan, Newsweek

... Tahquamenon Falls State Park ... a fawn, galloped across the waterfall top at full speed, while tourists screamed in the background. The deer stopped momentarily at the edge, but the force of the water pulled it down...  paddle its way to the edge ...


Deer Plummets From 50-Foot Waterfall, Casually Swims Away August 13, 2021 Michigan, Newsweek

... Tahquamenon Falls State Park ... a fawn, galloped across the waterfall top at full speed, while tourists screamed in the background. The deer stopped momentarily at the edge, but the force of the water pulled it down...  paddle its way to the edge ...


CWD, Two cases of highly transmittable, fatal disease confirmed Mecosta and Montcalm county deer  August 11, 2021 Michigan, WZZM

... Two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) ...the first time a white-tailed deer has tested positive for it in Mecosta county... The deer were found at two separate facilities, one in Mecosta and one in Montcalm...

     MDARD confirms chronic wasting disease at multiple farmed deer facilities August 11, 2021 Michigan, WLNS.com

...  two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) at two farmed deer facilities in Mecosta County and Montcalm County... Since 2008, chronic wasting disease has been found across 8 deer farms across the state..

Farmington Hills council looks at regional, local deer solutions July 26, 2021 Michigan, Farmington Voice

... Council member Ken Massey pointed out most residents surveyed oppose killing deer. He suggested exploring new technologies that eliminate the deer’s ability to reproduce.  Farmer said the state does not allow use of those methods, although Ann Arbor got permission to test surgical sterilization...

Michigan, Oregon AGs say feds improperly delisted gray wolves July 26, 2021 mlive.com

... Wolves were wiped out across most of the U.S. by the 1930s under government-sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns. A remnant population in the western Great Lakes region has expanded to about 4,400 animals across Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin since wolves were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1973...

 This Picture Of A Fawn And Its Rescuer Will Take Your Breath Away July 13, 2021 Michigan, Patch

... A fawn and its mother have been reunited after a family on a fishing excursion plucked the young deer from a northern Michigan lake. Conservation officer Sidney Collins used a recording of fawn bleats to lure its mother from the woods...


Lake Michigan insights from island studies: the roles of chipmunks and coyotes in maintaining Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi in the absence of white-tailed deer

2021 Ticks and Tick-borne

... deer herd exists on North Manitou Island but not on South Manitou Island, where coyotes (Canis latrans) and hares (Sylvilagus lepus) are the dominant medium mammals... Our investigation demonstrated that alternative hosts could maintain a local population of blacklegged ticks and an enzootic cycle of the Lyme disease bacterium in the absence of white-tailed deer...


Well-known white deer killed in Michigan's Lake County — and people are outraged June 2, 2021, Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... comments by Wednesday had been shared on social media more than 12,000 times.  Angry and bewildered commenters said they felt the hunter was "complete evil" and "a disgrace" for killing such a rare animal that was known to by local residents ...

     Michigan DNR seeking tips following killing of albino deer downstate June 1, 2021 Michigan, UpperMichigansSource.com

... the deer was shot by a crossbow ...  laying at the edge of someone’s yard, along North Bass Lake Road ... in Lake County...

Kalamazoo,  Deer ‘sharpshooters’ among options considered for Kalamazoo citizen group’s management proposal  May 19, 2021 MLive

... Sharpshooters, sterilization and deer birth control are among the options residents are considering ... "I haven’t been provided any evidence to think it’s anything more than a nuisance to a few homeowners in mostly well-off neighborhoods,” Kalamazoo resident and Environmental Concerns Committee Vice Chair ...


Ann Arbor, A preview of the 2022 Ann Arbor City Budget  May 16, 2021 Michigan, The Michigan Daily

...   includes $120,000 for the city’s deer culling program.... “(The Humane Society’s) first aerial count showed just 168 deer, and after five years of culling the number has barely changed,” Hilgendorf said. “Culls are costly short-term fixes … that don’t reduce Lyme disease, and there are better ways to make our roads safer.” ...


Prescribed burn today in Otsego County to improve elk habitat May 14, 2021 Michigan DNR News

... A prescribed burn by Michigan Department of Natural Resources fire staff is planned today for Otsego County's Corwith Township. The 418-acre burn will improve elk habitat in the Pigeon River Country State Forest and rejuvenate native grasses.   Prescribed burns are one way the DNR keeps lands and forests healthy...


DNR announces $100,000 in UP deer habitat improvement grants May 8, 2021 Michigan, Iron Mountain Daily News

... The Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative is a competitive grant program designed to enhance deer habitat on non-state lands in the Upper Peninsula.  “These grants will produce positive impacts on 844 acres in Menominee, Marquette, Alger, Gogebic, Iron, Baraga, Ontonagon, Gogebic, Schoolcraft, and Mackinac counties,” ...


Wildlife Habitat Grant application period now open April 20, 2021 Michigan DNR News

... Funding is available for local, state, federal and tribal governments, profit and nonprofit groups, and individuals through an open, competitive process. Minimum grant amounts will be set at $15,000, with the maximum being the amount of funds available for the grant cycle. The 2021 overall available grant amount is approximately $1 million..,


Fishermen rescue deer stuck, struggling in Michigan river April 5, 2021 MLive

...  With seawalls on both sides, the doe had no way to escape the river...


Resolution adopted in favor of Michigan wolf hunt March 16, 2021 UpperMichigansSource.com

... Mattson says the U.P. has lost 50,000 deer hunters in the last nearly 20 years and about half a billion dollars in revenue because of it – all due to wolves killing too many deer...


Chronic wasting disease detected at Montcalm County deer farm March 12, 2021, Michigan,  WOOD-TV

...  The neurological disease in the 4-year-old white-tailed deer was found through samples submitted for routine testing in the state’s CWD surveillance program ...  it has been confirmed in six farms in Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties..,


Royal Oak man issued warrant for violent threats in deer cull March 10, 2021 Michigan, C&G Newspapers

... Authorities canceled the deer cull scheduled at Kensington Metropark in Milford the next day in response to the threats, which they deemed credible... malicious use of a telecommunications service, which is punishable by six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine ...


The Michigan DNR has verified 65 reports of cougars in the state March 5, 2021 FOX 2 Detroit

... a DNR wildlife biologist, says there's no evidence that a breeding population of cougars is in Michigan since there have been no signs of kittens and every verified sighting was of a male.  Instead, evidence from DNA indicates the cats traveled here from South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska..,


Threats of violence cancel Kensington deer cull; warrant issued for Royal Oak man February 26, 2021 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... Huron-Clinton Metroparks Police Chief Michael Reese said the Royal Oak man was "generally upset about the deer management program, specifically the cull itself. He made threats to shoot police officers taking part in the deer cull." ...

Michigan DNR Regulation Changes for 2021 Deer Hunting Seasons February 19, 2021 wjimam.com

... the DNR has issued 751,310 deer   hunting licenses, compared to 584,802 licenses issued in 2019 ... A mid-September report from the Michigan DNR indicates that overall participation in deer hunting is up 26.97% over the same time as last year ..,


COVID brings Michigan a hunting boom February 13, 2021 Traverse City Record Eagle

... in a major reversal, hunting surged across the country during the pandemic. In Michigan, that translated to increased hunting license sales across species, from a 6-percent jump in small game permits and 7 percent in overall deer licenses, to a 32-percent increase in elk licenses..,


Natural Resources Commission approves 2021 deer hunting regulations February 12, 2021 Michigan, Michigan State Capitol

... The regulations will provide additional opportunity, flexibility and cost savings for hunters and – based on existing and projected data the Department of Natural Resources uses to gauge the impact of proposed regulations – are not expected to have a significant negative effect on the deer herd ..,


Animal rights activists, hunters opposed to controversial deer cull at Kensington Metropark February 10, 2021, WXYZ Detroit

 ... Animal rights activists say there are non-lethal ways that should be used in controlling the deer population. Hunters don't agree that sharpshooters with Metroparks Police should be carrying out the cull...


DNR announces availability of $100,000 in UP Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership grants February 8, 2021 Michigan, Michigan State Capitol

... March 12 application deadline in effect ... The initiative is a cooperative grant program designed to enhance deer habitat on private lands in the U.P... The complete grant application package is available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants...


Meridian Twp. to kill 150 deer because of overpopulation: What to know about the cull February 2, 2021 Michigan, Lansing State Journal

... As part of its decade-long deer management program, the township has allowed hunters to kill nearly 930 deer since 2011 ... There are alternatives to culling deer, including surgically sterilizing them or giving them birth control, although the township's plan says those options have  issues of "feasibility and affordability." Fences can be built to keep deer out, but the enclosures fragment habitats ...


COVID restrictions may have limited Mich. deer hunters during firearm season February 1, 2021 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... while overall license sales in the state were up, some hunters may have stayed home during the gun season. ...  the northern Lower Peninsula and the U.P. experienced a mild beginning to winter.  "That could bode well for this year's deer population," ..,


Kensington park sharpshooters aim to thin deer herd by nearly 50, spare albino January 29, 2021 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... The carrying capacity of the land is high ... Huron-Clinton Metroparks has continued the deer management program in place since 1999 and while there is not a cull every year and never at all 13 parks, Kensington has had a cull for at least the last few years ...

East Lansing aims to reduce deer population through deer cull in city parks January 19, 2021 Michigan, WSYM-TV

... It's the city’s first population reduction attempt.  Under an agreement with USDA Wildlife Services, biologists trained in the use of firearms will kill up to 50 deer ...


Curious puppy leads DNR officer to parts of illegally-hunted deer January 15, 2021 Michigan, MLive

... Conservation Officer ... While he waited to talk to the hunters, Cardenas said he saw a puppy walk into a pole barn on the property and come back out carrying a deer leg in its mouth ...


Wolf management badly needed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula January 15, 2021 Iron Mountain Daily News

... our 2020 deer season in the U.P. was a disaster and will probably go down as one of the worst in history. Our deer herd in the U.P. is in serious decline. Predators — wolves in particular — have decimated our deer herd...


Extended deer season in metro Detroit lets archery hunters take aim through Jan. 31 January 6, 2021 Michigan, DNR News

... “Archery hunters can take advantage of some excellent hunting in January,” Stewart said. “This longer season also is a fairly low-cost first attempt for municipalities to help reduce the conflicts that arise when deer numbers rise in more populated, urban areas.” ...


Late antlerless firearm deer hunt set for select Northern Michigan counties December 29, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... “Increased antlerless harvest in these counties is important to reducing the number of deer interacting with farms and helps to limit the number of bTB-infected wildlife and cattle herds in the future.” ...


Hunting licenses soar as virus-weary Americans head outdoors November 20, 2020 Michigan, The Salem News

...  More than 545,000 hunters in Michigan had bought licenses through Nov. 11, nearly 10 percent more than at the same point in 2019 ...  Michigan had lost about 300,000 deer hunters in the previous 20 years ...


Opening Day Is Tomorrow November 14, 2020 Michigan, DNR News

... . A recent study released by Michigan United Conservation Clubs estimates that hunting and fishing in Michigan generate $11.2 billion a year, with the state's hunters contributing $8.9 billion – about 80 percent ...


Deer hunting license purchasing system fails just before firearm season in Michigan November 14, 2020 MLive

... The DNR’s licensing system, provided by Tennessee-based Sovereign Sportsmen Solutions, experienced “unforeseen technical issues,” according to the DNR. The issue is occurring across several states ...


 Man confesses to killing deer with hammer in scene captured on Snapchat November 14, 2020 Michigan, Penn Live

... he repeatedly struck a deer in the head with a hammer ... “The video starts with the deer standing upright in the middle of the road, blinded by vehicle headlights. Words of encouragement and laughter can be heard throughout the video ...


2021 deer hunting regulations package to be introduced to NRC Thursday November 6,2020 Michigan DNR News

... The proposed changes are meant to further simplify deer regulations and remove barriers to participation in deer hunting ... The data shows that the changes will not have a significant negative effect on the deer herd or the quality of deer hunting..,


Deer Hunting License Sales Up Big This Year, But Unlikely To Reverse Decades-Long Decline October 28, 2020 Michigan, WKAR

...  a 17% increase in the number of deer hunting licenses sold so far this year... Numbers peaked at almost 900,000 hunters in the mid-90’s then dwindled down to under 500,000 in 2019...


Another worry for deer hunters: Contaminated game October 26, 2020 Michigan, Escanaba Daily Press

... A “Do Not Eat” advisory from the state Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health and Human Services is in effect for deer killed within 5 miles of Clark’s Marsh in Iosco County’s Oscoda Township. High levels of PFAS [ perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances] have been found in the groundwater there... may damage the immune system ...


Former Coloma resident starts campaign to purchase, restore, and reopen Deer Forest October 22, 2020 Michigan, WNDU-TV

...  it’s his mission to bring back the former animal theme park so families can make new memories at the place he said put Coloma ... “It’s Deer Forest so you got to have the deer and we’d like to have an array of farm animals...


Light pollution alters predator-prey interactions between cougars and mule deer in western US October 19, 2020 Michigan, ScienceBlog

... Data from the study provides support for both the predator shield and ecological trap hypotheses, according to the researchers. At certain times and locations within the wildland-urban interface, there is simply too much artificial light and/or human activity for cougars, creating a protective shield for deer... cougars are able to successfully hunt within the wildland-urban interface by carefully selecting the darkest spots on the landscape to make their kill ...


See No. 1 Michigan community for deer crashes; look up 2019 data for your city or township  October 19, 2020   MLive 

... Michigan had a total of total 55,531 accidents involving deer in 2019, up 4% from 53,464 in 2018 and 50,949 in 2017... Michigan Car Crashes with Deer by County     Crashes by City ...


UP Habitat Workgroup returns reinvigorated October 15, 2020 Michigan, DNR News

... During the early part of the last decade, a period of three consecutive severe U.P. winters, coupled with a subsequent decline in deer numbers, heightened concerns about habitat conditions in deer wintering complexes, especially winter shelter...


Michigan DNR sees increase in hunting amid pandemic October 12, 2020 Michigan, The Detroit News

... A renewed interest in hunting has dramatically increased since March when the coronavirus pandemic hit ... the DNR has issued 751,310 deer hunting licenses, compared to 584,802 licenses issued in 2019 ...


Michigan DNR sees uptick in hunting and outdoor activities during the coronavirus pandemic October 11, 2020 The Oakland Press

... If 2020 turns out to be like 2019, hunters will take more than 370,000 deer this fall... the state’s estimated 1.7 million deer population.  Deer licenses sold:  1,371,835 in 2014; 1,351,817 in 2015; 1,320,879 in 2016; 1,312,286 in 2017; 1,298,664 in 2018; 1,238,679 in 2019...


Forest Foods Deer Eat October 10, 2020 Michigan DNR

... As trees grow, a maturing forest provides far less food than its previous young, brushy phase which occurred shortly after logging... Preferred foods:  White Cedar (Arbor Vitae), White Pine, Maples, Yellow Birch, Dogwoods and Viburnums, Sumac ...


Spatial Variation of White-tailed Deer Population Impacts and Recovery from epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease SA Christensen, DM Williams, BA Rudolph, WF Porter - Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2020. Michigan

... Deer mortality from EHD has increased in the state of Michigan, USA, since 2006, with the largest outbreak occurring in 2012 ... Abundance estimates were lower along transects near the riparian corridor only in the affected area, reflecting EHD mortality associated with wetlands. The only change in abundance over time was a significant increase on the riparian strata in the EHD-affected site...


Hunters hit the woods for archery deer season October 1, 2020 Michigan, WOOD-TV

... Typically, the DNR reports a decline in licenses sold around 2% annually...  DNR Deer Biologist Chad Stewart says the department has reported an increase in licenses sold by nearly 20% this year..,


DNR offering discount on deer licenses for hunting in 6 Northern Michigan counties October 1, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... The discounted cost is intended to provide an incentive for hunters to take more deer, which would help manage the size of the herd in northeast Michigan and may reduce the amount of bovine tuberculosis in the area, according to the DNR..,


  Curious deer watches closely as golfer sinks putt at Oakland County course September 30, 2020 Michigan, WJBK

... Dudzinski posted a video on his Facebook page showing a young deer wandering onto the course and walking right up to Nolff as she was setting up her final shot of the day at the Oakland County course...


Deer check and CWD/TB testing changes for 2020 hunting season September 24, 2020 Mixhigan, cedarspringspost

... Staffing and financial shortages, due to both funding associated with long-term declines in the hunter base and the COVID-19 pandemic, will result in reductions in check station and drop-box locations, dates and hours operated, and the number of deer heads that will be accepted for chronic wasting disease testing (CWD)...


Orphaned Fawns Get New Lease on Life on Consumers Energy Land in Southeast Michigan September 24, 2020 Michigan, PRNewswire

... A first-time collaboration between Consumers Energy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and a certified wildlife rehabilitator ...The three fawns were recently released on a parcel of Consumers Energy land in southeast Michigan...The fawns were taken in by the MDNR and Erin Stacks, a 17-year wildlife rehabilitator and disabled veteran who operates Back 2 the Wild Rehab nonprofit rescue...


Allegan County area added to EEE aerial spraying list after deer tests positive September 18, 2020 Michigan, MLive 

... the state’s growing list of zones to receive aerial spraying for mosquito control... A deer tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis  ... 


2020 Michigan Deer Season Preview September 11, 2020 DNR News

... , the Upper Peninsula deer herd seemed to fare well during last year’s winter... Last winter had little to no impact on deer numbers in the northern Lower Peninsula... The winter in southern Michigan was very mild and likely had no impact on the deer herd..,


Officials loading up on public input as they set sights for 2021 deer hunting regulations August 11, 2020 Michigan, WLNS

... The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is hunting for advice and inviting the public to provide input at two virtual open house events next week... on Thursday evening (August 20th) and Friday afternoon (August 21st)...


Natural Resources Commission approves 2020 deer hunting regulations July 17, 2020 Michigan, Michgan.gov

... The statewide limit for private-land antlerless license purchase is 10 per hunter. This limit offers maximum opportunity for those who wish to manage abundant deer on their property... Antler point restrictions have been removed on the deer license in parts of DMU 122, including areas outside the core chronic wasting disease surveillance area..,


Winning an elk hunt draw means the ultimate adventure July 15, 2020 Michigan, 

Midland Daily News

... Elk are native to Michigan but had become extinct around 1875 due to unregulated hunting and a major loss of habitat... Seven Rocky Mountain elk (from Yellowstone National Park) were released in 1918 near Wolverine in northern Michigan.., 


Charlevoix fifth-grader speaks out against deer culling July 8, 2020 Michigan, Petoskey News-Review

... [from her speech]:  . When I first heard this, I didn’t think that this was true because deer are one of Charlevoix’s most unique things... (mom) told me that the deer were eating people’s flowers and eating out of their bird feeders... Ace Hardware and Family Farm and Home. Both of these stores carry deer spray ... I don’t think that you should be able to kill off my nature this easily...


DNR looking for person who shot and killed a fawn in northern Michigan June 19, 2020 Michigan, mlive.com

... Conservation officers are looking for a person who illegally shot and killed a white-tailed deer fawn near Rose City ...


  Fawn rescued from manhole in Allegan County June 13, 2020 Michigan, WOOD-TV

... Crews said the manhole cover was missing, and they found a very young fawn. The fawn was safely returned to the nearby woods...


Michigan 2020 Elk Hunting Digest June, 2020 DNR

...  Historically, elk were found in southern Michigan but had disappeared by the late 1800’s due to unregulated harvest and market hunting. Today’s elk herd is a result of seven elk brought from the western United States and relocated to Wolverine, Michigan in 1918.., [graph from DNR]

Annual Ann Arbor deer cull dropped from city budget for next fiscal year May 27, 2020 Michigan, clickondetroit.com

... the deer cull was temporarily suspended for the next fiscal year in order to help the city deal with short-term financial problems. Deer management related expenses, like data collection and the cull, costs the city $140,000...

     Ann Arbor Year Four Summary Report May 26, 2020 Michigan, White Buffalo

... No sterilization efforts were conducted during Year 4 ... The overall cost of the sterilization effort was $159,815.26, over four years, resulting in a 49% reduction in deer within the 2.8 mi2 area of the SSA and NSA. Sharpshooting efforts cost $255,800.49, over the four years, resulting in a 58% reduction in deer over an 8.3 mi2 area ...


Woman saves baby deer from flooded Tittabawassee River May 22, 2020 Michigan, WNEM-TV

...  kayaking the river near M-47 and State Street when she saw the baby animal drowning...


The Great Michigan Moose Transfer of 1985 April 28, 2020 wbckfm.com

... late 1800s (upper peninsula)... numerous fires and the lumber trade diminished the number of trees and eliminated forests. As the woods began to re-grow, the white-tailed deer prospered, but not the moose. The Michigan moose were being infected by a parasitic brainworm found in the deer. Harmless to deer, but fatal to moose... In the early 1900s, all moose in the Upper Peninsula had died off ..,


Deer browsing and shrub competition set sapling recruitment height and interact with light to shape recruitment niches for temperate forest tree species MB Walters, EJ Farinosi, JL Willis - Forest Ecology and Management, 2020

...we provide evidence that shrub competition, ungulate browsing, harvest gap size and their interactions constrain height-specific sapling recruitment among tree species in the temperate forests of Michigan. Similar mechanisms may operate in other forests with high ungulate populations...


  Deer herd roams through Grand Rapids street  April 5, 2020 Michigan, WOOD-TV

... Deer replaced cars on the streets of one Grand Rapids neighborhood this past week...


DNR reviews 2019 deer seasons March 28, 2020 Michigan, The Iron Mountain Daily News

... The DNR tested just over 20,000 deer for chronic wasting disease ... In all, 65 CWD-positive deer were identified from the 2019 hunting seasons – and all were from counties with a known CWD presence... “Fifty-three of our total positives came out of Montcalm and northeast Kent counties, where we tested about 3,000 deer,” ..,


Reed City planning commission decides against deer cull March 9, 2020 Michigan, 

Cadillac Evening News

... “We just did not have the community support to lower the deer population,‘ said Reed City City Manager Ron Howell. “(Deer) can cause damage but they are a part of living in a rural community.  In January, Big Rapids decided to hire USDA Wildlife Services to perform a deer herd cull...


DNR, MSU seek more chronic wasting disease research proposals March 6, 2020 Michigan, UpperMichigansSource.com

... The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University are once again seeking proposals for research that addresses priority concerns related to the management of chronic wasting disease in Michigan and the Great Lakes region...


Five Michigan DNR workers contracted tuberculosis, likely from testing deer March 6, 2020 Bridge Michigan

... possibly linked to “human error” as the lab struggled to test thousands of deer for chronic wasting disease ... The state theorizes the workers likely contracted the disease from white-tailed deer with bovine TB ...


CWD testing goals and outcomes February 27, 2020 Michigan, DNR News

... In all, 65 CWD-positive deer were identified from the 2019 hunting seasons – and all were from counties with a known CWD presence.  “Our primary area of infection remains in parts of Montcalm and northeast Kent counties, where we knew the disease existed going into 2019 hunting seasons,” ..,


Submissions Sought For 2020 Deer Management Cooperator Patch February 25, 2020 Michigan, WHMI

... The Michigan deer management cooperator patch is given to hunters who bring their deer to a DNR check station. It’s been a popular collector’s item for hunters since the early 1970s... during these checks that DNR staff is able to collect valuable information about Michigan’s deer population ...


Senate bill would drop deer-baiting fine to $1 February 21, 2020 Michigan, Michigan Radio

... A new bill would allow the baiting ban to remain in place during deer hunting season. But it would reduce the penalty for violations to one dollar. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission enacted the ban in 2018. Its purpose is to combat the spread of disease ...


Missing deer meat leads DNR to warm freezer full of rotting carcasses February 21, 2020 Michigan, MLive

...  they found that the business was in the process of closing permanently and that power had been lost in the building. Furthermore, the COs located the rotting deer carcasses in the freezer, all of which were still being processed and packaged...


  Firefighters rescue deer from icy water in Saginaw County, dog dies Feburary 17, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... one of the man’s dogs went out onto the ice and water... the firefighters also spotted a deer in distress in the water... was alive when the crew left ...


East Lansing officials narrowly authorize lethal option to manage growing deer population February 13, 2020 Michigan, Lansing State Journal

...  voted 3 to 2 to authorize a cull as a possible option in the city's deer management program... partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services ... People who spoke against it ... described culls as inhumane, immoral and ineffective...


Resolving The Rash Of Elk Poaching In Pigeon River February 12, 2020 Michigan, Traverse City Ticker

...  The eight dead elk may not set a poaching record, but ... one of the cases, the killing of three cow elk at the beginning of December, was a seemingly nonsensical massacre... a conviction can cost a person their hunting privileges and carry penalty of $5,000 or more...


DNR wildlife biologist report favorable numbers on deer season January 30, 2020 Michigan, Beaumont Enterprise

... There were 20,047 deer tested statewide and 65 tested positive, similar to last year. Montcalm County had 36 of those.  “In Montcalm County, this disease is running at a one percent prevalence rate ... “Michigan peaked in the 1990s with almost 900,000 firearm deer hunters,” he said ‘Today we’re looking at 650,000 ...


Food plots on the rise amid DNR's deer baiting ban January 26, 2020 Michigan, WZZM

... Based on the presence of CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) ... they made a decision to ban baiting while ... Food plots are classified as by the Michigan DNR as "naturally occurring foods, standing agricultural crops, or food placed as a result of using normal agricultural practices." ...


Recent elk poaching outrages northern Michigan residents January 24, 2020 Interlochen

... the DNR says the real number of poaching cases is likely two to three times higher than what’s known... elk were shot and just left to rot...


Ann Arbor, ‘You created culture of hate’, deer cull protesters tell Ann Arbor City Council January 22, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... “Those of you who have voted, condoned, and championed for this senseless, needless act of violence on our city have done real harm,” Margaret Sadoff, a member of Friends of Ann Arbor Wildlife ... Council Member Jane Lumm ... cited a law that makes disrupting the lawful killing of animals a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to 93 days in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000 ...


Manistee, Cull expected to harvest about 23 deer in Manistee January 21, 2020, Michigan, Manistee News Advocate

... Last year, USDA culled 23 deer ... estimates put the cost around $10,000 for the USDA to cull a minimum of 20 deer [about $500 per deer] ... this is not a one or two year operation. This needs to be perpetual...


Applications for DNR's UP deer habitat improvement projects now available  January 20, 2020 Michigan, UpNorthLive.com

... improvement projects for non-state lands across the Upper Peninsula.  $100,000 in grants are available through the DNR's Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative ...


Chronic wasting disease found in deer at West Michigan farm January 15, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... Three white-tailed deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease at a deer farm in Newaygo County... three 4-year-old deer ... Since 2008, the disease has been detected in four other privately-owned deer facilities from Kent, Mecosta and Montcalm counties ....


Deer cull by sharpshooters approved in Muskegon despite some citizen opposition January 15, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... a plan for sharpshooters to kill up to 30 white-tailed deer ... will cost about $20,000... pregnant does would be targeted...


Muskegon, Sharpshooters would cull deer herds under plan before Muskegon commission January 10, 2020 Michigan, MLive

... A deer cull plan involving bait piles and sharpshooters ... would involve the “harvest” of up to 30 deer ... total cost is estimated at around $20,000...


Ann Arbor, Protesters rally against deer cull in Ann Arbor January 7, 2020 Michigan, MLive 

... “City Council is still voting to spend almost a million dollars to kill deer for really no tangible reason,” said Terry Abrams ... “They talk about deer car collisions and deer browsing plants, but there really hasn’t been an increase in either of those.” ...


City of Big Rapids to Vote on Deer Cull January 3, 2020 Michigan, 9&10 News

... the city is proposing a deer cull for the 20th year to remove deer from the area by killing them... the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) would come in and shoot the deer...


Ann Arbor, Sharpshooters Take To Ann Arbor Parks To Cull 150 Deer January 2, 2020 Michigan, WWJ Radio Detroit

... "I don't like the deer running through my yard and eating all of my plants... Near one of the parks, the Foxfire West Nature Area, resident Lewis Verela is concerned about kids in the area...


Tecumseh City Council approves extra day for deer cull December 26, 2019 lenconnect.com

... The vote was almost unanimous, with the exception of council member Vicki Riddle, who felt that the cost increase was significant, especially in light of what she perceived as the ineffectiveness of the previous cull... a cooperative services agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Service to provide professional sharpshooters ...


Whitmer vetoes bill that would get rid of deer baiting ban December 19, 2019 Michigan, Detroit News

... The bill, which was backed by musician Ted Nugent, would have undone a 2018 ban to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease among deer gathered around bait piles...


Gaylord man convicted in fellow deer hunter's fatal shooting December 19, 2019 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... man who authorities say accidentally shot and killed another hunter on the first day of the state's annual firearms deer season last year has been convicted ... of involuntary manslaughter, felony firearm and misdemeanor trespassing ...


Three more elk poached in northern Michigan; DNR seeks information December 18, 2019 Michigan DNR

... Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in Gaylord are seeking tips from the public regarding three adult cow elk poached in Otsego County – the third elk poaching case in northern Michigan in roughly a month...


Blood trail leads DNR to man who used crossbow to illegally shoot deer from porch December 13, 2019 Michigan, MLive

... conservation officer John Huspen noticed a blood spot on the side of the road during an early-morning patrol ...  followed the drag mark in the snow to a nearby driveway and found a dead deer...


5 things to know about reindeer December 13, 2019 Michigan, MLive.com

... Are they caribou?  The FDA maintains they are the same species, but The University of Alaska Fairbanks refers to them as subspecies and lists several differences between the two. Shorter-in-stature reindeer are widely domesticated in Europe and larger caribou live in the wilds of North America. Only North Americans refer to wild reindeer as caribou, according to the university...


Wasting disease threatens Michigan deer herd December 5, 2019 Michigan, Valliant News

... Chronic wasting disease is infecting the state’s white-tailed deer, threatening a $2.3 billion hunting industry.  And when the history of Michigan deer hunting is next written, this Montcalm County location — where a yearling buck was shot by an archer amid farm fields and acres of oak and maple — could be important.  It suggests the always-fatal disease is on the move ...


Whitmer promises to veto bill allowing deer baiting and feeding in Michigan December 3, 2019 Michigan, MLive.com

... Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown said the governor will veto it, noting she believes the bill would increase the chance of spreading diseases within wildlife populations and livestock...

   Legislature sends Whitmer bill to lift ban on deer baiting December 3, 2019 Michigan, CT Post

... The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says baiting and feeding that concentrates animals beyond their normal movement patterns increases the likelihood of disease transmission...


Decline in hunting could hurt Michigan’s conservation efforts December 3, 2019 Lenconnect

... The number of individuals who purchased deer hunting licenses decreased 18 percent between 2008 and 2018 .... Last year, hunting and fishing license sales made up 20 percent of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ entire annual budget, equal to $83.5 million...


Michigan DNR provides second update on UP firearm deer hunting season November 25, 2019 UpperMichigansSource.com

... an average 12% increase in the number of deer checked at stations across the region.  The preliminary results – reported as of the end of the day Nov. 23 – also show a 2% increase over the 10-year average...“ Approximately 90% of the deer checked have been bucks,” ...


Wild Roots initiative aims to plant 100,000 trees in five years November 25, 2019 MIchigan, UpNorthLive.com

... The reforestation efforts will help preserve healthy rivers by focusing plantings in riparian corridors and improving upland habitat for insects, birds, deer and other wildlife...


Bill would extend Michigan's firearm deer season by 10 days November 21, 2019 Michigan, WNDU

... House Bill 5244 would direct the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to schedule the firearm deer season from Nov. 5 to Dec. 1 every year...


City of Ann Arbor Announces 2020 Deer Management Program Details November 19, 2019 Michigan

... The approved lethal cull for the winter of 2020 will seek to address the impact of deer browsing in select areas with the lethal removal of up to 150 deer...


Three people shot by mistake as deer hunting begins in Michigan November 17, 2019 New York Post

...  a man discharged his hunting rifle by accident inside his Crawford County home and fragments from the bullet pierced his two sons ...  not seriously injured ... a 29-year-old man mistook his younger brother, 28, for a deer and accidentally shot him ... serious but stable condition...


Hunters hit the woods for firearms deer season November 16, 2019 Michigan, WOOD-TV

... A new antler point restriction in Montcalm, Mecosta and Ionia counties is part of a multi-year study that will analyze a possible correlation between CWD prevalence and specific restrictions.  For the first time, hunters in those counties can only shoot bucks with at least four points on one antler. A 6-point that has three on each side is not legal...


Be Aware of Deer While Driving Michigan Roads This Hunting Season November 15, 2019 Michigan, WSGW

...  the Insurance Alliance of Michigan (IAM) has a warning for drivers across the state: always keep on the lookout for deer.  IAM Executive Director Tricia Kinley says deer will become more active all over as hunters begin to move into fields and forests...


Conservation officers helping curb the risk of wildlife disease November 14, 2019 MIchigan, DNR News

...  deer baiting and feeding bans in effect for this fall’s hunting seasons...  to help minimize the amount of contact between deer congregated where baiting and feeding occur,” said John Pepin, Michigan DNR deputy public information officer. “Chronic wasting disease can be transmitted through direct deer-to-deer contact ... Conservation officers are responsible for locating illegal bait ..,


Michigan Senate approves plan to let hunters bait deer during hunting season  November 13, 2019 Michigan, MLive

....Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials say research shows that baiting and feeding increases the likelihood of disease transmission, and feature a list of references on the department’s website...


  Rare 3-antlered deer spotted by photographer in Michigan November 12, 2019 USA Today

... A Michigan retiree spied a three-antlered deer this weekend and posted photos to his Facebook page... A large-animal veterinarian who examined the images also believes that they are authentic...


Hunting is on the decline in Michigan -- which is a problem November 11, 2019 MLive.com

... in Michigan and nationwide, hunting is on the decline. In the 1970s, ’80s and into the ’90s, Michigan had as many as 1.2 million hunters. By 2018, fewer than 675,000 individuals had at least one hunting license...Hunting and fishing fees account for more than 90% of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ $42 million wildlife conservation budget...


Baiting ban shrouded in confusion, debate November 9, 2019 Michigan, Escanaba Daily Press

... “The reality is, these baiting and feeding bans are put in to place to begin to reduce the transmission of the disease,” Sexton said. “The department certainly doesn’t think that we will eliminate chronic wasting disease by doing a baiting and feeding ban, but the intent is to slow down the transmission of the disease — and this is something we can control.”...


Deer movement in the Upper Peninsula November 8, 2019 MIchigan, The Post

... From the 190 deer collared in 2018, and the 97 collared in 2019, the researchers ... observed spring migratory movements of up to 48 miles–demonstrating that deer move from these deer wintering complexes across vast areas... also observed some mixing of deer from different wintering complexes on their summer range.   “Together, these observations suggest that there would be a risk of transmitting CWD across very large areas because of the migratory movements,”  ...


Michigan House votes to OK deer baiting during hunting season November 5, 2019 

MLive on MSN.com

...  likely won’t impact the current bans in place this year... The proposal is in response to baiting and feeding bans in the entire Lower Peninsula and parts of the Upper Peninsula approved by the Natural Resources Commission in an attempt to curtail chronic wasting disease among deer populations...

East Lansing considers hiring deer sharpshooters November 4, 2019 Michigan, Statenews.com

...The cost of culling depends on the number of sites and nights it takes place... in some areas culling is sometimes a process that needs to happen repeatedly, which concerned some council members due to the potential that the move only has a temporary benefit, should the council vote against culling in the future...


Fewer hunters means fewer dollars for Michigan's conservation programs October 27, 2019 Michigan, Crain's Detroit Business

... sale of deer hunting licenses dropped nearly 16 percent between 2013 and 2018 ... Meanwhile other outdoor activities, such as birdwatching, hiking and kayaking, are rapidly growing, upending a model for conservation funding that relies on fees paid by hunters and anglers...


Deer movement studies provide insight into CWD spread, management October 25, 2019 Michigan, UpperMichigansSource.com

... “We’ve had some deer go 18 miles there and back within a nine-day period, with pretty much every (sex and age) demographic of the population making these excursions,” Trudeau said... deer may be exposed to chronic wasting disease during these short trips by encountering infected deer or contaminated environments. CWD-positive deer also may make these excursions and expose other deer to the disease...


Tecumseh approves second deer cull October 25, 2019 Michigan, The Daily Telegram

...  city council voted Monday to once again contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services. Despite conducting a lethal cull of urban deer last winter, Tecumseh residents have felt no change in the problems caused by the deer, specifically to their gardens and landscaping...


DNR reports CWD-positive deer in Hamilton Township, Gratiot County October 24, 2019 Michigan, DNR News

... A 2-year-old, hunter-harvested doe from Hamilton Township, in Gratiot County, Michigan, recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease – the second confirmed CWD-positive wild deer from that county...,


Ann Arbor releases plan to kill up to 150 more deer this winter October 22, 2019 Michigan, MLive Ann Arbor on MSN.com

... Ann Arbor’s fifth-annual deer cull ... already have killed 386 deer since 2016, while sterilizing 78 others ... spending hundreds of thousands of dollars ... Nonlethal sterilization efforts will not continue ...


First confirmed animal case of EEE in Eaton County October 22, 2019 Michigan, WZZM

... Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has popped up in Eaton County ... A deer was found back in September ... dangerous mosquito-borne disease ...


PFAS session focuses on wildlife October 17, 2019 Michigan, Ehextra

...  Michigan has reported PFAS [ per- and polyflouroalkyl substances] results on about 150 deer with 100 of those sampling from PFAS contaminated sites.   “Only one deer (of those 100) had PFAS levels that warranted an advisory,”  ...


See number of 2018 deer crashes in your Michigan county October 15, 2019 MLive

... Michigan had 53,464 accidents involving deer in 2018, up 5% from 50,949 in 2017 and 14% from 46,870 deer-vehicle accidents in 2016... deer herd ... is continuing to recover from  harsh winters in 2013-15 that knocked down their numbers, especially in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula ..,


Deer season outlook similar to 2018 October 10, 2019, Michigan, Escanaba Daily Press

... “For some areas in the U.P., there was likely a lower fawn recruitment,” Sexton said.  This is largely due to the deep snow levels seen in some parts of the region during the winter of 2018-19...  should not impact the south central U.P..,


Group of deer died after being struck by lightning in Upper Peninsula October 8, 2019 Michigan, MLive

...  the deer were found in a farm field in mid-September... The path of the lightning strike could be seen traveling through the fur of the deer ...


Baiting deer for hunting is illegal in Lower Peninsula October 4, 2019 Michigan, Fenton Tri County Times

... no baiting or feeding deer is allowed in the Lower Peninsula... due to the dangers posed by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) ... a minimum fine of at least $50 to a maximum fine of $500, court costs and state fees, and the loss of hunting privileges ...


Grosse Ile, Residents say Grosse Ile has a deer problem, and township isn't solving it  October 4, 2019 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... From 2009 to 2018, the island had an annual deer cull. Four permitted hunters would cull an allotted amount of deer ... “We don’t know how many deer are on the island,” ... anecdotal reports from people who claim they’re seeing more deer.” ...


CDC case study finds deer with tuberculosis can transmit bacteria to people September 25, 2019 Michigan, WZTV

... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning hunters that deer with tuberculosis can transmit the bacteria to humans. The report stems from a case in Michigan in 2017 ... The CDC is advising hunters to wear protective equipment while field-dressing deer ...


Memo to Ted Nugent: Not all hunters hate Michigan's deer bait ban September 23, 2019 Bridge Michigan

... In an effort to halt the spread of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, the National Resources Commission last year voted to ban baiting and feeding deer across the entire Lower Peninsula and parts of the Upper Peninsula... The Michigan Farm Bureau supports the ban. So does the Michigan United Conservation Clubs ...


Michigan lawmakers push for moose hunt in national park September 20, 2019 Spartan Newsroom

...  estimate of 2,060 moose on the remote island in Lake Superior, up from 515 in 2011. The number grew so fast because the population of their only natural predator, the wolf, had dropped to only two by last year.  In 2018, the Park Service launched a five-year plan to rebuild wolf numbers by relocating animals ...

DNR continues to monitor friendly Saugatuck deer as breeding season nears September 14, 2019 Michigan, MLive

... It has allowed people to feed it and has walked easily among beach goers ...the biggest concern now is any behavioral changes that come with the deer breeding season ...


  Deer snags bouquet at ‘fairy tale’ Michigan wedding September 5, 2019 MLive

... First the deer checked out the couple from behind a fence. Then it climbed over the fence and began pulling individual roses from the bride’s bouquet...


Michigan Peninsula 2019 Deer Forecast September 3, 2019 DNR News

...  Despite some areas that saw record-breaking snow levels, overall the winter of 2018-2019 was considered average for the U.P. ... a mild to average winter for the northern Lower Peninsula, which allowed deer populations to continue to increase across much of the region... in the southern Lower Peninsula, and this past winter was no exception. Deer numbers appear to be similar or higher than last year ..,


DNR confirms cougar report from Gogebic County August 12, 2019 Michigan,

UpperMichigansSource.com

... the state’s 39th cougar report since 2008 ... photographed July 7 in daylight hours northwest of Ironwood, in the far western portion of the Upper Peninsula...


Operation Deer Watch is underway, offering citizen-scientists the opportunity to participate in crucial deer research with the Wisconsin DNR August 6, 2019 Michigan, DNR News

... an annual citizen-science survey that collects information on Wisconsin's white-tailed deer, gives residents an engaging opportunity to assist with deer herd management efforts.  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources researchers ask participants to report their deer sightings via an easy-to-use online form..,


When ugly is beautiful August 2, 2019 Michigan, Petoskey News-Review

... a lack of adequate tree regeneration due to deer browsing. High slash piles may help protect those vulnerable seedlings and saplings... One approach is to flood an area with so much regeneration that enough desired trees make it to the overstory. The other approach is to use logging tops as barriers that restrict deer access...


An update from the DNR before Deer Season July 31, 2019 Michigan, UPMatters.com

... The doe population in the Upper Peninsula hasn’t changed much since last season... The population is remaining stable...


Osceola 'deer farm' operator fined for several facility violations July 31, 2019 Michigan, Cadillac Evening News

...  pleaded no contest to four counts, including failure to maintain facility standard fencing, failure to submit annual inventories, failure to comply with individual animal identification and operating an unregistered facility... 


How Bovine TB Is Affecting Deer In Michigan July 30, 2019 CBS Detroit

... DNA results supported the evidence that the bovine TB found in both herds was similar to bovine TB in infected deer found in Presque Isle County in 2014 and 2015...


Councilman wants a deer cull 'compromise' for Grand Haven July 22, 2019 Michigan, Grand Haven Tribune

... nearly $10,000 in damages to Central Park landscaping this year ... adopted a deer management plan in 2008 and conducted its first cull the following year, and in 2017 ... plan entails determining the number of deer to cull on an annual basis along U.S. National Parks Service guidelines of maintaining about 15-30 deer per square mile...


Lawmakers unhappy with deer baiting ban July 13, 2019 Michigan, Iron Mountain Daily News

... The ban, effective immediately, drew sharp criticism from state Rep. Beau LaFave of Iron Mountain, who said of the move, “It’s clear that these people are unaware of the impact these policies have on our freedoms and our economy.”...


Natural Resources Commission approves deer regulations related to chronic wasting disease July 11, 2019 Michigan, DNR News

... Continue a ban on baiting and feeding in the entire Lower Peninsula that took effect at the end of January 2019... Allow baiting and feeding in the Upper Peninsula except for a ban, effective immediately, in the Core CWD Surveillance Area... in the Upper Peninsula, eliminate antler point restrictions in the Core CWD Surveillance Area ...


Michigan DNR May Tranquilize Deer Who Was Having Fun at Saugatuck Beach July 14, 2019 Mix 95.7FM 

...  spokesperson for the DNR says because the deer has been exposed to humans the worry is that it could become dangerous. In the meantime its being monitored. If his behavior does change, the DNR is considering tranquilizing it for relocation... [link to deer's twitter account]

     DNR monitoring beach-going deer, considering tranquilizer possibility July 9, 2019 Michigan, MLive

... although no decision has been made, is to shoot the deer with a tranquilizer and relocate it away from the popular beach at Saugatuck Dunes State Park...

  Deer joins beachgoers on Lake Michigan during 4th of July weekend July 8, 2019 

ABC 7 Chicago

... you see the deer stand at the edge of the lake with waves crashing around his hooves before taking a few sips from the water...


Hunting Access Program helps landowners earn money, better manage wildlife on their property June 24, 2019 Michigan, Browncitybanner

... Landowners should have at least 40 acres of land with some wildlife habitat (forest, brush, etc.) within a chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis priority county ...


Isle Royale study looks at predation, pack formation June 22, 2019 Michigan, Daily Mining Gazette

... The National Park Service is bringing 20 to 30 wolves to the island over a three- to five-year period... Wolf survival numbers are on par to those in the wild in the Upper Peninsula, about 75% per year ...


State Senator Ed McBroom holds committee hearing to find ways to increase hunter participation June 19, 2019 Michigan, UpperMichigansSource.com

... bills would reduce the price on fishing and hunting licenses to qualified residents who either own land in Michigan, previously lived in the state and had a Michigan resident hunting license, or completed hunter safety training in Michigan...

Ann Arbor, Michigan State University 2019 Deer Management Survey Results [PDF]

... About half (49 to 53 percent) of 3+ year residents city-wide said they considered a decline in native animal species, damage to landscape and garden plants, and transmission of diseases to humans or animals to be at least a “minor problem,” with 19 to 26 percent calling each a “serious problem.”  ...


Deer run with man jogging through metro Detroit, following him for half mile June 2, 2019 Michigan, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

... He sent the video to a local news station, telling WXYZ-TV that the deer kept up with him for at least a half mile...


  Rare black deer spotted in northern Michigan May 30, 2019 MIchigan, WBTV

... Black deer, also known as melanistic, are considered the “rarest of rare,” according to the North American Whitetail website...


Controversial deer culling to continue in Ann Arbor May 21, 2019 Michigan, WXYZ

... City Council voted against an amendment overnight that would have put a stop to deer culling ...

     Ann Arbor council to vote on ending deer cull ... May 20, 2019 Michigan, MLive.com

... “Activities surrounding deer culling operations remain controversial to large segments of the community who oppose these operations based on cost, denial of access to public parks, use of firearms within city limits and in proximity to residential dwellings, and other moral dilemmas presented by the act,” states a proposal from Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward...


Discussion regarding permit for deer baiting continues May 15, 2019 Michigan, UpperMichigansSource.com

... "Bait in my opinion contributes heavily to survival rates of U.P. deer, because October through January, they have an additional food supplement ... " [banned in Lower Peninsula] due to increased risk of CWD, or chronic wasting disease...


Fawns that appear abandoned rarely are May 10, 2019 Michigan, DNR News

... While fawns may seem abandoned, they rarely are. All wild white-tailed deer begin life this way.  A fawn’s spots are excellent camouflage and will help it stay hidden from predators... hidden by its mother ... they are virtually odorless when they are young..,


Low esteem for DNR's actions with deer May 4, 2019 Michigan, Alpena News-9 hours ago

... saw a doe along the side of the road dead and a newborn fawn alive beside her. They picked it up and got goat’s milk to feed it until it could eat on its own.  The deer was never penned and was always free-ranging... Michigan Department of Natural Resources was on the way to the farm to euthanize the deer...


Potential high-risk areas established around TB-positive deer May 1, 2019 Michigan, Ogemaw County Herald

... The designation is a result of a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Alcona County testing positive for bovine TB, as confirmed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources...


DNR recommends deer baiting ban for parts of Upper Peninsula April 30, 2019 Michigan, The Iron Mountain Daily News

...  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will seek public comment over the next three months on a recommendation to ban baiting and feeding deer in the Upper Peninsula’s core chronic wasting disease surveillance area for the upcoming fall hunting seasons...


Michigan Is Changing Deer Hunting Regulations April 30, 2019 CBS Local

... recommendations range from a baiting and feeding ban proposed for the Core Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area in the Upper Peninsula and a moderate increase in U.P. antlerless deer licenses, to redefining bait to exclude natural or synthetic food ... [opportunities for public comment]


Public comment opportunities available on DNR recommended deer regulation changes April 29, 2019 Michigan, State of Michigan

... May 9, 2019: Public Comment to the Michigan Natural Resource Commission: Meeting at Lansing Community College, Gannon Bld., 422 N. Washington Square, Lansing. To sign up in advance for public comment at any NRC meeting, contact Cheryl Nelson, assistant to the Natural Resources Commission, by phone at 517-284-6237 or by email at NelsonC@michigan.gov..,


Information on Food Plots for Deer and Habitat Management from the Michigan DNR April 26, 2019

... Planting annual or perennial food plots can provide a good source of supplementary nutrition and, depending on what you plant, may also serve as cover. Food plots are an agricultural practice, so managing a food plot will likely include management activities such as testing your soil, cleaning your seedbed, applying fertilizer and removing weeds. Learn more about grain plot planting...


Chronic Wasting Disease, New DNR grants target deer disease — before disease targets us April 22, 2019 Michigan, The Detroit News

... DNR will parcel out up to $4.7 million in new grants to help protect the state's deer, elk and moose... If the deer population becomes decimated, he said, so will the DNR budget ...


  Rare albino deer stops traffic at Kensington Metropark April 22, 2019 Michigan, clickondetroit.com9h

...  it was illegal to hunt the Albino Deer, but that law changed in 2008, that’s because hunters claim it is difficult to determine if a deer is all white, Albino or Pie Bald from a distance...


Michigan sets 'potential high-risk areas' around TB-positive deer April 15, 2019 Feed Stuffs

... a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Alcona County, Mich., testing positive for bovine TB ... Anytime a positive deer is identified, all cattle and bison herds located within a 15-mile radius of the deer must be tested for bovine TB within six months ...


Elk arrive in Sawyer County in final year of translocation effort April 14, 2019 Michigan, Leader-Telegram

... Forty-eight Kentucky elk made the 14-hour overnight ride from Kentucky ... will join more than 200 elk that make up Wisconsin’s northern elk herd ... the final chapter in our translocation efforts,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole...

Michigan data:   Deer hunt numbers declined significantly in the 2023-24 hunt after the severe 2022-23 winter, particularly in the upper peninsula even though hunter numbers were up.  The mild 2023-24 winter allowed for some recovery of the deer population.  Although the state doesn't make a formal estimate the state deer specialist agreed at the end of 2023 that its fair to say the state has more than a million deer and "I certainly couldn't dispute 2 million. An estimate of about to 2 million deer in 2021-22 and up to two million into 2023 with lower numbers in the north and consistent numbers in the south. .  


In 2023, the state deer specialist wrote an open letter to Michigan's deer hunters noting that the state took a smaller percentage of antlerless deer than neighboring states and that hunters needed to take a larger percentage of antlerless deer in the Lower Peninsula.  However,  the percentage of does taken in the 2023-24 hunt declined to 40 percent..   


In the 2023 deer season preview the state noted there had been a hard 2022-23 winter. " While there was some adult and fawn mortality reported in select areas, major die-offs from the harsh winter were, once again, avoided. Deer numbers remain low in many locations, especially along the Superior shoreline, the western counties, and even some locations in the eastern UP."  The number of deer hunters declined from about 800,000 in 2000 to about 550,000 in 2023.  The amount of donated venison increased five-fold from 1991 to 2022.


About 1.7 million deer in 2020 based on press reports and hunting data.  The state was not making formal estimates of population size.  2022 Deer Forecast.  "Statewide, the number of people hunting deer decreased significantly by about 5% between 2020 and 2021...The number of antlered deer taken in 2021 was not significantly different from 2020; however, the harvest of antlerless deer decreased significantly by 10%." Michigan DNR 2021. 2021 Forecast.  License buyers fell by 5.7% from 2017 to 2022 but harvest tags were virtually unchanged.


A mild 2020-21 winter and abundant mast in the Upper Peninsula supported deer populations.  An estimated 1.75 million deer in 2016 through 2018, although the 2017 deer harvest was up by about 14 percent. More hunters in 2020 and 2021, a result of the pandemic.  A mild winter in 2020-21 and abundant acorns in 2021 have supported the deer population.  2020 Forecast.  


The 2019 deer population in the Upper Peninsula was about the same or lower as in 2018 with low fawn survival as a result of deep snow in the winter of 2018-19DNR 2019 Peninsula Forecast.  


Several mild winters into 2018 and an uptrend into 2019 as the herd recovers from the severe winters of 2013-15. The Michigan 2018 Deer Forecast observes more deer and fawns seen across the state with an average but lingering 2017-18 winter and a mild spring.   Higher deer populations in the Upper Peninsula, a continuing rebound from the hard winter of 2013-14.  Also higher for the Lower Peninsula.  An estimated 1.5 million deer in 2015.  


The Michigan 2017 Deer Forecast indicated an increase in the population as a result of low snowfall and a mild spring. The winters of 2015-16 and 2016-17 were mild, allowing populations to recover from three harsh winters for 2012-13 through 2014-15.  Based on harvest data about 1.4 in 2014, 1.6 in 2013 and 1.7 in 2012. The last official estimate of 1.73 from 2011.


 A significant population decline in 2013 and 2014 following harsh winters, most severe in the Upper Peninsula where there was an historic drop in the deer harvest in 2014, in part due to reduced licenses issued in an effort to boost the herd. The population was thought to be down by as much as 40 percent.  Still down in 2015, a milder but hard winter, lowest in 30 years.  Population steady in southeast of state.  An estimated 607,113 deer hunters in 2015 took 334,612 deer.  In 2014 an estimated 614,593 hunters took 329,000 deer for a success rate of 41 percent.  Nearly 800,000 hunters in the late 1990s.


Harvest declines of 30 to 40 percent were reported by some regions in 2013, down about 25 percent in the Upper Peninsula overall and a further decline of 30 to 40 percent in 2014 with some regions reporting declines of about 60 percent.  Down about 10 percent in the northern Lower Peninsula and down about 5 percent in southern Lower Peninsula in 2014..  Total harvest down 8 percent in 2013, down 14.5 percent in 2014. To boost the herd, antlerless deer quotas were reduced to about 494,000 in 2014, down from about 550,000 in 2013. In 2015 antlerless permits were eliminated for archery in the Upper Peninsula. Coyote predation has also been a factor in the reduced population, particularly in the western Upper Pennisula. Michigan coyote populations are at an all time high.


About 1.8 million deer in 2012.  In the 1990's the state had about two million deer, peak population.  On average about 40 percent of the Upper Peninsula harvest were yearling bucks.  Antler restrictions were implemented in 12 counties in 2013 and continue to be a topic of debate.  In a survey, 62 percent of hunters supported antler restrictions for the north-central Lower Peninsula, not enough to meet the 66 percent support requirement for implementation.  About eight million acres of public hunting land.  Deer hunting licenses fell from a high of 785,000 in 1998 to 621,000 for 2017


A population estimate of 1,750,000 in 2009.  An estimate of 1.8 million in 2003.


Chronic Wasting Disease was first identified in 2008 in a fenced, northern Kent County breeding facility; first detected in the wild herd in 2015.  Testing confirmed eight cases through 2016.  The 10th wild deer infected was confirmed in 2017, 31 in total for the year.  As of January 2018, a total of 60 confirmed.  For the 2019 season there were 65 CWD positives confirmed.  Six deer farms confirmed by 2021.  For the 2021 hunting season, 25 deer tested positive out of a sample of just over 7,200 deer.  In 2022.  In 2023.


Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD):  Outbreaks in 1955 and 1974 and sporadically since 2006, including 2017, with an estimated mortality from 50 to 1,000.  The highest mortality was in 2012, about 15,000 deer.  Some cases reported in 2021.


Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) first discovered in a fawn in Hillsdale county, 2017.



Bovine Tuberculosis.  As of early 2024, 350,000 wild deer have been tested for bovine TB with 1,017 infected deer detected.

With 34 positive cases in 2015, Michigan is the only place in North America with TB still established in the deer herd.  Nearly 900 in 2017.  First discovered in wild deer in 1994.



History:  Deer were abundant in southern Michigan prior to settlement. [Michigan DNR] A deer hunting season was set in 1859 but by 1870 most of the deer in the south were gone from over hunting and habitat destruction.  The old growth forests of the north were ideal for moose and caribou, but as these forests were cleared, the north became ideal deer habitat.  In 1880 about 70,000 deer were killed in northern Michigan, 66,000 by market hunters and an estimate of one million deer.


Deer management began in 1895 with a license requirement and bag limit, but the deer population fell to about 45,000 deer in 1914.  One state source puts the number at up to 1.125 million deer in 1937, but the 1937 deer census puts the number at 1,172.975.  Estimated at 1.5 million by late 1940s and a state estimate of around 2 million in 1980.


More History and graphs below for years 1965 to 2008 from Michigan DNR 2010 deer management plan

Over hunting and habitat destruction again resulted in a population decline during the 1960s, about 800,000 in 1965, and into 1972 with the population down to about 500,000.  Revenue from hunting fees was used to improve habitat and the population rose to about 2 million in 1989More HistorySome history.  Michigan has 8 million acres of public hunting land.  A 1998 population estimate for the Upper Pennisula of 512,157 overwinter and 484,040 before fawning.


The number of game ranches peaked at about 800 in 2003 and has since fallen to about 394 by 2014, in part due to rising feed prices and stricter regulations.  Deer hunting generated about $2.3 billion a year in 2014.  


Population Estimates:   For spring, 1956, a population estimate of 336,000 for the northern lower peninsula and for spring, 1957, an estimate of 259,000 for the northern lower peninsula and 345,000 for the upper peninsula. 



Elk  About 1,277 elk based on a 2022 survey, a range of between 870 and 1,684.   Approximately 1,196 elk, with a confidence interval of plus or minus 266 in early 2019. An estimated 1,158 in early 2017.  In early 2016 an estimated 1,371.  The 2014 winter survey found 668, down from about  1,040 in 2012 and 1,200 in 2008. Michigan restarted its elk population with just seven animals in 1918, relocated to Wolverine, Michigan, from the western Yellowstone national park. after the herd was hunted to extinction around 1875.  Elk and deer have different diets during the spring, summer and fall.  2006 to 2019 elk population estimates.


Moose   A 2023 count found 426 moose in the western Upper Pennisula, down from the 2019 survey which found 509 moose.  An estimate of between 420 and 470 animals in 2017.   An estimated 323 based on the 2015 biennual survey - down from 451 in 2013.  Most of the moose are in Baraga, Iron and Marquette counties, but there is a herd of about 100 in the eastern Upper Peninsula.  Ticks and weather are suspected as contributors to the decline.  Moose may not survive into the future for Michigan.   Moose in the Upper Pennisula were wiped out in the late 1880s by brainworm.


Changes in habitat and over hunting eradicated the Michigan moose population.  The first attempt to restore the herd was around 1935.  That effort failed because logging allowed the deer population to move into moose habitat in the north.  Some deer carry brainworm to which the deer are immune, but fatal to moose.  From 1934 to 1937, 71 moose were live trapped on Isle Royale and released on the mainland in a largely unsucessful effort to establish a population.


Wolves  A minimum population of 631 in 2022, all in the upper peninsula although there may be a few in the lower peninsula.  Less than 650 in 2018.  An estimated 636 in 2014 and 2015 in the Upper Peninsula.  Hunting bounties related to the decline of deer resulted in the elimination of wolves in the lower Pennisula by 1935, about six in the state by 1973Listed an an endangered species, a few wolves by the early 1980s, more than 100 by 1994.


Bears  An estimate of 12,200 bears in early 2024 with a 55% increases in the lower pennisula since 2012.


 Cougar  Once native but hunted to extinction by the early 1900s, there have been 38 confirmed sightings from 2008 into 2018 and 75 in total by the end of 2021.  Genetic tests indicate these are males dispering from South Dakota, Wyoming and northwest Nebraska, no breeding populations.