- September 18, 2024
- Hunting Regulations
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) recently adopted new and expanded hunting regulations for the late 2024 and 2025 hunting seasons. The NRC hopes that these expanded regulations will help maximize hunting opportunities and keep deer populations under control to prevent damage to Michigan’s farmlands.
New Deer Hunting Regulations for Fall/Winter 2024
For the fall 2024 deer hunting season, new regulations adopted by the NRC include:
- Extended archery hunting season through January 31, 2025, for Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except Deer Management Unit 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties
- Authorization for all legal firearms to hunt deer in the Lower Peninsula during the muzzleloading deer season, except in limited firearms deer zones
- Expansion of early and late antlerless firearms seasons in open counties to public lands, with the early antlerless season running from September 21 to 22, 2024, and the late antlerless season running from December 16, 2024, through January 1, 2025.
New Regulations Taking Effect for 2025 for the Lower Peninsula
The NRC also adopted a new extended late antlerless firearm season that will run from January 2 to 12, 2025, for various counties and Deer Management Units, including Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Shiawassee, Wayne, and Washtenaw Counties and DMUs 311, 312, and 332.
Hunters can obtain a discounted license for this extended season for $5.
The NRC also extended the archery season through January 31, 2025, for Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties.
The NRC tabled other hunting proposals, such as a year-round season for coyotes or authorization for using drones for deer recovery.
Upper Peninsula Regulations
New regulations for hunting in the Upper Peninsula include:
- A three-point antler restriction for single deer licenses in DMU 122
- A requirement for an antlerless deer hunting access permit when hunting under a universal antlerless deer license in DMU 352
- Closure of DMU 351 to antlerless hunting with a universal antlerless deer license for the rest of 2024
- Reduction to 500 access permits for DMU 352, with the application period open from July 15 to August 15
- Requirement for an antlerless deer hunting access permit for each deer harvested
- Approval for hunting of antlerless deer in DMUs 017, 021, 036, 117, 149, 152, 249, 252, and 349 during archery season on a single deer license or combination deer license until December 10, 2024
- Prohibition on antlerless deer hunting during archery season in certain DMUs
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney Today for Help Facing Hunting Violations
If you’ve received a citation for violating Michigan hunting regulations, you need an experienced firearms lawyer to protect your rights and interests. Contact the Law Office of John Freeman today for an initial consultation with criminal defense lawyer and experienced gamesman John Freeman to discuss your legal options for resolving your citations or charges.