Michigan’s firearm deer season has ended, but Michiganders still have more opportunities to hunt this year.
Muzzleloader hunting season begins this week, and late antlerless firearm season starts later this month.
What to know about muzzleloader deer hunting season
Muzzleloader deer hunting season goes from Dec. 6-15 for all three zones.
Hunters in Zone 1 (Upper Peninsula) “carry afield or take a deer with a muzzleloading rifle, muzzleloading shotgun or black-powder pistol, loaded with black powder or a commercially manufactured black-powder substitute,” according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
In Zone 1, certified hunters with a disability are permitted to use a crossbow or modified bow during this season.
Michiganders hunting in Zones 2 and 3 can use all legal firearms to take a deer, but anyone hunting in a limited firearms deer zone must follow the equipment requirements for that area. For more information on the equipment regulations, visit the Michigan DNR’s website.
How many deer were harvested during muzzleloading season in 2023?
Last year, 16,909 deer were harvested during muzzleloading deer hunting season. To see the totals by county, check out Michigan’s Deer Harvest Report Summary.
When does late antlerless firearm season begin?
Late antlerless firearm season goes from Dec. 16-Jan. 1 on private and public lands in the Lower Peninsula Deer Management Units (DMU).
There is also a new extended late antlerless firearm season, according to the Michigan DNR. It runs from Jan. 2-12 in the following areas:
- 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
- DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties)
- DMU 312 (Branch, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties)
- DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties)
For more information about deer hunting in Michigan, visit here.
