This year celebrates 50 years of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ deer management cooperation patch.

DETROIT – Sunday is an unofficial holiday in Michigan -- it’s the opening day of firearm deer hunting season. The DNR reported technical issues Saturday that prevented many hunters from buying a base license and deer kill tags. The temporary tag should include the same information normally found on a kill tag:Identification of the hunter. Customers who have purchased a license on the DNR website are asked to use this temporary kill tag until their legal tag arrives in the mail. Officials say evidence suggests that Clark’s Marsh is highly contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

LANSING, Mich. – Deer hunters should expect changes to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources deer check stations this fall. Hunters will be required to wear masks and following social distancing guidelines at DNR deer check stations. At many check stations, hunters will be required to stay in their vehicles while their deer is checked. Hunters who want disease testing are asked to bring only deer heads to check stations by removing them ahead of time. Hours and locations of deer check stations will be available by clicking here.