What You Need to Know About Michigan’s 2024 Deer Hunting Changes

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has approved and announced changes to deer hunting regulations that will go into effect for the fall 2024 season.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the full package of regulations and updates will not go into effect until after the 2024 season and will be announced at a later date. However, the updates below will go into effect during the 2024 fall deer hunting season.

For ease of reading, the Michigan DNR uses the abbreviation “DMU” instead of “deer management unit,” but a web map of deer management units can be viewed here to see more precise locations of all DMUs.

Below are the 2024 deer hunting regulation updates from the Michigan DNR.

Upper Peninsula

Western Central Upper Peninsula (DMU 352, consisting of DMU 027, 036, 152 and 252): When using the universal antlerless deer hunting license, an antlerless deer hunting permit is also required. There will be 500 access permits available in DMU 352. The application period is from 15 July to 15 August.
DMU122 (covering portions of Menominee, Dickinson, and Iron counties): A 3-point antler restriction has been implemented for a single deer permit.
Eastern central part of UP (DMU 351, consisting of DMU 017, 021, 117, 149, 249 and 349): closed to antlerless deer hunting with the universal antlerless deer hunting license in 2024.
To harvest each deer you will need one antlerless deer permit for the management unit in which you are hunting, as well as one universal antlerless deer permit.
You can take deer without antlers DMUs 017, 021, 027, 036, 117, 149, 152, 249, 252 and 349 during the archery season with a single deer hunting license or a combined deer hunting license until December 10, 2024.

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Lower Peninsula

Extended archery season: Archery season extended through January 31, 2025 in select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.

Legal Firearms Expansion – Muzzleloader Season in Zone 2:If you are hunting deer during the Lower Peninsula muzzleloader deer hunting season, you may use any legal firearm to take deer. If you are hunting in a restricted firearm deer hunting zone, you must comply with the equipment requirements for that zone.

Expanding Early and Late Antlerless Firearm Seasons to Public Lands: The early and late antlerless firearm hunting seasons in open counties have been expanded to include public lands in addition to private lands. The early antlerless firearm hunting season runs from September 21 to 22, 2024, and the late antlerless firearm hunting season runs from December 16, 2024 to January 1, 2025.

Extended Late Antlerless Season: The new extended late antlerless firearm hunting season is open from January 2-12, 2025 in 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); and DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties). A discounted antlerless hunting license for this extended season will be available for $5 per license.

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For clarification purposes, baiting regulations, antler point restrictions (except DMU 122), the combined permit with the ability to harvest two antlered deer, and early and late antlerless season counties remain unchanged for 2023.