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Deer

Deer

white tailed deer herd in a forest opening

Season information

July 15 – Aug. 15: Antlerless deer hunting access permit application period (mid-U.P. DMUs only)
July 15 – Aug. 15: Reserved deer hunt permit application period

Antlerless access permit and reserved deer hunt permit drawing results available Sept. 2, 2025.

Buy an application, license or check drawing results online

Deer hunting season calendar

Liberty hunt

Sept. 12–13, 2026
(Open to youth and those with qualifying disabilities)

Early antlerless firearm

Sept. 19–20, 2026

Independence hunt

Oct. 15–18, 2026
(Open to hunters with qualifying disabilities)

Archery

Oct. 1 – Nov. 14, 2026 and
Dec. 1, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027

Regular firearm

Nov. 15–30, 2026

Muzzleloading

Dec. 4–13, 2026
(Zones 1, 2 and 3)

Late antlerless firearm

Dec. 14, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027

Extended late antlerless firearm

Jan. 2–10, 2027

Hunting regulations

A promotional poster for the hunt fish app with a nature scene.

Hunt fish app

 

Cover image of the deer regulations summary booklet.

Deer hunting regulations

Wildlife Conservation Order Thumbnail

Wildlife conservation order

Before you hunt

An orange paper has a potion torn away revealing a deer beneath.

Deer hunting preview

Screenshot of DMU map on desktop, mobile and tablet

Deer management units map

Two children smile while eating cheeseburgers together.

Minimize lead in venison

After you get a deer

Closeup of a person's hands using a cell phone in the outdoors.

Report your harvest

Thumbnail image of multiple deer jaws and teeth on a blue background.

Age your deer

A computer generated image of the flu virus.

Disease and testing information

A pair of gloved hands passes a bag full of groceries through the window of a person's car at a food bank.

Donate a deer

A stitched Michigan deer cooperator patch for successful hunters.

Buy a deer patch

A first deer certificate that can be filled out and printed by hunters, featuring the name and information about the deer harvest.

Fill and print first deer certificate

Additional resources

Publications, surveys  and reports

Deer Management Initiative