The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that muzzleloading deer season opens Friday, Dec. 4, in Zone 1 (the Upper Peninsula) and Zone 3 (southern Michigan).

The season runs for 10 days in Zone 1 and 17 days in Zone 3. Firearms licenses, combination licenses and antlerless-only licenses are valid throughout muzzleloading season. Hunters may use archery gear or crossbows during muzzleloading season.

Muzzleloader season opens Dec. 11 in Zone 2 (northern Lower Peninsula) and runs for 10 days.

"With the unseasonably warm weather during much of the firearms season and with more standing corn than is typical for this time of year, there may be a lot of deer out there that haven't shown themselves to hunters yet," said DNR deer research specialist Brent Rudolph.

"We'd like to remind hunters that this is an excellent opportunity to fill any unused antlerless deer tags and we'd particularly encourage hunters in southern Michigan to do so."

Hunters also are reminded that archery deer season is open Dec.1- Jan. 1. Deer hunters may not use crossbows, except in Zone 3, unless there is a firearm deer season open.