White-tailed deer numbers across the state of Michigan are very similar to a year ago, so Department of Natural Resources' wildlife biologists believe this year's combined archery and firearm deer harvest will be similar to last year's total, about 415,000 animals, with an estimated 60 percent of those deer taken in southern Michigan.

About 725,000 individuals are expected to go deer hunting this year. These hunters will spend more than 10 million days enjoying deer hunting recreation during the archery, firearm and muzzleloading seasons combined. This is more days spent deer hunting than in any other state or Canadian province. As a result, deer hunters will contribute more than $500 million to Michigan's economy through the purchase of food, lodging, transportation and equipment.

Although bowhunters are expected to take about the same number of deer as last year, the firearm and muzzleloading harvest should increase if hunters and landowners take advantage of the hunting opportunities provided by the DNR.

"Our goal has been to reduce the size of the herd in southern Michigan, but that's only realistic if hunters cooperate and if landowners allow hunters on their land," said DNR Big-Game Specialist Rodney Clute.

According to the DNR's annual statewide deer hunting forecast, the deer herd is dynamic and not evenly distributed across the state. The whitetails' reproductive capability and their ability to adapt to the variety of habitats across the state have resulted in a Michigan deer herd estimated to be over 1.6 million animals. This is exciting to citizens who enjoy hunting or observing deer, but is problematic to the habitat and the overall ecosystem.

Deer-vehicle accidents are still high in many areas, damage from deer to agricultural crops remains high, and both growth and vegetative composition in some forest areas has been disrupted by deer.

This is especially true in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, where in the last decade this region has contained an increasing proportion of the statewide deer population.

That is significant when you consider there were only about 15,000 deer in southern Michigan when this zone was completely reopened to deer hunting in 1948. By the mid-1970s, the deer population in this region was still less than 100,000 and accounted for less than one-quarter of the harvest.

But for the last four years, the estimated southern Michigan deer harvest has exceeded 50 percent of the statewide total and DNR biologists expect this trend to continue in 2006.

"Early indications are that deer in southern Michigan are in excellent health," Clute said. "Hunters should be able to find large-bodied deer with good-sized antlers."

Deer are prolific breeders with few natural predators other than hunters, so in most parts of Michigan, deer have a higher birth rate than death rate each year. The number of deer in an area impacts the quality and quantity of habitat, deer productivity, and deer/human conflicts. In southern Michigan, deer enjoy ample food and cover. Over time, they have become more tolerant of humans and now inhabit much of suburbia, as well as the transition zones between rural and urban.

Deer distribution also varies within every deer management unit (DMU). Most deer are found on private land. Harvesting deer through hunting helps keep the deer herd in balance with the habitat. The DNR is committed to managing white-tailed deer in a sustainable manner to yield healthy fawns, does, and bucks, without negatively impacting habitat, other wildlife species or creating undue hardship to private interests.

A regulated hunter-harvest of both sexes is necessary to maintain a healthy and thriving deer population. Antlerless deer license quotas are established for each DMU to achieve a desired harvest of antlerless deer for that unit. Where an increased deer population is desired, no antlerless deer licenses are offered.

"Overall, we are expecting this year's harvest to be approximately an equal number of antlered and antlerless deer," Clute said. "But in southern Michigan, we would like to see the antlerless harvest exceed the antlered harvest."

Following is a brief summary region by region. For the more detailed forecast, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The southern Michigan deer herd appears to be stabilizing in some areas, and 2006 deer hunters should see deer numbers and deer harvest similar to 2005. However, the 2006 herd remains above the desired levels in most areas, and the number of deer in much of southern Michigan is exceeding public tolerance for damage. The DNR is responding to concerns of too many deer in this part of the state with significant numbers of antlerless deer licenses for hunting on private lands. The southern Lower Peninsula should produce some of the best white-tailed deer hunting in the nation for both antlered and antlerless deer. With landowner permission, hunting in or near standing corn can be productive. Sixteen counties in this region are open to the late antlerless only firearm season this year. Check the 2006 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Guide for the open counties.

Deer hunting in the northern Lower Peninsula will be about the same as a year ago. The buck harvest is expected to be similar to last year and the antlerless deer harvest is expected to be down. The deer herd remains over goal in the DMUs bordering southern Michigan, but is at or below goal in the remaining DMUs. There are fewer DMUs open to the harvest of antlerless deer on public land than in 2005. Antlerless licenses are not available for Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake or Wexford counties. However, to help eradicate bovine tuberculosis in deer, antlerless deer licenses in the bovine TB positive counties will be available. Leftover public land antlerless licenses in these seven-county special regulations units will be sold over the counter until the quota is reached. The DNR also will be collecting deer heads from hunters wishing to cooperate in the ongoing statewide surveillance for bovine TB.

Last winter started early and severely in the Upper Peninsula, with a major snow storm on the second day of the firearm season. However, winter abated by mid-January. Winter losses were minimal and fawn recruitment is expected to be normal across the U.P. The highest deer numbers will be seen in the south-central part of the U.P. (Menominee, Delta, Dickinson, Iron and southern Marquette counties). The U.P. buck population is expected to be slightly above last year. Antlerless deer hunting opportunities on private farm lands will help reduce the deer population in counties that have more deer than desired. Remember, only public land antlerless licenses are valid on Commercial Forest Act lands. In addition, DMUs 152, 155 and 252 do not have quality deer management regulations this year.

The DNR provides about 90 deer check stations around the state to help evaluate and monitor the harvest of Michigan's deer herd. The location and scheduled hours of operations for all deer check stations are available on the DNR Web site. Hunters are encouraged to bring in their deer or deer head, to share valuable information with the DNR and receive a 2006 Deer Management Cooperator patch.

Hunters also are encouraged to help feed the hungry right in their own community. Please join the ambitious effort by Michigan's sportsmen and sportswomen to provide wild game meat to local families in need. Make a cash donation when you purchase your 2006 deer hunting license. Funds received by the DNR will help pay for the processing of donated venison and help local charitable organizations and food banks put meat on the table for those who need it the most.