The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced a new extended hunting season.
The DNR says the late antlerless firearm season started January 2 and will run through January 12 in several counties, including Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan. Sergeant Mike Mshar with the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division tells us the agency offers this late, strictly-antlerless season so there’s more of a balance between the number of bucks and does taken by hunters each year.
“We really need people to go out and take antlerless deer,” Mshar said. “The numbers of animals in certain areas, especially those southern areas are way overpopulation, and when we get way overpopulation, it leads to a lot more car deer [crashes], a lot more disease issues. So, I just want to encourage people to use those tags and use this last bit of time to get out there and harvest some animals that you can utilize.”
With hunters and hikers sometimes occupying the same wilderness areas this time of year, Mshar advises everyone to take some basic safety precautions.
“The biggest thing is the hunters have to wear orange during a fire season. I always suggest to people if you’re going to be recreating in areas where you know hunting or could be taking place, wear some bright colors. Wear orange, light yellow, just anything that really stands out just so that you’re visible.”
Mshar says hunters still need to get a license to take part in the extended season. Those can be obtained online.
Overall, Mshar says while the number of hunters has been declining in Michigan, the overall deer harvest this year has been strong, especially for bucks. That’s why the DNR is now pushing hunters to get out and harvest some does.
