As Michigan’s rifle season for deer hunting gets underway on Monday, new license could continue last year’s increase in hunting.
Hunters in Michigan might have an easier time filling their freezers this year. That’s because of the new “universal antlerless license” introduced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The new license allows hunters to bag up to ten antlerless deer anywhere in the Lower Peninsula, instead of just the area where the tag is bought.
In 2020, license sales in Michigan increased by about 2 percent from 2019.
Andrew Milliron is with the Northwest Michigan Branch of the National Deer Association.
He says the new license could continue last year’s trend.
“People who are wanting to harvest their own meat, well, you’ve got ample opportunity to buy doe tags and go harvest. So that will certainly help drive up sales.”
But even after last season’s spike, hunting has declined by over 30 percent since 2000, according to the DNR.
This year’s rifle season runs from November 15th through the 30th.