Deer hunters in the Lower Peninsula will only be allowed to harvest one antlered deer per season instead of two starting March 1, 2027, with antlerless opportunities slashed across almost the entire Lower Peninsula, despite a growing Michigan deer population and opposition from DNR biologists.
On Wednesday, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) voted and passed several measures against farmer interests, including the one-buck rule, a measure opposed by Michigan Farm Bureau that encourages hunters to be more selective when hunting bucks.
The commission did request an Earn-A-Second Buck pilot program, which will be rolled out later this summer.
According to NRC, the one-buck rule would increase the opportunity for antlerless deer to be harvested and improve the buck-to-doe ratio.
Other changes announced in Gaylord include a dramatic reduction in antlerless tag availability across almost the entire Lower Peninsula, and an elimination of the January antlerless seasons, despite acknowledgement by commissioners and the public of the need to dramatically reduce herd size.
MFB members came out in force with almost 1,100 people participating in the organization’s action alert that urged the commission to support management plans to incentivize antlerless harvest — like earn a second buck, or robust antlerless opportunity. Dozens of members engaged the commission further, showing up in person, or contacting commissioners directly in support of these policies.
For years, Michigan farmers shared stories of deer-induced crop damage. Previously, DNR told Michigan Farm News that to maintain stable deer population, you need to harvest at least 35% of the herd annually.
“If you get anything less than that, you’re likely seeing a population increase,” DNR’s Chad Fedewa told Michigan Farm News Jan. 31, 2025. “To see a decline, you need to get above that and, probably, significantly above that.”
A fair target annually would be 50% of deer, depending on the area, according to Fedewa.
However, this reduction in opportunity will only worsen the problems the state already faces, said MFB Associate Legislative Counsel Justin Tomei.
“Hunter numbers are already declining. As a state we should be discussing ways to dramatically increase harvest numbers, not slash opportunities for those willing to do the work,” Tomei said.
“Farmers will now have to explore alternative and more burdensome methods for control, like DMAPs or crop damage permits just to maintain the status quo.”
Michigan’s total deer harvest for 2024-25 increased 5% from the previous year, as new hunts and extended seasons gave hunters more opportunities to shoot a buck or doe. However, those numbers pale in comparison to the 1990s, when harvest numbers almost doubled the 300,000 reported for 2024.
Part of that decline stems from hunter participation, sources tell Michigan Farm News. That figure is near 600,000 and down almost 25% from 25 years ago.
While MFB opposes some measures the NRC approved, Tomei noted that there were some positive changes adopted by the commission, including removing the straight walled cartridge restriction, allowing for the same hunting rifles to be used up north to be used in zone three.
A DNR recommendation to allow for additional antlered exemptions on DMAPs was also approved “for horticultural damage caused by antlered deer.”