Early firearms ANTLERLESS deer season approved

SOUTHERN MICH. — The Natural Resources Comm- ission approved an early firearms ANTLERLESS deer season that will take place in September rather than mid-October.

When originally proposed, the hunt was to take place during the traditional archery deer season, but opponents that included big outdoor organizations voiced concerns over the plan that would mix bows and guns in the same season. Bowhunters also expressed concerns that the early hunt would ruin their hunt that begins Oct. 1 each year, forcing the deer to begin moving about much earlier than usual.

The NRC chose the Sep- tember date as it tries to come to terms with the increasing numbers of white-tailed deer in the southern portions of the state. The new season will run Sept 18-22 on private land only in southern Michigan and in the state’s TB Zone.

“We are chronically over our population goal for deer in southern Michigan,” Doug Reeves told the Commission. Reeves, acting chief for the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division, added that the September timetable was preferable.

The DNR has long contended, and its numbers support the claim that Michigan has more deer in its southern regions than anywhere else in the state. It hopes the added hunt will help to reduce the population numbers with the early ANTERLESS hunt.