Antlerless deer license quota changed by NRC
LANSING – The Department of Natural Resources will offer a total of 708,650 antlerless deer licenses for the upcoming season after the Natural Resources Commission adopted quotas at its July meeting at Harsens Island.
The NRC approved a total of 70,750 public-land antlerless deer licenses and a total of 637,900 private-land antlerless deer licenses. The changes result in a decrease of 47,550 licenses from 2011.
The quotas represent an increase of 450 private-land licenses and an increase of 1,900 public-land licenses available in the Upper Peninsula. Deer numbers in the region are continuing a shortterm increasing trend following mild conditions for three straight winters. The department recommended increased quotas to provide additional recreational opportunity, not to reduce deer numbers in the areas where licenses were added.
In the northern Lower Peninsula, the number of privateland licenses available has been decreased by 23,500, while public-land licenses have been decreased by 1,300.
Additional information regarding deer hunting regulations, results of the 2011 deer harvest survey and Michigan’s deer management plan are available at www.michigan.gov/deer.