Michigan Antlerless Deer Applications on Sale Now Through August 15
The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses is now open through Aug. 15. Hunters can apply for a quota-limited license online at E-license, at any authorized license agent or at a DNR Customer Service Center. A nonrefundable $4 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may only apply for a single public-land or private-land license.
Beginning Sept. 5, applicants may visit www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings to check their drawing results and see the number of remaining licenses available.
Young hunters, ages 9-16, may purchase one junior antlerless deer license over the counter July 15 – Aug. 15. No application is required. A 9-year-old must be 10 by Sept. 15 to purchase this license.
About 554,000 antlerless deer licenses are available statewide for the 2013 deer seasons, down from about 709,000 for 2012. License quotas for individual Deer Management Units (DMUs) can be found at www.michigan.gov/deer.
Over-the-counter purchases will begin on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. for licenses that are left over following the drawing and for private-land licenses in units for which applications are not accepted. Licenses will be sold until quotas are met. Applications are not accepted for private-land antlerless deer licenses for DMU 487 (including Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties in the northeast Lower Peninsula) and DMUs located in the southern Lower Peninsula.
A number of new, smaller DMUs have been created in southern Michigan, replacing the large multi-county DMU 486 that has been in place for the past few years. Several of these new DMUs range from two to four counties in size; DMU 308 (Barry, Calhoun, and Eaton counties), DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties), DMU 319 (Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham and Shiawassee counties), DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties), DMU 339 (Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties), DMU 341 (Kent and Ottawa counties and those portions of Muskegon County in Zone 3), DMU 354 (Mecosta and Montcalm counties), and DMU 361 (Newaygo and Oceana counties and those portions of Muskegon County in Zone 2). Watch the new southern Michigan DMU video to learn more.
Hunters also are reminded to apply for the Pure Michigan Hunt for $4 as many times as they would like. Three winners will receive a prize package valued at over $4,000 that includes an elk and bear license, rifle and crossbow. Visit www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt for more information. To purchase Pure Michigan Hunt applications, visit E-license.
For more information, see the 2013 Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest, which can be found at local license agents or online at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests.