Antlerless Deer License Applications Go on Sale July 15

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Applications for antlerless deer licenses go on sale Friday, July 15, at all license agents or online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings. Private land licenses for southern Michigan and Deer Management Unit (DMU) 487 in the Northeastern Lower Peninsula are sold without application, however, and may be purchased beginning Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.

In all, 756,200 antlerless deer licenses will be available in 2011, a decrease from 776,500 available last year. Statewide, public land licenses increased slightly while private land licenses decreased.

Hunters will find more antlerless licenses available in the Upper Peninsula. In 2011, 16 Upper Peninsula DMUs will not have antlerless deer licenses available, compared to 17 DMUs in 2010.

In the Northern Lower Peninsula, antlerless permits have decreased somewhat, largely due to fewer licenses available on private land. Six DMUs will not offer antlerless licenses, compared to five in 2010. All private land licenses for DMU 487 - which includes Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle counties - may be used throughout the DMU. As another option for taking antlerless deer only within DMU 487, hunters in the unit may use a firearm or combination license for antlerless deer within the Nov. 15-30 firearm season or the Dec. 9-18 muzzleloader season.

In southern Michigan, the number of available antlerless licenses has been decreased and Kent County (DMU 041) is now part of the larger multi-county DMU 486. All private-land licenses for DMU 486 - which includes all but four counties in southern Michigan - may be used within any county in the DMU.

Applications, which remain on sale through Aug. 15, are $4. Hunters may apply for just one antlerless license - public land or private land. After the drawing, remaining antlerless licenses may be purchased beginning Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. Licenses will be sold until the quotas are met. The season purchase limit for antlerless deer licenses has increased to five statewide, except for DMU 486 and DMU 487 which have no season limit.

Baiting and feeding in limited quantities is now allowed statewide, except for DMU 487, where a total ban remains in effect due to the presence of bovine tuberculosis among deer in that region. Baiting is allowed from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. Hunters may place no more than two gallons of bait scattered across a minimum 10-foot by 10-foot area. The DNR requests that hunters not place bait repeatedly at the same point on the ground and only place bait out when actively hunting. This may minimize the chance of direct and indirect exposure of deer to any diseases that may be present.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go towww.michigan.gov/dnr.