The
Department of Natural Resources will offer a total of 708,650
antlerless deer licenses for the upcoming season after the Natural
Resources Commission (NRC) adopted quotas at its regular monthly meeting
last Thursday 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 short-term 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 private-land licenses
available has been decreased by 23,500, while public-land licenses have
been decreased by 1,300. Recent
trends in deer populations have been variable across the region, but
the decreases are primarily intended to match quotas more closely with
past demand for antlerless licenses. Though this means fewer leftover
licenses ultimately may be available in the region, all northern Lower
Peninsula deer management units (DMU) will offer at least some licenses
this year. Six DMUs in the region did not offer any antlerless licenses
in 2011.
In
the southern Lower Peninsula, 4,150 fewer private-land antlerless
licenses will be available in 2012, and the total public-land quota was
decreased by 2,350. Deer populations remain above goal throughout much
of the region, though numbers do appear to be approaching desired levels
in some areas.
“Although
antlerless license quotas were reduced overall this year, we still had
the opportunity to give hunters ample chances to take antlerless deer
across the state,” said DNR Deer and Elk Program Leader Brent Rudolph.
“Interest in seeing more bucks and bigger bucks is increasing among
Michigan hunters, so we encourage those individuals to pass a buck and
harvest a doe instead.”
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.
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