justnorth posted on July 21, 2007 10:38 :: 1328 Views
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) recently approved three deer regulation changes for the 2007 deer hunting season. Changes were made to antlerless deer license quotas, the late firearm deer season and the youth firearm deer season.
A total of 604,200 antlerless deer licenses will be available statewide, which is an increase from the 592,600 that were available in 2006. The increased number of antlerless deer licenses reflects increased deer numbers, primarily in the Upper Peninsula (UP) and northeastern Lower Peninsula.
"Setting antlerless deer quotas is an important tool in managing the deer herd," said Rodney Clute, DNR big game specialist. "Antlerless quotas are increased in Deer Management Units when the deer herd is at, or slightly above, the desired goal needed to maintain the deer herd."
In the UP, the number of antlerless licenses has been increased by five percent to 45,700 compared to 43,600 in 2006.
There will be 99,300 antlerless licenses available in northern Lower Michigan, an eight percent increase from 94,200 in 2006. Antlerless licenses will not be available in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake and Wexford counties in 2007.
The deer herd in southern Michigan remains above desired levels and 459,200 antlerless licenses will be available for this region.
The NRC also approved adding 12 new counties, where the deer population is substantially above goal, to the late firearm antlerless deer season. This season runs from Dec. 17 through Jan. 1, 2008. A list of counties open during the late antlerless season is found on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.
"Expanding the deer season into these twelve counties provides the DNR and the landowner an additional opportunity to manage deer numbers in southern Michigan," Clute said.
Beginning this year, a youth age 10 to 16 hunting during the youth season may take either an antlered or antlerless deer with their firearm or combination deer license. This regulation change only pertains to the youth firearm deer season, which is Sept. 22- 23, 2007. During the regular firearm and muzzleloader deer season an antlerless deer license is required for any hunter to take an antlerless deer.
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