As reported by Fox 2 Detroit, the number of deer hunters in Michigan continues to drop in 2024, the state that once had more than 800,000 licensed deer hunters now has less than 600,000.
According to a Fox 2 Detroit report, the declining number of deer hunters and the increasing number of deer (the deer population is estimated to be around 2 million) have become a cause of worry for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
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According to the publication, the increase in the deer population is not just due to a decrease in the number of hunters but also because most hunters prefer to hunt bucks rather than female deer so that they can own antlers as their hunting trophy. But, hunting just bucks won't bring down the deer population, when the females are still at large.
When asked by Fox 2 about what hunters should do, Michigan DNR's acting deer management specialist Chad Fedewa advised to "focus on antlerless harvest". According to the Detroit Free Press, Fedewa said,
"For the last several years we’ve been trying, particularly in southern Michigan, to encourage hunters to take more antlerless deer, when we talk about declining hunter numbers, increasing deer populations. We’re trying to encourage hunters to at least go one-to-one: If you shoot a buck, shoot a doe."
According to the latest data released by DNR Michigan, as of November 26, 104,320 deer were hunted since the start of the regular Firearm season. Out of this 71,482 were Antlered deers, while only 32,838 were antlerless deers, which is not even half of the antlered deers hunted.
When you look at the county-wise data of deer hunting in Michigan, Sanilac leads the list with 3,313 deer hunted while Wayne and Keweenaw are at the bottom with just 94 kills.
Three Deer Hunters have died since the beginning of Firearm season.
According to WXYZ, three deer hunters have died since Firearm season began on November 15. The three men, from Arenac and Tuscola counties, aged 57, 65, and 83, have already died in the first week of the firearm season.
According to reports, two of the three men died of heart attacks while trying to drag the heavy deer they hunted into their car. The cause of death of the third man, Gregg Hadkins hasn't been confirmed yet.
As reported by Fox News, Dr. Bradley Serwer says that deer hunting could be a dangerous activity for people suffering from heart conditions because it involves hiking, waiting in the cold, the adrenaline rush when you catch a deer, dragging the animal to a car, etc.
As reported by multiple outlets, many doctors have suggested deer hunters stay in shape, prepare for the weather conditions, and share their location before they embark on a deer hunt.
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