By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Ortonville — Michigan deer harvest numbers for the regular firearm season were down from 2023, according to statistics compiled by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The harvest is also the lowest over the last three years.
According to reports as of Dec. 2, following the close of firearm deer season Nov. 30 statewide hunters harvested 132,810 deer in 2024 — about 4,000 fewer than reported for 2023 and 22,000 fewer than in 2022 when 154,940 deer were taken.
The overall hunting trend continues to spiral downward according to DNR statistics. For all of 2022, hunters took 303,055 deer, the DNR said in its annual hunting survey. That number has fallen each year since, to 274,282 in 2023.
Muzzleloading and other late winter seasons remain ongoing in the state.
Locally, Lapeer County has topped others with 5,395 harvested which included 3,279 bucks and 2,116 does, followed by Genesee County with 3,465 total with 2,307 bucks and 1,158 does. Oakland County reported 2,293 deer with 1,522 bucks and 771 does.