COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Saturday, marks the highly anticipated opening of Michigan’s regular firearm deer hunting season, bringing thousands of hunters, including those in Branch County, to the woods.
The season runs statewide through November 30, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects a strong turnout as hunters pursue both antlered and antlerless deer. The Michigan DNR is reminding hunters to prioritize safety and review the latest regulations before heading out.
The general consensus among wildlife officials is that healthy deer populations will provide a strong opportunity for a successful hunt this season.
Hunters in Branch County need to be aware of several key regulation changes for the 2025 season. Most notably, deer harvest reporting remains mandatory for all hunters.
Every harvested deer must be reported online within 72 hours via the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app or the DNR’s online reporting system that was implemented in 2022 .
Additionally, the ban on baiting deer remains in effect to help prevent the spread of diseases like chronic wasting disease (CWD), with strict penalties for violations.
In the 2024 Michigan firearms deer season, approximately 1,117 deer were reported harvested in Branch County. That included 809 antlered (bucks) and 308 antlerless deer.
The total number of deer harvested statewide during the 2024 season was reported to be around 287,681 across all seasons.
Hunters can review the full 2025 Michigan Hunting Regulations Summary on the Michigan DNR website https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations/deer
Comments