LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has unveiled a suite of sweeping proposals aimed at reshaping the state’s deer hunting landscape to better manage a surging population and a declining number of hunters.
At the center of the recommendations is a controversial “one-buck rule,” which would limit hunters to a single antlered deer per year statewide starting in 2027. Officials will present the plan to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission today, marking a significant shift from the long-standing tradition of allowing two bucks under a combination license.
Beyond bag limits, the proposal outlines major adjustments to season dates and equipment use to encourage the harvest of antlerless deer, particularly in the Lower Peninsula.
The DNR has recommended shortening the statewide muzzleloader season to just three days and rebranding the period in the Lower Peninsula as the “December Firearms Season” to reflect broader weapon eligibility. Other proposed changes include combining the Liberty and early antlerless hunts into a single weekend in September and moving the late antlerless season to start immediately following the conclusion of the new December firearm period.
The Natural Resources Commission is expected to deliberate on these recommendations and review public feedback before a scheduled decision on May 13, 2026. If approved, many of the season modifications would take effect as early as the 2026 hunting season, while the one-buck limit would be delayed until the following year. These changes come as the state faces an “over-abundance” of deer in southern regions and seeks new ways to attract residents to the sport as the existing hunter base continues to age.
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