COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today unveiled a series of sweeping proposals to the Natural Resources Commission aimed at curbing an “over-abundance” of deer in the Lower Peninsula while addressing a decades-long decline in hunter participation.
State Representative Jennifer Wortz of Quincy who has been a proponent of reducing deer herds especially does, by adopting more lenient baiting legislation says lawmakers weren’t consulted about the DNR proposals and believes it will do little in the way of deer herd reduction by limiting hunters to a single buck.
Wortz did offer a counter proposal that they may draw some pushback but said the end goal is the same to reduce the herds
It’s estimated deer cause $130 million dollars in property damage annually and millions more in crop damage.
The One Buck Rule if passed would see 2027 implementation, this along with proposed 2026 adjustments, including a shortened December firearms season and consolidated September hunts, aims to address high deer numbers and declining hunter participation.
The Natural Resources Commission is reviewing these recommendations, including new digital eHarvest Tags and adjusted fees, with a final decision expected on May 13, 2026
I feel more has to be done than lowering to the 1 buck proposal. I would like to see a hunter harvest a doe first, then once it has been taken to a DNR check station, a antlered tag would be handed to them at no extra charge. (Or another anterless tag if they prefer) I think with the original 1 buck proposal, many would be “1 & done!”
Is the DNR trying to decrease the herd number or the hunter numbers? So many hunters are strictly trophy hunters and they spend big dollars yearly in pursuit of these animals. Decreasing the number down to one buck is going to put a damper on the hunting system in Michigan from the herd to purchasing equipment in stores. The DNR talks about all these big deer numbers and if anyone notices they are in farm country. Last year I saw a total of 2 deer during daylight hours which were doe during the hunting season but weren’t worth my time to shoot because they were smaller than my two GSP’s. I live in area northern Michigan where it’s mostly forest and don’t have the herds like in down in southern Michigan. If the DNR is going to implement this, there should be some sort of requirement to shoot a doe first which would manage the herd numbers. Heck, just make the entire 2027 gun season doe only and you that will trim down the herd and hunter population in Michigan!
The DNR seems clueless, time to get Uncle Ted involved in the rules making.
How is shorting the season and limiting to one Buck going to lessen the deer population? Seems kinda counter productive to me.
Do away with point restrictions and alow baiting its simple