COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County deer hunters are seeing a slower start to the 2026 early archery season, with harvest totals currently trailing significantly behind previous years. According to recent data from the Department of Natural Resourses, local hunters have checked in 678 deer so far this season, which began October 1st and runs through November 14th.
This current harvest includes 429 antlered bucks and 249 antlerless deer. The dip is prominent when compared to recent seasons.
Branch County hunters recorded a total of 1,115 deer during the early archery window in 2025, and 1,051 during the same period in 2024.
The downward trend in Branch County mirrors a broader decline observed both regionally and across state.
In neighboring areas, harvest numbers show mixed activity, with Hillsdale County leading the immediate region at 1,015 deer compared to 1,669 in 2025, followed by Calhoun County at 715 and St. Joseph County at 415.
On a larger scale, the statewide early archery harvest sits at 54,888 deer so far, marking a noticeable drop from the 75,967 total harvested statewide during the 2025 early archery season.
DNR officials and hunters alike will be watching closely to see if numbers pick up before the early archery season concludes in mid-November.
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