COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Michigan’s white-tailed deer hunting season officially kicks off this Saturday, , starting with specialized events designed for specific groups of outdoor enthusiasts.
The opening weekend features the annual Liberty Hunt, a statewide firearm season dedicated exclusively to youth hunters aged 16 and younger, as well as individuals with qualifying disabilities.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says it all starts Saturday, with the Liberty Hunt for qualified youth and hunters with disabilities.
Brent Rudolph, Deer, Elk, and Moose Management Specialist for Michigan Department of Natural Resources says it’s a great opportunity for those young hunters to take part in a Michigan tradition
Hunters 9-years-old and younger must be licensed through the Mentored Hunting Program and accompanied by a qualified mentor. Children between the ages 10-16 can hunt with a bow, crossbow, or firearm, regardless of license used.
Rudolph said this is a part of DNR’s effort to attract and retain hunters
Running concurrently with the Liberty Hunt, the early antlerless firearms season will also open on eligible public and private lands across the Lower Peninsula.
This weekend’s kickoff introduces historic regulatory changes approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to manage the state’s deer herd.
Most notably, DNR officials have completely eliminated the Limited Firearms Deer Zone in the Lower Peninsula, meaning hunters can now use any legal firearm—including high-powered bottleneck cartridges—statewide where hunting is permitted.
While these early specialized hunts last only through Sunday, they pave the way for the broader hunting community as the early segment archery season approaches on October 1 and the regular statewide firearm season opens on November 15.
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