NRC Approves 2015 U.P. Antlerless Deer Hunting Restrictions

UPDATE: The Michigan DNR would like to update a phone number that was given yesterday in a news release regarding just-approved antlerless deer hunting restrictions in the U.P. Hunters who choose to return already-purchased deer hunting licenses and have questions about the process for returning those licenses are directed to call 517-284-6057. The full, updated release follows. We apologize for any inconvenience.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2015

Contact: Chad Stewart, 517-641-4903 or Ed Golder, 517-284-5815

NRC approves 2015 U.P. antlerless deer hunting restrictions

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission today decided to eliminate the harvest of antlerless deer during the archery season for hunters using deer or deer combo licenses in the Upper Peninsula.

The restriction, which does not affect the firearm deer season, will be in effect for the 2015-2016 season. The NRC made the decision at its monthly meeting in Monroe, Michigan, in an effort to aid the Upper Peninsula’s struggling deer population, which has declined to a level comparable to the early 1980s following three successive winters with severe conditions.

There have been roughly 5,000 to 6,300 antlerless deer harvested in the U.P. by archers over each of the past four years.

Although deer regulations currently are on a three-year cycle, elements such as weather and disease can cause regulations to be reviewed mid-cycle and adjusted when appropriate.

“The NRC asked the DNR Wildlife Division to present options to address the decline in deer in the U.P. and associated concerns by hunters,” said DNR deer management specialist Chad Stewart. “In May we brought forward six possible options, and the NRC chose to concentrate on two of those options.”

The NRC’s decision makes deer and deer combo licenses used in the archery season “buck-only” licenses. The other option considered by the NRC was to maintain the current regulations.

“Deer hunting is an important tradition in Michigan’s U.P. and a big economic driver for the entire state,” said Natural Resources Commission Chair John Matonich. “This decision by the NRC will ensure that tradition continues while also providing prudent protections for the U.P. deer population.”

The winter of 2014-2015 brought significant snowfall before the start of the firearm season, which persisted to depths of 20-30 inches across much of the region.  Additionally, temperatures of -10 to -20 degrees arrived in February, further stressing animals that had limited mobility because of the deep snow.

These latest wintry conditions followed the winters of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, which were extremely hard on the U.P. deer population.

The DNR Wildlife Division polled neighboring states on their recent and future deer seasons, and found those states also are reducing antlerless quotas or opportunities to take antlerless deer during specific seasons.

“We will be working to communicate this information to all who hunt in the Upper Peninsula,” Stewart said. “We’ll need to make sure hunters everywhere are aware of the change because once they cross the Mackinac Bridge the rules for their 2015 deer licenses will change.”

Antlerless harvest still will be permitted through the allotment of private-land antlerless licenses in deer management units where it was decided that antlerless harvest should be maintained. This includes DMUs 055, 122 and 155.

Deer and deer combo licenses can be returned for a refund and new licenses could be purchased prior to the start of the deer seasons. After Sept. 20, the licenses are considered “used” and cannot be returned. To learn more about the process for returning licenses, contact DNR licensing staff at 517-284-6057 or MDNR-E-License@michigan.gov.

For more information on hunting seasons and regulations, visit: www.michigan.gov/hunting.

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