Michigan Hunters Bring in 75K+ Deer by Bow: County-by-County Harvest Report

Michigan bowhunters didn't waste any time this fall. According to the DNR's Harvest Reporting Tool, the early archery segment tallied 75,239 deer statewide, setting the stage for one of the more active sessions in recent years. With cooler temps, busy rut activity, and Michiganders itching to get out of the house before winter locks us in, the numbers add up fast.

Archery vs. Firearm: A Tale of Two Seasons

While 75,239 deer is an impressive early-season archery total, Michigan's firearm deer season opening weekend put on a bigger show. In just a little more than 48 hours, hunters tagged 42,965 deer — more than half of what it took bowhunters to bring in in a month and a half.

Top Counties for Bowhunters

Five counties separated themselves from the pack with the highest early archery harvest totals statewide. These heavy hitters set the tone for the season:

• Saginaw
  • 2,307
• Montcalm
  • 1,958
• Lapeer
  • 1,931
• Jackson
  • 1,816
• Genesee
  • 1,806

Each of these counties surpassed 1,800 (honorable mention to Livingston, with 1,805), showcasing strong participation, dense deer populations, and a bad case of buck fever.

Antlers Galore: Buck vs. Doe Breakdown

Of the 75,239 deer harvested, 54,407 were bucks. Despite the DNR's plea for hunters to take a doe, over 72% of the whitetails tagged were antlered. While this may do wonders for taxidermists cranking out mounts, it does little to battle the population of animals that dent our fenders, eat farmers' crops, and spread diseases like CWD, EHD, and bovine tuberculosis.

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Curious how your county's harvest stacks up when compared to the other 82 in Michigan? Keep scrolling for a complete county-by-county breakdown.