Michigan’s Deer Problem: Too Many Does, Too Many Deductibles

I've hit enough Michigan deer that my insurance company answers the phone, "Where'd you hit one this time?" Let's face it, white-tailed deer stroll into the road like they own the place. They get cozy on the double yellow; I get a rental and another deductible. Fantastic arrangement.

How Many Deer Are in Michigan?

two deer standing next to each other in a forest

Great question. The answer isn't as easy to find as you'd think. World Population Review lists Michigan at 2 million white-tailed deer, second only to Texas at 5.275 million.

But before we order a silver medal, Deer Friendly estimates 1.7 million in 2023 and 2024 and says Michigan no longer publishes a formal statewide count; though, when it last did in 2024, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimated it between 1.5 and 2 million.

Why Michigan Wants Hunters to Take More Does

A deer with large antlers standing in the woods

A buck makes for a nice photo. A doe can have one to three fawns next spring. This simple reproductive math is why the DNR is practically begging Lower Peninsula hunters to take more does where herds are crowded, with extra antlerless opportunities in 2026.

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The cost goes well beyond my bumper. Michigan State Police (MSP) counted 58,271 deer-involved crashes and 13 deaths in 2025. The DNR also cites damaged crops, eaten-up gardens, and greater disease risks where deer numbers are too high.

RELATED: What Last Year’s Harvest Could Tell Michigan Bowhunters: 83 County Report

With Michigan's archery season opening on October 1, consider harvesting a doe in the crowded Lower Peninsula areas, if your license and local rules allow it. The Upper Peninsula is a different story: after harsh winters, the DNR is limiting antlerless hunting there. My insurance agent would probably prefer every deer stay in the woods.