Early this year the DNR issued a new mandate on those hunting deer in the state of Michigan. Within 72 hours, successful hunters are required to report their harvested deer (fawn/antlered/adult doe), or prior to transferring possession of the animal to a deer processor. This new mandate has been discussed in the past however always had hesitation due to concerns about data sharing.
For a long time, mail-in surveys were sent randomly to hunters to estimate the harvest. The response rate dropped by 70% in the early 2000s, and another approach to estimating was needed.
The information collected on a harvest report is protected. Along with their date of birth, successful hunters will be asked to report the unique kill tag license number attached to the deer, the harvest location, the type of deer harvested, and the number of antler points (if a buck).
Failure to report a harvested deer within 72 hours may result in a 90-day misdemeanor with fines up to $500.
For more information on reporting your deer, click here.
