Michigan Deer Numbers

[TheMichiganGunKid]

It seems to me that my Dad always talks about the good days of Deer hunting have past and that there are too many hunters and too few deer. While i dont know about anyone else but in the southwest part of Michigan there are some huge deer numbers where I hunt. Was wondering if anyone else had any luck in the lower peninsula for deer numbers.

TheMichiganGunKid

 

[jcwit]

I live 5 miles south of the Mich./Indiana state line, near South Bend. I'm 67 years old and I remember when I was a kid it was really something to see deer and V's of geese. Now both are a nuisance in this area. Ask your dad if he realizes how much his auto insurance has gone up over the years because of the deer population?

 

[happycamper374]

My profile says NC, but I'm originally from MI.
It's my understanding that the deer population as really boomed in the past few decades. When I'm back I see them all over the place. (My stomping grounds are just west of Lansing and then up in Ogemaw County.) It might just be a specific area that your dad remembers that has had a reduction in deer numbers due to some sort of development or something. But, overall, deer in MI are thriving.

 

[TheMichiganGunKid]

Well i wish i was hunting were you guys were because up were im at were excited if we see more than 4 deer and a day and its unheard of to hunt here and get a giant.

 

[homers]

Depends on what part of MI you are talking about. The lower half has much different conditions than the UP. In the UP, usually the severity of the winter has the biggest impact on the herd size. Lately, the wolf has established itself and is growing in #'s, seems to be knocking the deer numbers way back.

 

[chains1240]

I was lucky enough to be invited out to a farm to hunt last year by a friend. The farm is near Fremont Michigan. Every day that I sat in the blind I saw no less than 6 deer. Some days I saw over 12. And on one occasion I saw a herd of over 20. I harvested 3 does on his farm. At least in that neck of the woods the deer are everywhere.

 

[TheMichiganGunKid]

Yeah im not saying some parts of the state have some good deer numbers and yes coyote and wolves had established there selves in some areas of the state that lowers the deer numbers.