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A random sample of 9,000 deer hunting license buyers were contacted after the 2006 deer hunting season to (1) estimate importance of deer hunting and motives of deer hunters in Michigan, (2) quantify hunter activity during the past three deer hunting seasons, and (3) determine deer hunters’ opinions on various hunting regulations. Most licensees (83%) indicated hunting deer was either one of their most important recreational activities or the most important activity. The primary reasons people enjoyed hunting deer were to spend time outdoors, spend time with friends and family, and the excitement of seeing deer. Among hunters who purchased a deer hunting license in 2006, 96% of these licensees spent time in the field hunting deer during the past three years (683,095 deer hunters). About 74% of these hunters took at least one deer during the past three years. Nearly 60% of hunters took an antlered deer and 46% took an antlerless deer during the past three years. Over 75% of deer hunters felt the number of deer, number of bucks, number of mature bucks, and deer herd health were the most important issues to consider when developing deer hunting regulations. Most deer hunters (>62%) statewide believed there were moderate to extensive problems with the number of deer, number of bucks, and number of mature bucks in the region where they most often hunted. Statewide, most deer hunters (84%) agreed the regular firearm season should begin on November 15. Most deer hunters in the Upper Peninsula (58%) and Northern Lower Peninsula (52%) supported additional restrictions on buck harvest. Nearly equal proportions of deer hunters in the Southern Lower Peninsula supported and opposed additional buck harvest restrictions. Although most Michigan deer hunters favored additional buck harvest restrictions, none of the buck harvest restrictions evaluated received higher support than the existing regulations (i.e., allow hunters to take a total of two bucks in any combination of seasons if one of those bucks has at least four antler points on one antler).

For the first time in the history of Michigan bear hunting, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) implemented a bear harvest zone and quota system statewide in 1990. Eight bear management units were established, seven in the Upper Peninsula including Drummond Island and one covering much of the northern Lower Peninsula. Separate harvest quotas were established for each unit and a limited number of hunters permitted to take bear in 1990. Each harvest tag allowed the taking of one bear that was not a cub. There were two hunt periods for each of the Upper Peninsula units except Drummond Island which had only one. There was only one hunt period in the Lower Peninsula. A total of 3,733 bear hunters harvested 739 bear during the 1990 season. The take resulted in a 20 percent success rate for hunters with a harvest tag. The harvest was comprised of 64 percent males, 35 percent females, and one percent bears of unknown sex. Hunters were asked to rate their 1990 bear hunting experiences. Sixty percent of the hunters rated their bear hunting as "good" or "very good." Twenty-four percent gave a rating of "poor" or "very poor," Successful hunters were more likely to rate their bear hunting as at least "good" (89%) compared to unsuccessful hunters (52%).

A survey of deer hunters was conducted following the 2005 hunting seasons to estimate hunter participation, harvest, and hunting effort. In 2005, an estimated 671,000 hunters spent 10.2 million days afield. Statewide, the number of people hunting deer declined by about 6% and hunting effort declined by about 1% between 2004 and 2005. Hunters harvested nearly 417,000 deer, a decrease of nearly 9% from the number taken in 2004. Statewide, 42% of hunters harvested a deer. About 22% of the hunters took an antlerless deer and 29% took an antlered buck. About 14% of deer hunters harvested two or more deer.

In 1986, deer hunters in Michigan were permitted (per an amendment of Act 86 of 1980) to purchase a second deer hunting license to take an antlered deer in the Lower Peninsula during archery season and anywhere in the state during the firearm or muzzleloading season. Even though a large number of second licenses were sold, few hunters took 2 deer (2.4% of all archery and 2.9% of all firearm and muzzleloader hunters). About 5,520 hunters took 2 deer during the archery season and 20,150 took 2 deer during the firearm and/or muzzleloader season. The 1986 deer harvest included 57,960 deer taken during the archery season, 205,340 during the firearm season, and 6,630 during the muzzleloading season. In all seasons, hunters took 269,630 deer, of which 193,340 were antlered bucks.

Report of a survey completed to determine the number of people hunting and trapping bobcats in Michigan, the number of days spent afield (effort), and the number of bobcats registered in 2009.

During the spring of 2002, a deer pellet group survey was conducted in the western Upper Peninsula (UP) and in DMU 452 (Core Area) of the northern Lower Peninsula (NLP). The units surveyed in the western UP were divided into the high, medium, and low snowfall units. The high snowfall unit consists of deer management units (DMUs) 007, 042, and 066. The medium snowfall unit is comprised of DMUs 036 and 052. The low snowfall unit consists of DMUs 022 and 055. The pellet group survey was not conducted in the eastern UP. During the spring of 2002, the deer pellet survey was conducted in the 562 square mile "core area" of the bovine tuberculosis surveillance area. The "core area" has been surveyed since 1996. In 2002, the adjusted Spring population for deer in each of the listed locations after accounting for hunting and other losses are as follows: High Snowfall: 43,378, Medium Snowfall: 108,222, Low Snowfall: 141,483, DMU 452: 13,298.

In 1980, the deer pellet group survey was carried out in Region II (the northern half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula). The average over-winter population (uncorrected) was estimated to be 402,915 during the 1979-80 winter. After legal kill and over-winter losses are taken into account, the spring deer population prior to fawning is estimated at 380,572 animals.

This report contains a preliminary analysis of the 1986 deer hunting season based on data collected at highway deer check stations, from field reports, from counts of deer being transported on vehicles, and from highway traffic counters. About 232,000 bowhunters, 725,000 firearm deer hunters, and 58,000 muzzleloaders went deer hunting in 1986. Records were set in all three deer hunting seasons. More deer were taken by hunters in 1986 than in the history of Michigan deer hunting. The preliminary archery harvest was 46,500 (up from the 1985 final harvest estimate of 41,780). The preliminary firearm harvest of 192,000 also increased from a final estimate of 186,840 deer during the 1985 season. The preliminary muzzleloading harvest estimate was 5,500 which was an increase from the 1985 preliminary estimate of 3,500. For all three seasons combined, hunters harvested an estimated 244,000 deer in 1986.

Results of a survey completed to determine the number of harvest tag holders who set traps for marten and fisher, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.

Results of the research and survey carried out on fishers that were killed by motor vehicles or accidentally trapped during the fall of 1985, spring, fall, and winter of 1986, and winter of 1987.

Results of the 2006 survey completed to determine the number of harvest tag holders who set traps for marten and fisher, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources plans to reintroduce moose into the Upper Peninsula starting February 1987. The moose will be captured in Ontario by the use of helicopters and drugs, and then shipped to Michigan in trucks. The following is a detailed description of the procedures to be used in this operation.

Report of a survey completed to estimate the number of people hunting small game, their days afield, and harvest during the 2010-2011 hunting seasons. The survey also was used to investigate hunter satisfaction, compliance with the Harvest Information Program (HIP), estimate the number of people hunting on Hunting Access Program (HAP) lands (private land leased for hunting), and estimate the number of hunters using the internet application Mi-Hunt to locate potential hunting areas.

This report contains a preliminary analysis of the 1985 firearm deer hunting season based on data collected at highway deer-check stations, from field reports, from counts of deer being transported on vehicles, and from highway traffic counters. Deer came through the winter of 1984-1985 in fine condition. Scientific measures of winter severity, taken at northern field offices on a weekly basis, showed that the winter of 1984-1985 was milder than that of most years during the past decade. It appears that in terms of total deer taken, Michigan's deer hunters have just completed their second best firearm deer season in history. The estimated harvest of 163,000 deer represents a 26 percent increase from the 1984 harvest.

During the spring of 1996, the deer pellet group survey was conducted in the Upper Peninsula. The average overwinter population (unadjusted) in the Upper Peninsula was estimated to be 702.796. After legal kill and overwinter losses were considered. the spring deer population prior to fawning was estimated at 583,181 animals in the Upper Peninsula.

This report is a quick summary analysis of the 1982 firearm deer season based on early data collected at highway check stations. from field reports, from counts of deer on vehicles moving homeward, and from highway traffic counters. The preliminary estimate of the 1982 firearm deer kill suggests that the harvest was better than we had expected. Prior to the deer season, we had projected that there could be as much as a 20 to 25 percent decrease in the firearm deer take compared to the harvest in 1981. The severe winter weather during January and February, 1982. resulted in the loss of more than 67,000 deer in northern Michigan. In addition, the survival of fawns born in the spring of 1982 was certainly lower because of the stress placed on the does during the winter. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the firearm harvest had only fallen 12 percent from the all time record 1981 firearm deer harvest which was estimated to be 173,210. The 1982 harvest of 153,000 would place it in third place on the all time Michigan list behind last year's record and behind the 1952 harvest of 162,160.

A sample of small game license buyers was contacted after the 2005 hunting seasons to estimate the number of people hunting small game, their days afield, and harvest. The survey also was used to investigate hunter satisfaction.

Report showcasing the Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Station. Part 1 of the report covers the history and use of the research area; Part 2 presents data on the reproductive history of the penned white-tailed deer that have been maintained at the facility since 1960.

Report on the results of the 2003-2004 Bobcat Survey. In order to allow the export of bobcat (Felis rufus) pelts under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service compiles data on the harvest and status of bobcats.

Report of a survey completed to estimate the number of people hunting small game, their days afield, and harvest during the 2009-2010 Michigan hunting seasons. The survey also was used to investigate hunter satisfaction, compliance with the Harvest Information Program (HIP), and to investigate issues related to waterfowl hunter recruitment and retention.

Report of a survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2010 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.