Report Nr. 3399 Michigan Deer Harvest Survey Report 2002 Seasons

A survey of deer hunters was conducted following the 2002 hunting seasons to estimate hunter participation, harvest, and hunting effort. In 2002, an estimated 740,529 hunters spent 10,449,426 days afield. Statewide, the number of people hunting deer declined by nearly 2%, and hunting effort declined by 1% between 2001 and 2002. Hunters harvested 476,215 deer, an increase of 3% from the number taken in 2001. Harvest of both antlerless deer and antlered bucks increased by 3%. Statewide, 43% of hunters harvested a deer. About 23% of the hunters took an antlerless deer and 28% took an antlered buck. About 14% of deer hunters harvested two or more deer.