Report Nr. 3454 Michigan Deer Harvest Survey Report 2005 Seasons

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.