In honor of the arrival of peak hunting season in Michigan, we're continuing our series on true - yet controversial - considerations for Michigan's recreational community. Part Two zeroes in on the ecological emergency requiring hunters to pass on most bucks and harvest a doe. #HuntingHardKnocks
"If it's brown, it's down."
Mantras like that have conventionally been frowned upon by both the "old guard" hunting community and Michigan's recreational community at large. We get it - there's an inherent moral desire to watch certain demographics of any population grow and thrive. Or maybe you're just looking for the next statement mount for your cabin or den. We don't judge.
Regardless, hunters have placed a heavy emphasis on targeting only one specific type of deer: the alluring and evasive "trophy buck." That stereotypical, massively-antlered deer head that you're probably imagining right now. And as Michigan's hunting population continues to grow older, that target mindset has steadily become more engrained into the fabric of the hunting ethos.
There's another saying, unfortunately, that also applies to the current state of deer management in Michigan: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
What we mean is that from a conservation perspective, several nuanced and interconnected factors - including hunter preferences - have led to a skyrocketing whitetail deer population. Especially in southeast Michigan, where relatively limited hunting access and abundant restrictions insulate massive herd populations.
This is not a good development. Our regional, predominantly suburban ecosystem has notably suffered over the past decade under the weight of these unsustainable growth trends. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has consequentially eased regulations on doe harvests, yet hunters apparently have not bought in to the agenda.
My fellow Michigan hunters - and yes, especially those of us in the Detroit region - this article is specifically for you. We need to be the tip of the arrow (pun intended) for effectuating the DNR's management plan.
Our regional ecosystem desperately needs us to take more does.
Here's the breakdown as to why.
Doe, a Deer - Way Too Many (Female) Deer
There are increasingly few topics that news outlets can unanimously agree on. As residents of a critically-important state for the upcoming elections, Michiganders know this all too well. So when it comes to coverage of Michigan's resident deer population, it's refreshing to read headlines that reinforce each other, regardless of source.
The concerning part is the headlines themselves.
Michigan's herds are dangerously flourishing. The statewide deer population is estimated at 2 million deer, up 300,000 from a decade ago. Spurred on by warmer climates and hunter participation decreases, this ballooning population caused over 58,000 car accidents and a 59.6% increase in crop damage. This oversized herds also wreak havoc on forest floors, eliminating young trees, wildflowers, and plants that are essential for warding off invasive species.
Recent trends in annual hunter participation have further exacerbated the proble. Firearm deer-hunting licenses sold to Michiganders has dropped more than 20% in two decades, down to 621,000 in 2017 from a peak of 785,000 in 1998. The estimated number of hunters that have left the field is over 200,000 and growing since 2000. This problem is further compounded by the fact that Michigan's largest demographic of hunter - white men over the age of 60 - has constituted the leading consumer demographic for over 20 years.
8 Facts of Michigan Deer Hunting
Despite these figures, let's be abundantly clear that the situation is not hopeless. Hunting in Michigan has actually experienced a notable boost in the post-Covid era, with the number of deer licenses sold for the 2023 firearm season up 2% from the previous year, and the number of hunters buying the tags was up 1% year-over-year. Hunters are slowing returning to the woods, which is an accomplishment worth celebrating for conservation initiatives like the Michigan Wildlife Council.
But the next phase is the most important: executing the DNR's management strategy.
Michigan's Need for Hunters as Conservation Agents
Hunting in Michigan is a cherished generational past time that has engrained itself into the cultural heritage of our state. As such, hunters trek into the woods every season for a variety of reasons. From passing on family traditions to producing cutting-edge outdoor content, providing organic venison for loved ones to simply enjoying a sit in a favorite stand. Simply put, if you're in the woods in October and November, you're doing something right.
Here's our ask: on behalf of Expedition Detroit, the Michigan DNR, and the State of Michigan as a whole, please add "Conservation Agent" to your hunting rationales this season.
What we mean by "Conservation Agent" is to adopt that identity that you're hunting for a purpose far greater than just recreation. Especially when a harvest opportunity presents itself, consider the consistent and intentional message that the DNR has broadcast to the hunting community.
“For the last several years we’ve been trying, particularly in southern Michigan, to encourage hunters to take more antlerless deer, when we talk about declining hunter numbers, increasing deer populations,” said Chad Fedewa, a wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources who specializes in deer, elk and moose management.
“We’re trying to encourage hunters to at least go one-to-one: If you shoot a buck, shoot a doe.”
Seeing as we're publishing this article on October 3rd - Day 3 of the 2024 Whitetail Deer Season - the Expedition Detroit team is taking one-to-one a step further. Head into the woods targeting a mature doe.
Here are the rationales as to why:
Healthy Buck-to-Doe Ratio | High buck-to-doe ratios lead to a litany of problems for a deer population. From depleted food sources and cover to ill-timed fawn drops, having as close to a 1:1 ratio as possible is best for overall herd quality. |
Enhance the Rut | Harvesting a pre-rut doe will actually help in supercharging rut activity. Rut data notes that having more than a 3:1 doe-to-buck ratio will decrease rut activity and buck movement. |
Better Chances for Success | According to Michigan State University, the antlerless population is roughly 3X the size of the mature buck population. In other words, by specifically targeting a doe in the early season, you will triple your odds of success. |
Eased Regulations | The 2024 Whitetail Deer Regulations continue the DNR's trend of easing doe restrictions in southern Michigan. Any regular tag may be used to harvest an antlerless deer. |
Extended Season | In southeast Michigan, an extended antlerless firearm season now exists for several counties from December 16th until January 12th. The extended "Urban Archery" season for all legal deer will remain in place until January 31st. |
Freezer Filler | This should be self-explanatory, but at the end of the day venison is venison. By harvesting an early-season doe, your freezer will be full, the "harvest pressure" that hunters know all too well will be gone, and you'll be able to hunt for that trophy buck knowing that you've already contributed to conservation. |
Hunt for the Hungry | One massive benefit of an over-abundant doe population is the opportunity to donate venison to feed Metro Detroit families. Organizations like Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger have feed millions of families through venison donated by hunters. |
If you can take one lasting blurb from this article, we hope it's that harvesting a doe provides far more value than just filling a tag. The health of our state's fragile whitetail deer population, urban road safety, agricultural productivity, and DNR conservation efforts gravely depend on it. We hope that hunters will join us in prioritizing hunting as a means of effectuating sustainable conservation in Michigan. And we look forward to demonstrating the same through our choices in the stand.
On behalf of the Expedition Detroit team, we wish you all an amazing hunting season.
May your success only be rivaled by that of the Tigers and Lions.
We'll see you in the field.
GEAR UP FOR WHITETAIL DEER SEASON WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT
Interested in whitetail deer hunting - or getting into hunting in general? Check out our 2024 Ultimate Hunting Cheatsheet for all matters southeast Michigan hunting this fall!
Comments