DNR Shares Michigan’s Opening Weekend Deer Harvest Results

It is not often that Michigan's opening day of firearm season for deer starts on a Saturday. License sales are up and now opening weekend harvest numbers are in.

Michigan's Opening Weekend For Firearm Deer Season

The last time Michigan's firearm deer season started on a Saturday was in 2014. So it has been 11 years since hunters could start the season on a Saturday which gets more hunters in the woods.

Depending on where you were hunting in Michigan, the weather may have played into your opening weekend. Many hunters in lower Michigan had warmer temperatures on November 15 where the Upper Peninsula was much colder. Many areas had a lot of wind, which doesn't help out hunters either. Nonetheless a good number of deer were harvested.

Read More: Shocking Illegal Deer Kill Uncovered in Michigan Town

Mi Harvest Numbers For Opening Weekend Of Firearm Deer Season

Not all of Michigan's 83 counties have announced the harvest numbers for the 2025 opening weekend of firearm deer season. So far the total harvest has been 42,965. Below are the top 5 counties for deer harvests:

• Sanilac County with 1,546 - 1,110 Bucks, 436 Does
• Hillsdale County with 1,217 - 841 Bucks, 376 Does
• Saginaw County with 1,132 - 841 Bucks, 291 Does
• Montcalm County with 1,045 - 781 Bucks, 264 Does
• Tuscola County with 1,010 - 749 Bucks, 261 Does

Below are the bottom 5 counties for deer harvests:

• Keweenaw County with 25
• Luce County with 44
• Wayne County with 53
• Baraga County with 71
• Alger County with 72.

Below are the West Michigan Counties:

• Allegan County with 839
• Kent County with 400
• Ottawa County with 371
• Muskegon County with 340

Get our free mobile app

The full 2025 firearm deer harvest numbers for all 83 counties will be released by the DNR shortly after the season ends on November 30.

👇BELOW: Michigan's 2024 Whitetail Deer Harvest 83 County Review👇