The DNR Isn’t Buying Your 2024 Deer Count, Michigan

Every year, Michigan hunters head out into the woods with blaze orange vests and dreaming of a garage fridge full of venison. And every year, they do their best to report their harvests—only for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to come along several months later and say, "Yeah, no. We think you actually shot way more than that."

RELATED: Michigan's BLEAK 2024 Deer Harvest: County By County Breakdown

Michigan’s 2024 Deer Harvest: What Was Reported vs. Reality

Case in point: In 2024, Michigan deer hunters reported taking shy of 280,000 deer (see the link above for complete county-by-county hunter-reported harvest numbers). The DNR? They say, "Sure ya did," and estimate that the real number is closer to 373,000. That's nearly 100,000 deer just magically appearing on their report.

Where the Reporting Gaps Are the Largest in Michigan

In 2024's regular firearm season alone, according to the new estimates, there was a nearly 50,000-deer increase from what was reported—on the mandatory online harvest report.

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So, unless a bunch of deer are shooting themselves, Michigan has an underreporting issue.

Where the Reporting Gaps Are the Largest in Michigan

And if you're wondering where the reporting gap is the widest, look north...way north. The Upper Peninsula saw a huge jump in not only deer population, but also in harvesting. The DNR is reporting a 21% increase for the UP, whereas hunter reports say it's only 20%.

RELATED: Michigan's Deer Population 2nd Highest in the US, and It's a Problem

According to the new estimates, Northern Lower Michigan saw an increase comparable to the UP, whereas Southern Lower Michigan remains the heart of the state's deer population.

How Accurate Is Michigan’s Online Harvest Report?

If you're curious just how off the reports were when compared to the DNR's updated estimates, we've broken them down season-by-season below. Happy hunting (just make sure to report it—accurately).