Ridiculously Buck Heavy Week One: Michigan’s Archery Season Report

Michigan's 2025 archery deer season is off to a solid and predictable start, with hunters across the state reporting over 6,000 deer harvested in the first week. From the Upper Peninsula to Metro Detroit, bowhunters are making their mark early — and the numbers already show interesting trends for both herd health and regional hunting success. Let’s dig into the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Harvest Reporting Tool to see what the numbers say.

Top Counties Leading the Harvest

Oakland County sits comfortably at the top with 227 total deer (antlered and antlerless), followed by Lapeer (190), Saginaw (186), and St. Clair (177). Central Michigan counties like Genesee (174) and Livingston (169) also performed strongly. These early numbers suggest dense deer populations and plenty of hunter activity across southern and mid-Michigan — regions that consistently dominate harvest totals year after year.

U.P.’s Slow Start: Causes & Expectations

Meanwhile, the U.P. saw a slower start than Lower Michigan, with Keweenaw County reporting just one deer, and Alger and Luce Counties barely topping that. Sparse populations and rugged terrain make for tougher tracking, but as the temperatures drop and rut activity increases, the north could see a surge.

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Antlered vs. Antlerless: A Closer Look

It doesn't take a mathematician to look at Michigan's first week of the 2025 archery season and see a familiar issue — antlered deer were harvested at a nearly two-to-one ratio. Of the 6,045 harvested deer (as of 10:05 a.m. on October 6, 2025), 3,974 were antlered, with the remaining 2,071 being antlerless.

RELATED: 2025 Michigan Deer Forecast: EHD, Ice, and Opportunity

That ratio is something that wildlife managers will be watching closely. A balanced harvest helps stabilize Michigan's growing deer population, estimated to be at or exceeding 2 million.