I saw a story on TV where they claimed more Deer Hunters in Michigan (700,000) than serving soldiers in the US ARMY.

Anyone know if this is true?

I'd easily believe that Michigan has 700,000 huntewrs.....add another 1/2 million in the neighbor across Lake Michigan.

http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/edopps/05deerprospects.pdf

From the above link approximately 750000 Michigan deer hunters (not sure I would consider all of them hunters) harvested approximately 450000 deer in 2005 including gun, bow muzzle loader seasons.

Both figures are down from previous years.

Michigan also issues crop depredation permits to landowners durring the growing season. I can't confirm the numbers but have heard another 100000 deer are shot in this manner.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I'd easily believe that Michigan has 700,000 huntewrs.....add another 1/2 million in the neighbor across Lake Michigan.

I used to live in Green Bay and I like WI's T zone system. What are your thought on the matter? Seems WI has a better game mgt system then MI's convoluted methods.

p.s. Go Pack - I own two shares and, unfortunately, my stock aint doing so well this year.

quote:

Michigan also issues crop depredation permits to landowners durring the growing season. I can't confirm the numbers but have heard another 100000 deer are shot in this manner.

Plus another 80,000 hit by cars. Like rabbits with antlers.

Jeff

Don't get me started on Mi ability to manage their deer herd. They base the numbers and density in the counties around and south of Lansing. They allow baiting through out the archery season, rifle season, and the muzzleloader season. They also allow a youth hunt that I think takes place in late Aug or Sept. I hunt the Pigeon River State Forest about 250 miles northof Detroit. I have hunted there for 30 years, you used to be able to drive the logging roads any time of the day and see lots of deer and usually ina 25 mile loop 4-5 decent bucks. I have driven said loop recently, force of habit I guess, and I only see a few tracks made by nocturnal deer going to and from bait piles. Just my 2 cents worth.

We only have 500,000 people in the whole state.

I don't know what people are thinking. "Here is how you do it Son, You go get a bunch of bait two nights before season, put it out and sit there until you kill one" The state of Mi needs to be managed different ways in the different zones. There is no way there is any parity between our area and south of Mt Pleasant. We could cut down on deer road kill if we quit culivating and mowing these great lawn areas near the roads and medians on the highways. They are the world's biggest bait pile. why don't they put recycled tires or something out there instead of drawing the deer out with grass flavored with road salt near the shoulder.