Michigan Muzzleloader season any weapon goes.

I assume this is tongue in cheek. If not, you might just like to stir up trouble.

Either way it is a bummer. Is this Gov. Gretchen's way of eliminating the "non gun" muzzleloaders?

If Michigan has an overabundance of deer, then the bag limit is a good idea. But the rest stinks.

This policy change is not new as it took effect prior to this year (might be two years now).

It is an attempt to reduce numbers. The rifle season harvest has fallen short of reducing numbers enough. I heard that this year’s rifle season fell short of last year’s numbers.

The antlerless season has been extended this year. I have been holding out so far as I hoped to take a buck this year.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy our special muzzleloader season on Ohio, and don't want to loose it, but Michigan is only one of many states, actually nationwide, where hunting has declined tremendously, for a number of reasons. Because of this, DNR's are scrambling to generate more interest, raise revenues and keep the herds in check. Our muzzleloading brethren aren't enough to make that happen, especially us, the traditional muzzleloader enthusiasts. We are a small minority.

I was told by an Ohio State Representative over 20 years ago that Michigan's Department of Nature Resources had much of the deer regulatory power stripped from them by their legislation, due to the power of the insurance companies wanting more deer killed. It was about that time that hunter numbers started to decline, and more land posted, so the quotas must not have been met, and they still aren't.

I know this Ohio Deer Gun Season is nearly graveyard quiet compared to when i first started going out on opening day in 1986. ODNR states that the amount of deer taken, harvested, killed with archery equipment has risen exponentially. Things change.

Will this increase hunter numbers during this new all weapons season? Will more deer be slain? Will it become more competitive in the woods and fields?Time will tell.

Christophero said:

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy our special muzzleloader season on Ohio, and don't want to loose it, but Michigan is only one of many states, actually nationwide, where hunting has declined tremendously, for a number of reasons. Because of this, DNR's are scrambling to generate more interest, raise revenues and keep the herds in check. Our muzzleloading brethren aren't enough to make that happen, especially us, the traditional muzzleloader enthusiasts. We are a small minority.

I was told by an Ohio State Representative over 20 years ago that Michigan's Department of Nature Resources had much of the deer regulatory power stripped from them by their legislation, due to the power of the insurance companies wanting more deer killed. It was about that time that hunter numbers started to decline, and more land posted, so the quotas must not have been met, and they still aren't.

I know this Ohio Deer Gun Season is nearly graveyard quiet compared to when i first started going out on opening day in 1986. ODNR states that the amount of deer taken, harvested, killed with archery equipment has risen exponentially. Things change.

Will this increase hunter numbers during this new all weapons season? Will more deer be slain? Will it become more competitive in the woods and fields?Time will tell.

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I do wish there was a traditional muzzleloader only season in Michigan! Your comment about the number of hunters declining is true here according to the numbers released so far.

There are a very high number of deer/vehicle incidents here in Southern Michigan. Two were hit in front of my house within 12 hours election night this year and I don’t live in location where deer hang out!

We also have chronic wasting disease that we are trying to get ahead of. I suspect that farmers wouldn’t mind feeding a few less as well.

Bnewberry said:

I do wish there was a traditional muzzleloader only season in Michigan! Your comment about the number of hunters declining is true here according to the numbers released so far.

There are a very high number of deer/vehicle incidents here in Southern Michigan. Two were hit in front of my house within 12 hours election night this year and I don’t live in location where deer hang out!

We also have chronic wasting disease that we are trying to get ahead of. I suspect that farmers wouldn’t mind feeding a few less as well.

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Louisiana implemented a 'Primitive Weapons' season a number of years ago that overlapped what was once their muzzleloader season. Fellows began lightning up the 35 Whelen boards, as a single shot rifle in that caliber became legal. It would be interesting to know what the statistics on hunter involvement and deer killed are compared to prior to this Weapon change.
I hear other states are doing the same, as well.

Bnewberry said:

I do wish there was a traditional muzzleloader only season in Michigan! Your comment about the number of hunters declining is true here according to the numbers released so far.

There are a very high number of deer/vehicle incidents here in Southern Michigan. Two were hit in front of my house within 12 hours election night this year and I don’t live in location where deer hang out!

We also have chronic wasting disease that we are trying to get ahead of. I suspect that farmers wouldn’t mind feeding a few less as well.

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100% agree. Doe tags should be limitless in the lower half of the LP and I’m fine with weapon of choice in muzz season. I carried a hawken around for 15 years when I didn’t have to. The amount of deer around here is crazy. Our job as stewards is to control that and we haven’t in 20 years. The DNR is doing everything they can to afford us the opportunity to fulfill our obligations.

In my experience with insurance companies, wasting money lobbying for a greater deer kill doesn't make sense. They have actuarial departments that can quickly, easily and regularly calculate losses and adjust rates. All the insurance companies have the same risks so it's not even a problem competition wise. All they are concerned with is having a level playing field.

Agriculture = large deer population.

Missouri's Primitive Weapons season's also morphed into the AR Pistol season and moved from early fall to Christmas/New Years. I hunted the first Primitive Weapons season, few realized how great those times were ..until we lost them. As small farms are sold off to large scale operators, Missouri's wildlife is disappearing rapidly. No fencerows. Planting road to road. Happening fast.

I have no bad feelings for farmers - they have to enlarge or go broke, I suppose. Glad I lived in the good times and we saved our farm's woods, fence rows, and wetland. We have the deer - there' s no where else for them to live. Same with quail, turkeys, possums and hooty owls. Sad days.

mikesto44 said:

This year in Michigan in the lower Peninsula. You can use any
weapon that's legal for the muzzleloader season. No more using those stinky b.p. guns..!
Also you can kill / harvest ( never picked a deer before lol ) up to 12 deer. Two bucks and 10 does. Yay...!

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Wasn't all the night hunting bait sights with cross bows good enough for you guys.

Michigan let's you get away with everything

What's the reason..

More hunters..

Felons from Detroit can hunt with air rifles

Everyone shoots bucks and they get them... they all tag a buck or two and done..

2 buck tags.. it's too many if you're trying to kill more doe.

Just saying.

Doe tag should be free with the hunting license for anyone out of state. For everyone.

It was to much money. Non Res doe tag. If I remember it's over 100 when I went.. just checked ITs $20 now.

Just my opinion but.

People from Detroit shouldn't be allowed to hunt.

I didn't hunt public land those days. Stay out of the woods.

They all. Just show up.. A nice quite town nice people. Then all these hunters from Detroit come over acting like they own the place..

The woods.. there bait every 100 yards. Bait everywhere.. lol hunter on every bait pile opening day. Deer running in every direction like really what was the point of bait. There not eating it with all those hunters running around

Christophero said:

Louisiana implemented a 'Primitive Weapons' season a number of years ago that overlapped what was once their muzzleloader season. Fellows began lightning up the 35 Whelen boards, as a single shot rifle in that caliber became legal. It would be interesting to know what the statistics on hunter involvement and deer killed are compared to prior to this Weapon change.
I hear other states are doing the same, as well.

Click to expand...

After they opened the primitive hunting season in Louisiana gun stores stopped keeping supplies for black powder and I had to go to midway powder valley or natches.it didn't help muzzle loaders here.

I live in Michigan near the southern border. Growing up in the 60's our license allowed us to take one, ONE buck and no does. If we wanted a doe permit there was a lottery through which we could get one. No guarantee you would get a permit though, pay your money and take your chance.

Then as now Michigan split the state into three hunting zones for the purpose of controlling the guns used in the name of public safety. Basically only shotguns were/are allowed south of Saginaw Bay. Lighting off a 30 cal in the southern section runs a big risk of actually hitting the barn. So we're limited more or less to shotguns and black powder.

Growing up I didn't see that many deer. In fact I saw more draped over the hoods of cars than I saw running free in the fields. In 73 I left home for a military career followed by 23 years as a government contractor in the DC area. Eight years ago my wife and I retired and moved back to my home town. Found a nice ranch style home on an acre of land at the western edge of the neighborhood and city. My lot runs up against a farmers field. In a single year we have seen more deer in that field (and our back yard) than I saw growing up. The most seen at one time has been 20-30 animals.

Here's a pic from one of the first years we were back (2018). Taken from my Lazy Boy.



He was about 250 feet away That day we had five bucks visit the salt lick.

Different laws now from when I grew up and a serious over population problem. Not to mention the Wasting illness impacting roughly 1/3 of the states herd. It's a shame because I blame it all on a lack of interest among our younger generations. I would love to hunt again but my health prevents it at present.

Appowner said:

I live in Michigan near the southern border. Growing up in the 60's our license allowed us to take one, ONE buck and no does. If we wanted a doe permit there was a lottery through which we could get one. No guarantee you would get a permit though, pay your money and take your chance.

Then as now Michigan split the state into three hunting zones for the purpose of controlling the guns used in the name of public safety. Basically only shotguns were/are allowed south of Saginaw Bay. Lighting off a 30 cal in the southern section runs a big risk of actually hitting the barn. So we're limited more or less to shotguns and black powder.

Growing up I didn't see that many deer. In fact I saw more draped over the hoods of cars than I saw running free in the fields. In 73 I left home for a military career followed by 23 years as a government contractor in the DC area. Eight years ago my wife and I retired and moved back to my home town. Found a nice ranch style home on an acre of land at the western edge of the neighborhood and city. My lot runs up against a farmers field. In a single year we have seen more deer in that field (and our back yard) than I saw growing up. The most seen at one time has been 20-30 animals.

Here's a pic from one of the first years we were back (2018). Taken from my Lazy Boy.

View attachment 367107

He was about 250 feet away That day we had five bucks visit the salt lick.

Different laws now from when I grew up and a serious over population problem. Not to mention the Wasting illness impacting roughly 1/3 of the states herd. It's a shame because I blame it all on a lack of interest among our younger generations. I would love to hunt again but my health prevents it at present.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the young folks have checked out of many of the activities that sustained countless generations before them. Hunting is only one of the myriad of events society upheld in high esteem; Church/God, social lodges, shopping malls (ok, not that high in esteem), restaurants.... the list continues. With 'everything and everyone' at their fingertips putting out the effort to engage isn't there.

My post was no tongue in cheek statement. Currently our so called season is happening in the lower Peninsula. You can use any legal firearm period. That's a fact and go look it up. Also you are allowed a 12 deer total. Two bucks an 10 does but unfortunately this is not good management because certain areas don't have the deer herd. To support this. Maybe Southern Michigan yes but the Northern lower no way. Our group is a total of five hunters. The youngest members have been hunting for ten plus years. Total kill this year was three bucks an one doe. Total deer seen 9 for all of us. That includes trail cameras. This is private land and great deer habitat. We also don't shoot anything less than an 8 point.
So tell me we're over run with deer..?
Lansing and the DNR suck at management in our area.

Many years ago I went to Michigan to bowhunt with my cousins. I didn't get a deer but I really liked buying a bushel basket of carrots for $2. I put some out for the deer and brought most of the rest home for eating.
Ohio Rusty ><>

mikesto44 said:

My post was no tongue in cheek statement. Currently our so called season is happening in the lower Peninsula. You can use any legal firearm period. That's a fact and go look it up. Also you are allowed a 12 deer total. Two bucks an 10 does but unfortunately this is not good management because certain areas don't have the deer herd. To support this. Maybe Southern Michigan yes but the Northern lower no way. Our group is a total of five hunters. The youngest members have been hunting for ten plus years. Total kill this year was three bucks an one doe. Total deer seen 9 for all of us. That includes trail cameras. This is private land and great deer habitat. We also don't shoot anything less than an 8 point.
So tell me we're over run with deer..?
Lansing and the DNR suck at management in our area.

Click to expand...

For private.. Anything along that stretch of river.. right on the river bank. You'll probably not get permission

Anything public is Detroit.. the public is real good before gun season opens.. it's still not easy though

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KWdr2Ck1QQMr3Jky6

I think they were getting the bigger bucks out of Kingston