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.
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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.
