Deer Registration

[ridge]

buck whitetail deer in field

Last year, nearly 7,000 deer hunters voluntarily reported their deer harvest online to help test the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ new reporting system. Starting with the fall 2022 deer seasons, online harvest reporting is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer.



Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose management specialist, said there are several reasons the department is moving to online harvest reporting, but one of the most important is more precise data.



“The decline in response rate to our post-season mail surveys increases the amount of uncertainty in our harvest estimates, which can lead to incorrect regulation recommendations in some locations,” Stewart said.



Brian Frawley, the DNR wildlife biologist who manages the surveys, agreed.



“Twenty years ago, 75% of recipients responded to the survey, but in recent years we have seen a response rate consistently under 40%,” Frawley said. “If we’re going to provide hunters, wildlife managers and the Michigan Natural Resources Commission with timely, accurate data, we need to change how we collect it.”



eLicense harvest reporting screenshot

Reporting options

Hunters will have up to 72 hours after taking a deer to report their harvest. The DNR estimates it should take about three to five minutes to complete the report, and there are two ways to do it:



Report online at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport.

Use the DNR’s new mobile app – an even faster option – available in the Google Play store (for Android devices) and the Apple App Store.

Hunters who can’t report their harvest due to a lack of internet access or smart device may get help from a family member or friend with access, by providing them with their kill tag license number, date of birth and harvest location to report on the hunter’s behalf. Reporting by phone to the DNR is not possible because of the need for accurate harvest location data, which is provided by selecting the location on a digital map.



Why is specific location important?

Some hunters have expressed concern about sharing their harvest location, but Stewart stressed the confidentiality and value of that accurate data and how it helps the DNR and, ultimately, hunters.



“While we will have near real-time harvest data available for hunters throughout the season on our website, that data is at the county level,” Stewart
Online harvest reporting starts with fall 2022 deer hunting seasons

Last year, nearly 7,000 deer hunters voluntarily reported their deer harvest online to help test the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ new reporting system. Starting with the fall 2022 deer seasons, online harvest reporting is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer.



Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose management specialist, said there are several reasons the department is moving to online harvest reporting, but one of the most important is more precise data.



“The decline in response rate to our post-season mail surveys increases the amount of uncertainty in our harvest estimates, which can lead to incorrect regulation recommendations in some locations,” Stewart said.



Brian Frawley, the DNR wildlife biologist who manages the surveys, agreed.



“Twenty years ago, 75% of recipients responded to the survey, but in recent years we have seen a response rate consistently under 40%,” Frawley said. “If we’re going to provide hunters, wildlife managers and the Michigan Natural Resources Commission with timely, accurate data, we need to change how we collect it.”



eLicense harvest reporting screenshot

Reporting options

Hunters will have up to 72 hours after taking a deer to report their harvest. The DNR estimates it should take about three to five minutes to complete the report, and there are two ways to do it:



Report online at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport.

Use the DNR’s new mobile app – an even faster option – available in the Google Play store (for Android devices) and the Apple App Store.

Hunters who can’t report their harvest due to a lack of internet access or smart device may get help from a family member or friend with access, by providing them with their kill tag license number, date of birth and harvest location to report on the hunter’s behalf. Reporting by phone to the DNR is not possible because of the need for accurate harvest location data, which is provided by selecting the location on a digital map.



Why is specific location important?

Some hunters have expressed concern about sharing their harvest location, but Stewart stressed the confidentiality and value of that accurate data and how it helps the DNR and, ultimately, hunters.



“While we will have near real-time harvest data available for hunters throughout the season on our website, that data is at the county level,”
said. “Only the DNR will have access to the GPS coordinates of the actual harvest location, which is needed for two very important reasons: more effective disease surveillance, and the ability to build a network of harvest locations over time so we can adapt management guidelines to better align with harvest numbers. That means better overall management recommendations for Michigan’s deer population.”



The move to required online harvest reporting, like any change, will take some time for people to embrace as part of the Michigan hunting experience, but the DNR is confident the ease of reporting and the benefits of better data will outweigh any initial concerns some may have. This first year will be all about familiarizing hunters with the new reporting requirement.



“Above all, we know Michigan’s deer hunters care about quality hunting opportunities and healthy deer herds,” said Stewart. “Each online harvest report takes just a few minutes but provides critical information about hunting experiences and deer abundance all over the state.”



FAQs, assistance

Answers to frequently asked questions are available on the DNR website for this and other questions related to deer harvest reporting.



While the hunters who tested the system last year found it to be a quick and easy process as outlined in this video, assistance for those experiencing technical difficulties will be available at a variety of locations around the state or by calling 517-284-9453 during normal business hours.



For those who would also like to commemorate the 2022 season with a deer patch, they will be available for purchase later this fall at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or in the DNR mobile app for $8 each, while supplies last.

[daappleknocker]

Every since I have been involved in deer management in Michigan the MDNR have argued that their survey process was FAR superior to any mandatory reporting methods used by neighboring states. WHAT HAPPENED? The reasons they argued against MANDATORY REPORTING have not changed. Personally I think the MANDATORY Covid requirements have been so successful that they are expanding it into anything they want. No different than MANDATORY APR’s. Their main goal is to further reduce Hunter numbers to make their management easier. JMHO. As always. I’m glad to be back. 👍

[ridge]

Welcome back Appleknocker! It is great to have you back. I agree with your observations. I would add WHO pushed for the change and WHY. As Eichinger is out and Shannon Lott is in as Director it will be most interesting to see if the queen governor is pulling her strings, some other group(s), or could she be refreshingly independent. I am not holding my breath on this one. The DNR seems to be intent on driving hunters away from deer hunting so that it becomes a sport of the elite just as it is in Jolly Old England and other parts of Europe.

[mike1m]

There is actually 3 Means to Check In your Deer;
1 Is Online
2 Is Using the DNR App
3 is You can call it in to a DNR Service Center and yes there is an After Hour Option but it does not offer as to "Where" the Deer was "Taken?

So I am not sure How Mr Stewart talks "Precise Data If the Call does not Accept that Data?

You can Contact the DNR but There is 3 Ways. I continue to see this Misinformation on Michigan Deer Hunting Forums. I reached out to the "New Director" of the DNR and He responded stating you can Call It In. My Issue is I have "No Service" where I own property and Deer Hunt so that means I would have to leave my Camp to find better Service / Signal? Not Sure what the Point is! I have also read on a few other Forums that some would never give the right location even talked to some Michigan Deer Hunters and they only Pick a"Township" in the County they Hunt In but do not the Specific Location as to "Township" so what is Mr Stewart's Point of Precise Data??? Just an Observation. I can only wonder where some get there is only 2 ways?
Another concern is back in 2022 The NRC &  DNR stated you needed a Confirmation Number so a License MI Deer Processor could accept your Deer. That was not true as a Couple Hunters took their Deer to their chosen Deer Processor and they were  not asked or needed any Number to accept and process a Deer. So where did the NRC & DNR Come up with this by stating it in the 2022 MI Deer Hunting Guide if the Number is Not Required?
Just what I have heard and seen as it comes to the 72 Hour Deer Check In?
There is a New Dnr Director Bowmen
Mike1M  

    

[ridge]

Thank you for posting, Mike. Many of us would agree with you. I don't put much thought as to positive things from the new Director as it appears that it was a political favor. IMO it seems to be another plan to get rid of old timers like me that still have enough gas left in the tank to disagree with their latest attempt to remake hunting and fishing as only they see fit. As far as deer registration, never have so many deer been killed in parking lots and on the Mackinac Bridge as was reported last year! 

[mike1m]

Ridge,
There  seems to be a shift in the NRC & DNR as the last few Members appointed to the NRC and Those in theDNR have taken a Political Stance over sound Resource Management PracticeHere is coupleexamples, How can you manage deer numbers with a an Alomsot Statewide Antlerless Permit? When prior they would only offer a specific number / amount for each Deer Management Unit or DMU. Second is why would they "Combine" DMU's if they wanted best management practices when they combine 2 and 2.5 DMU's how can they use any of the data to make best practices and decisions? And the once combine state that X DMUis still in the top 10 Deer Harvest Numbers? Whe it was Antlerless Per DMU they would limt the number as to offer some Hunters a means to take / get a Deer. And 20 years back They opted to offer 10K when prior a Landowner with a small parcel could not get one because they did not meet the land amount. Then out of no where they offered 10K Private Land Permits! And they suggested / Sold many on once they would be used we would see Many more "bucks & Those would be Bigger Bucks. well first the Bucks Disappearedthen the Does and if Hunters were forunate they might see one Fawn in 20 days of Hunting. So where there was large deer camps on public lands those all but vanished. TAlking to some back then they Questioned what the DNR was thinking whe you could buy 1 a day till all were sold. They they dropped the parcel number requirement which opened  the flood gates as it only took a few weeks for the 10K to sell out! Some would buy many and use them and that decimcated deer numbers! When afew years into this they wanted these to be used in the Southern part where AG Crops were being Damaged. So after several years they Finally split the DMU into 2 parts and only offered them in the southern part. By they they lost many hunters as most moved on to another place. Now if there is many 3 Camps on the public lands that is a lot the last 15 years. And the DNR Wonders why few are into buying & Using Antlerless because they seen what happens few if any deer seen and that makes some not willing touse them and now they Want Hunters to take more Deer. You can show how it will effect the overall Deer Numbers by using what Prop G was voted for Science when making decisions! It seems science has been dropped from their (DNR / NRC) thinking as it comes to the Changes they Make. Plus some on the NRC have an association with the MUCC and Other Groups and these groups have the Ear of these NRC Members. Another Example, If CWD is to have a better chance of being in Older Deer why would the NRC & DNR Put APR's in Place? To help the spread of CWD?? As older dere have better chance of having it! That is known science. But seems CWD is now an After Thought as once It was very Imprtant now it is rarely mention and the Free Testing is all but Gone so does a hunter know if the meat he is eating has CWD or NOT? And We have had a APR with the Combo License for Many Years and how has that helped with "Bigger Bucks" And that was a Statewide APR so since 1997 when they added the APR to the second Combo License that has been 20 Years and yet we still do not see that many Good / Big Bucks in the state!!! So why is it they need APR's at all? Are they "Cratering" to these Hunting Groups that think APR's will bring bigger bucks when we do not have the Food Resources to help grow these better Antlers asa lot of Michigan Soil is mostly Sand and it is not have the nutritional value deer need to grow these antlers bigger. PLus when we once could use mineral supplements we couldon;y use them during deer seasons when deer are using them! Sure there is not data to prove or disprove minerals help so why do would with Deer Farms and Make a MIneral Supplement swear by using Deer Minerals have they seen better antlers if used year round??? So for the few to think there will be a Good Big Buck behid every tree in the woods is a stretch but someone has soldthese Groups on It with No "Science" to prove APR's work. Since we have had an APR (with the combo license for 20 plus years) what has changed to having / seeing / taking bigger Bucks? It is said it takes 3 things for Antler Growth good food sources, age & genes. You can't have it without all three! But that is science not on a Whim. It will take many years to get what these groups wants and so other deer hunters will have to pass on small bucks for a some that think the are Entitled to taking a Big Buck Each Year! Okay but If you have a person Choice to take a small buck or wait for a bigger buck that should be on the Hunter totake the shot not some "REG" as  this is wanother reason why They are LOSING Deer Hunters . As not all get a buck every year it is like winning the lottery the chances are slim yet some think otherwise. And if they need Us Deer Hunters why put a road block in place such as the 72 Hour Check In if they so desperately Need US? They can't understand just that They have to follow other states with this "Check In". It would be great if 100% of deer hunters had Great Cell Service but another thing the NRC / DNR did not take into accpunt as some areas of Michigan do not have any Cell Service so where does that leave them? And Is Public WiFi safe to use. Add to all that the DNR App "Tracks" your every move and it can't be turned of / disabled it can only be uninstalled. It should no business of the DNR where and what I am doing is IT? I am not a Criminal on a Tether! JUst some thing I seen that make No "Common Sense" but when you are now a "POLITICAL" Agency that is where they have lost some additional Deer Hunters with No Common Sense!!! Sad but that is where we are with the NRC & DNR Today. As for Mr Stewart he needsto move on as to talk Data when It is invalid says it All because you have no means ti confirm where any deer is taken so the collection system is invalid because getting true data will never occur! So how can the manage Deer Numbers and now the Patch which was an entucement for Deer Hunters to check a Deer is now lost it's value (tradition) of getting one. Seems more about Saving the DNR from having Check Stations open and paying to Staff them! So anther reason they are losing Deer Hunters but they are blinded to think otherwise. Just my opinion!
Mike1M        

[ridge]

IMO they are catering to specific special groups. Yes, much of what they do seems to make no sense and it certainly does not make any common sense. Lately it appears that they have no concern about how many hunters leave hunting and fishing. That is sad. Our grandchildren and their children will not have the opportunities in the outdoors that we have had.

As I see it the deer registration requirement is just another way to drive the average hunter, especially older hunters, from hunting.