Many Michigan firearm deer hunters are in the field already for the start of firearm season, in the hope of bagging a trophy buck, or enough venison to fill their freezer this winter. Firearm season opens across Michigan on Friday,

Michigan is in buck fever as hunters get ready to head out for opening day of firearm deer season on Friday, Nov. 15.Hunters have been waiting months for one of our state’s unofficial holidays to begin.

While the fall in participation has occurred in Michigan — and nationwide — for some time, this year the DNR reports that only 19 fewer purchased hunting licenses than last year, totaling 456,100. Below is a county map of total deer harvested in 2023, and the change from 2022.