Tactics And Training
Hunters, follow best practices this firearm deer season
Hunters, follow best practices this firearm deer season
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Lapeer County, Michigan
LAPEER COUNTY Opening day of Michigans traditional firearm deer hunting season (Nov. 15) is right around the corner, and many hunters are busy scouting land, watching trail cameras and preparing equipment . To ensure a safe season on both public and private land, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to follow best practices to help them avoid the most common violations conservation officers see every year . Properly license, tag your deer Make sure to purchase your license with enough time to receive the tag in the mail. It takes several business days to receive tags . Before field-dressing or moving a deer, kill tags must be filled out to include the month and date the deer was harvested, animal gender and number of antler points, if any. Kill tags must be properly placed on the deer . Stick the tag to a piece of string, wire or a zip-tie that can be attached to the deer. Conservation officers often see the wrong kill tag on game such as fish or turkey licenses on deer . This usually is a simple mistake made in the dark that can easily be corrected by retagging the deer as soon as the error is noticed. Remember that reporting your deer within 72 hours of harvest is just as important as tagging it . A great deal of information hunters need to know is available on the DNR Hunt Fish app. Regulation summaries are also available from most hunting license vendors across the state . Know and safely transport your firearm Proper handling and transportation of your firearm are key to safe hunting. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your firearm and make sure it is properly sighted and functioning before your hunt
. If its been a while since you used your firearm, consider visiting a local shooting range to practice. Many ranges have extended hours this time of year. Locate ranges through the DNR Hunt Fish app or visit Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges
. When transporting a firearm, be sure it is unloaded in both the barrel and magazine, and enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle
. Know your target and whats beyond it Know the area youll be hunting, including nearby buildings and properties . No one may hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied structure, including buildings, dwellings, homes, residences, cabins, barns or structures used for farm operations unless they have permission from the landowner . Each year, conservation officers investigate property damage caused by firearms. Rifle rounds travel long distances, and hunters are responsible for where bullets end up. Respect landowner rights Always respect posted no trespassing signs and property boundaries . If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowners permission. Conservation officers usually are contacted when trespass disagreements escalate and a resolution cannot be reached . Hunting near someone elses property? Contact the landowner ahead of time; dont wait until youre tracking game. Most of the time, a friendly call or visit to your neighbor will remedy the situation . And remember, all hunting regulations apply on private property. Share public land Research and scout the land you plan to hunt before opening day. State-managed public land is a popular place to hunt . Conservation officers often respond to confrontations over hunting spots, blocked roads and illegal posting of no trespassing or no hunting signs on state-managed public land . COs, who often are asked to help resolve these disputes, said hunter confrontations over hunting spots frequently erupt due to last-minute hunters randomly picking their spots. Tree stands and ground blinds on public land are just that: public
. Regardless of who constructed or tends to these blinds, when theyre on state-managed public land, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Public land cannot be posted or reserved . A person placing a tree stand or ground blind that is left overnight on public land must have one of the following affixed in legible English that can easily be read from the ground: their name and address, complete drivers license number or DNR
Sportcard number
. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts. Refer to the current deer hunting regulations for additional information about the different types of ground blinds
. Leave land better than you found it Practice the leave no trace ethic and dont litter. Whatever is brought into the woods must be taken back out . Leaving propane bottles, hand-warmer wrappers, food wrappers, bottles and other trash is illegal and may result in a fine. It is the responsibility of all people spending time outdoors to be good environmental stewards and clean up after themselves
. Learn more about responsible recreation. Wear hunter orange Nov. 15-30, deer hunters, including those using archery equipment, are required by law to wear caps, hats, vests, jackets or raincoats of hunter orange . The orange must be worn on the outermost layer of clothing at all times and visible from all directions, regardless of whether hunters are on private or shared public land, even if hunting from within a blind . Hunter orange garments may have a camouflage pattern as long as the pattern is at least 50% hunter orange. The DNR recommends wearing as much hunter orange as possible to increase visibility to other hunters. Dont worry; hunter orange does not deter deer
. Know, follow baiting regulations Deer baiting and feeding are banned in the entire Lower Peninsula. In the Upper Peninsula, baiting may occur from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1 . Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed 2 gallons. Bait must be spread on the ground and in an area that measures a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet or its equivalent . Mechanical spin-cast feeders are legal to use provided the feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed. On commercial forest land, bait must be brought in each night, unless the landowner has given permission . Use bait sparingly to help curb the spread of diseases like bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease
. Hunt in season, during legal hours During firearm season, a hunter may legally shoot game starting 30 minutes before local sunrise and until 30 minutes after local sunset . Anyone who witnesses or suspects hunting outside of legal hours should immediately call or text the DNRs Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Fast reporting makes it more likely that a conservation officer will identify the suspect . Respect other hunters Michigan law prohibits anyone from obstructing or interfering with the lawful taking of animals. Hunter harassment when a person or organization intentionally sabotages another hunters quality opportunity to take game is a misdemeanor offense . Examples include spraying repellent around a hunters blind, creating loud noises and/or barriers that prevent or deter a hunter or game from accessing an area, or destroying other hunters equipment such as trail cameras and blinds . Anyone who feels targeted by hunter harassment or who witnesses a natural resource violation should immediately call or text the Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously . Monetary rewards may be offered for information that leads to the prosecution of violators. For more information on the firearm deer season, hunting safety, lands open to hunting, hunting regulations and more, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting . The 2025 Michigan deer hunting preview also is available. Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve.