An eight-point whitetail buck is silhouetted against a pewter sky at Buck Pole Ranch, Nov. 4, 1997. (AP Photo)

By BUD SARGENT

Journal Managing Editor

L’ANSE — Michigan bow and firearm deer hunters will enter the woods under changed rules this coming fall.

That’s because the Natural Resources Commision, the policy-making arm of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, voted changes to the rules and regulations that govern whitetail hunting in the state, according to Jordan Hoover, commission chairman of the Upper Peninsula Deer Advisory Team.

“There have been growing concerns about the doe to buck (ratio),” said Hoover. “There are too many doe and not enough bucks. We have to have a better balance.”

Hoover said the following bulleted points sum up the NRC action:

≤ Archery doe tag option restored to Superior Watershed, where it had been absent for the last 10 years. Any Upper Peninsula county that touches Lake Superior is considered a part of the Superior Watershed

≤ Late archery season restored to Jan 1st end date. Last year, thr ending date was changed to Dec. 10.

≤ Liberty and Independance hunts will retain buck harvest opportunity.

≤ Educational initiative included in hunter safety on the importance of harvesting antlerless deer.

Additional infortmation on the NRC action can be found at https://www.mucc.org/may-2025-nrc-recap.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net