Hunting female deer: A better population management strategy
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EmailMost farmers enjoy the wildlife that resides on their farms. However, when deer numbers become extremely high, crop damage and the associated yield losses from deer are greater than many producers are willing to tolerate.
Most farmers enjoy the wildlife that resides on their operations. However, when deer numbers become exceedingly high, as they have across much of southern Michigan, crop damage and the associated yield losses from deer are greater than many producers are willing to tolerate. Specialty crops, seed corn and vegetable production are especially vulnerable to deer damage. With recent declines in the number of hunters and more things competing for everyone's time these days, controlling the deer population and associated crop damage has become a serious challenge for farmers.
In southern Michigan, over the past 40 years, deer population has exploded, increasing nearly 500% from 200,000 to a million deer according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) paper, “Population Biology, Abundance, and Management History of Michigan White-tailed Deer.” Adding to the problem, Michigan has seen a significant decline in the number of deer hunters, with license sales dropping from around 871,865 in 1995 to about 594,348 in 2023, representing a decrease of over 30% according to the MDNR 2024 deer survey report.
The key to lowering deer populations down to manageable levels lies in the removal of female deer. The MDNR has increased the opportunities for doe removal through early and late antlerless seasons expanded to Jan. 11, 2025, in certain counties with excessive deer populations. Producers working to lower deer populations in their fields have found that expanded hunting seasons are critical in reducing the total number of female deer over the course of the year.
A few other suggestions from crop producers that have had success in reducing deer damage:
- Choose successful hunters whose goal is to harvest does, not bucks.
- Allow a single lead hunter to manage others that will be hunting in the fields to increase success and reduce landowners’ stress and time commitment.
- Control the trespassing problem. Having a few good hunters is a safer situation than an uncontrolled hunting access program.
- Tie the right to hunt trophy bucks on the farm to the successful harvest of does. Example: Five does harvested per buck or you will not be asked back next year.
- If you lease farmland hunting rights out to others, make sure you include doe hunting requirements (5-10 females removed per male harvested).
- Stress the importance of harvesting does, not young bucks. Young bucks are easy victims in the doe hunt. Hunters who cannot differentiate does from button bucks (male fawns less than a year old) are not meeting your goals. Read to the end of article for tips to distinguish does from button bucks.
- Raised hunting stands in areas frequented by deer provide more time to determine males from females, allow two or more hunters to coordinate shots, and often increase the number of days hunters are willing to hunt.
Antlerless deer licenses are available to individual hunters in designated areas to reduce population and may be used on private land with the permission and phone number of the landowner. Starting in 2024, antlerless deer licenses purchase by a hunter may be used on designated public hunting land in some areas.
The 2024 early antlerless seasons account for almost 3,400 harvested deer. Early antlerless seasons not only allow more total days for doe removal but also provide a chance to hunt female deer before they become leery. An early antlerless deer firearm season is scheduled for Sept. 21-22, 2025, on both public and private lands. Antlerless deer hunting season varies by date and zone in which your land lies.
An extended late antlerless season will run from Jan. 2-11, 2026. A discounted antlerless license for this extended season will be available for $5 per license with a limit of 10 per hunter. These extended late antlerless season licenses do not count toward the purchase limit of 10 universal antlerless deer licenses per hunter. Details of extended late antlerless season are found on page 26 in the “2025 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary.”
In many areas of deer overpopulation, Michigan hunters will be able to use firearms to hunt antlerless deer from Nov. 15, 2025, through Jan. 11, 2026, except for the Dec. 1-5, 2025, rest period between the traditional gun season and the muzzleloading season. The list of legal weapons used to hunt antlerless deer is dictated by the seasonal requirements and will not differ from the deer hunting regulation. Read the full set of rules and changes in the Michigan Hunting Regulations Summary. Make sure you, and the hunters you work with, read and take advantage of the additional seasons and hunting options to remove enough female deer to help lower the population in areas exhibiting deer crop losses.
Michigan Deer Management Assistance Permits (DMAP) are available to landowners suffering crop damage. The DMAP program offers antlerless deer permits that can be used during the available deer hunting seasons. The advantage of the DMAP system is that the landowner controls the permits. These permits are purchased by the landowner in sets of five and can be moved from one hunter to another until filled. Applications for the Michigan DMAP program can be obtained by contacting your local MDNR office. A list of offices and contact information can be found at the MDNR website.
Deer Damage Shooting Permits are issued by local DNR field offices for crop damage. Permits are only valid outside of deer hunting season within a specified period determined by the local Wildlife Division (WLD) staff. Only antlerless deer can be taken unless specified in the permit. The local staff may make a site visit prior to issuing kill tags to assess the extent of the damage. Individuals who use these permits may keep the harvested deer or donate it, but above all, the carcass must not go to waste. If you have deer damage to crops outside of regular hunting seasons, contact your local DNR office for more information.
For both DMAP and Deer Damage Shooting Permits, hunters are required to have a valid Michigan deer hunting licenses. During the spring and summer Deer Damage Shooting Permits time period, MDNR has provided refrigerated trailers to cooperating farms in a southwestern Michigan program allowing for deer carcass collection at a centralized location resulting in venison for local food pantry use. Hunters harvest and field dress deer as normal then store them in the refrigerated trailers for collection. Contact your local MDNR office to see if the refrigerated trailer or venison donation program are available in your area.
For deer hunting programs that operate during the provided fall and early winter deer hunting season, it is the responsibility of the landowner and hunter to devise a plan to process and utilize the harvested deer even if there are no refrigerated trailers or venison donation programs available. The cost of commercially processing deer can exceed $100 per carcass in some areas, justifying a well laid-out plan to find families or organizations that will take the responsibility of utilizing the carcass. Contact your local MDNR office to see if the refrigerated trailer/donate venison program is available in your area.
Northern Indiana crop producers are suffering crop damage due to deer much like Michigan producers. Indiana Department of Natural Resources has an equivalent antlerless deer hunting program to curb deer populations.
Crop damage will continue to increase with increased deer populations, hence the need to harvest does. Removing button bucks has not been shown to reduce future deer populations in the area. If you have unacceptable levels of crop damage, your goal should be to harvest the does and let young bucks grow. Unfortunately, in 2023, almost all Michigan counties harvested more bucks than does. Changing hunters’ attitudes toward harvesting does is key to curbing the deer population.
Successfully identifying and removing female deer without also harvesting a young antlerless buck is challenging but achievable. Several groups of hunters have achieved over a 90% female rate for antlerless permits over the past five or more years.
It may be difficult to differentiate between does and fawn bucks, unless you know exactly what to look for. The New York State DNR offers the following hunting tips to help hunters differentiate between button bucks and does. Further information can be found at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Button bucks often travel alone, but adult does rarely do. Wait until several antlerless deer are present before making a harvest decision.
- Comparing multiple deer at the same time can help with identification.
- It is easier to identify sex and age when animals are standing still or moving slowly.
- Harvest antlerless deer early in the season when differences between fawns and adult females are most noticeable.
- A spotting scope, binoculars or rifle scope with adequate magnification makes determining the sex and age deer more reliable.
Managing the deer herd at proper levels can help reduce car-deer accidents, making the rural roads safer. It can also help maintain deer herd health by reducing the spread of diseases that often are responsible for large die-offs that have occurred. Effective management of the deer herd size is a critical component of maintaining the resource for the enjoyment and safety of the public, sportsmen and farmers. Articles by Michigan State University Fisheries and Wildlife professor Sonja Christensen, “Ask the Expert: Diseases Threaten Deer Populations”, and from Michigan State University Extension natural resource educator Katie Ockert, “Look for signs of illness in deer,” explain deer disease and deer removal.
