Firearm Deer Season Opens Saturday; Get Smartphone App to Check Deer

With the firearm deer hunting season opening Saturday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources encourages hunters to stop by a DNR deer check station after their successful harvest for DNR staff to collect important data from their deer and to receive their 2014 cooperator patch.

A deer head (antlers must still be attached on bucks) or entire carcass must be presented to receive a patch. Data the DNR collects at check stations contributes key information to aid in management decisions made throughout the state.

As part of continued efforts to be mobile-friendly, the DNR now has made it easier to find locations to check deer. Smartphone users now can text “Deer Check” to 468311 and they will receive a text back with a link to the DNR’s interactive deer check station locator map.

Hunters can utilize their smartphone’s GPS function to find the deer-check location closest to them and then get turn-by-turn directions to that location to have their deer checked.

For questions on hunting and firearm rules and regulations, please contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453