Michigan and Ontario implement deer management and surveillance

In Michigan, the 2025 archery harvest report indicates a heavy trend toward antlered deer harvests across 83 counties. Most counties reported more antlered than antlerless deer, reflecting a pattern the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aims to address. To create a more balanced herd, the DNR will implement a ‘One-Buck Rule’ in the Lower Peninsula starting in 2027, encouraging hunters to prioritize antlerless tags to allow young bucks to reach maturity.

In Ontario, the provincial government is requesting that hunters submit samples from harvested white-tailed deer aged one year or older to support chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance. Targeted surveillance is focused on southern Ontario, from Niagara to Guelph, and eastern Ontario, including Kingston, Perth, and Brockville.

While CWD has not been detected in Ontario wildlife, it is present in all bordering Canadian provinces and U.S. states. The ministry offers several ways to submit samples, including freezer depots, wildlife technicians, or participating taxidermists and butchers. Officials note that the disease does not pose a risk to human health.