Michigan hunters enter a five-day quiet period before the Nov. 15 opener, designed to reset deer patterns and improve hunting success.
Quiet Period Begins as Hunters Prepare for Firearm Deer Season
As the eagerly awaited firearm deer season opener approaches on Friday, Nov. 15, hunters throughout Michigan are preparing their stands, blinds, and camps. However, from Sunday, Nov. 10, to Thursday, Nov. 14, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will enforce the state’s five-day quiet period, which has become a critical tradition for hunters and wildlife alike.
This period, designed to give deer time to settle back into natural patterns before the hunting season begins, prohibits hunters—unless they are hunting small game, waterfowl, or engaged in fur harvesting—from transporting or possessing certain firearms within areas frequented by deer. Rifles and shotguns loaded with buckshot, slug loads, ball loads, or cut shells are not allowed during this window, though unloaded firearms can be transported in secure cases or trunks to or from camps.
DNR Law Enforcement Division Capt. Pete Wright emphasized the importance of the quiet period, likening it to pressing a “reset button” for the state’s deer population. “This brief pause gives deer a chance to settle into their normal routines, boosting hunters’ chances of success when the season officially opens,” Wright said.
Exceptions and Allowed Firearm Use During Quiet Period
While deer hunters are temporarily restricted, small game or waterfowl hunters, as well as fur harvesters, are still allowed to carry appropriate firearms within specific limits. Small game and waterfowl hunters may use shotguns with shotshells for their pursuits but cannot carry buckshot, slugs, ball loads, or cut shells during this time. Fur harvesters may carry rimfire firearms, such as .22-caliber or smaller, if they are actively hunting or checking traplines.
This regulatory framework aims to strike a balance between hunting traditions, public safety, and wildlife conservation, ensuring that the state’s robust hunting culture thrives alongside sound wildlife management practices.
Reminder to Observe Regulations and Report Violations
Hunters are encouraged to review the 2024 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary to stay informed about all hunting rules and guidelines. The DNR urges everyone to report any natural resource violations, including trespassing or illegal use of firearms, to the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800.
Your Turn – Like This, or Hate it – We Want To Hear From You
Please offer an insightful and thoughtful comment. Idiotic, profane, or threatening comments are eliminated without remorse. Consider sharing this story. Follow us to have other feature stories fill up your Newsbreak feed from ThumbWind Publications.
