The quiet period before hunting season begins

What's happening: As of Sunday, November 10, the state is in its “quiet period” for deer hunting, a move that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says will help bolster a successful deer harvest. The quiet period will end on the start of firearm hunting season on Friday, November 15. The quiet period is meant to help deer habitats return to a more natural state before the hunt, promoting the best conservation practices. Deer population in Michigan is estimated at 2 million animals in both peninsulas, with 347,008 deer harvested in 2023.

Not completely quiet: While firearm hunting for deer is prohibited during the quiet period, there are still other hunting seasons ongoing that could disrupt the natural state. Small game like grouse, rabbit, waterfowl and fox are still open for certain firearms, while trappers hunting for fur-bearing animals can also use small caliber firearms while checking traplines. Firearms not used for hunting, but to protect against predators, may also disrupt the quiet period on public lands as homeowners make one last push to harvest trees for wood-heated homes. 

What they're saying: “Hunters know that they are on the cusp of another Michigan firearm deer season once we enter into the five-day quiet period,” said Capt. Pete Wright, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “Those critical days create a window of time, just before the opener, when hunters can catch their breath, and the woods have a chance to calm. This period is like pushing a reset button, allowing deer to settle back into their day-to-day patterns, which in turn increases the chances of a successful hunt.”

What's next: Thousands of hunters will head to camps and public lands across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, traveling just down the road or hundreds of miles to try and get the big one. The influx of people provides an economic boost for Michigan’s most rural communities; hunters shop at local stores, eat at restaurants, connect with local artisans for holiday gifts for family and participate in fundraising events to benefit local non-profit efforts.