With rifle in hand and the woods calling, hunters across Michigan are feverishly setting up their outposts for the highly anticipated firearm deer season set to kick off on November 15. But before they can officially aim to bag a buck, there's a mandatory timeout enforced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Starting Sunday, November 10, all hunters are to observe a five-day "quiet period" — no ifs, ands, or buts.
During this period, it's illegal to openly transport or carry a rifle or shotgun loaded with the deer hunter's ammo of choice: buckshot, slug, ball load, or cut shell, in areas where deer roam. Guns can still travel, but only if they're either properly encased or stowed away in your car's trunk, according to official statements from the Michigan DNR. This pre-hunt hiatus is meant to set the stage for an idyllic opener, aiming to give woodland critters a chance to settle, before the season's onslaught begins.
"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, from the DNR Law Enforcement Division. He continued, "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," as mentioned in a Michigan DNR press release.
Now, this temporary ban doesn't mean that all hunting grinds to a screeching halt. Small game, waterfowl, and fur harvesters are still allowed to carry on as usual, provided their firearms are applicable to the prey and season — read: no buckshot, slugs, ball loads, or cut shells. Small game and waterfowl can to be hunted with shotguns equipped with shotshells, and fur harvesters are limited to rimfire firearms of .22-caliber or smaller. For a refresher on the Do's and Don'ts, hunters should check the 2024 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary. And should any shady business arise, like poaching or trespassing, concerned citizens are urged to contact the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800.