Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette A doe and her fawn are seen in this 2024 file photo, taken in a residential area of West Houghton.

BARAGA — Preliminary numbers from Michigan’s recently completed firearm deer seasons show the 2025 harvest is down from a year ago. Michigan’s statewide firearm deer harvest is down about 5% from a year ago with local counties reporting decreases from 31 to 1.5%.

According to the Michigan DNR, total number of deer taken, based on hunter’s reporting numbers, is 246,079 as of Wednesday. That number breaks down to 147,207 antlered deer, and 98,824 anterless deer. That compares to 299,514 deer taken in 2024, with 157,271 antlered and 142,204 antler less.

In the four-county area, Ontonagon County recording the highest number of deer harvested at 689 with 81 anter less deer reported. The total number is 72 less than a year ago, or 1.5% decrease. Houghton County hunters reported 555 antlered and 174 anter less for a total of 729 compared with last year’s 942 total, a decrease of about 31%

in Baraga County 537 deer were taken in total, compared with 552 last year, a drop of only 7%. Keweenaw County reported 113 deer taken compared with 161. last season, a drop of nearly 30%.

All of the numbers are preliminary, as some hunters may be late in registering a harvest through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ online system. These figures represent all hunting seasons with a reminder the muzzle loading season continues through Sunday.

According to reporting by the Iron Mt. Daily News, reports from the DNR indicate that deer movement during the firearm season was likely affected by off-and-on strong winds. The deer that were harvested were healthy, officials said.