OUTDOORSMEN are in for a major change to a key rule this season that will ease restrictions from years past.
Hunters in one US state will now be able to use any and all legal firearms when targeting one species starting in just weeks.
Hunters have more choices for targeting one species than ever before thanks to the latest changesCredit: GettyMichigan’s coming deer hunting season will allow hunters to use any legal firearm when targeting the cervid speciesCredit: Getty
From September 12 on, which is the start of the Liberty Hunt and Early Antlerless Firearm season, hunters can use any and all legal guns to target deer.
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This includes bottleneck cartridges, which offer higher velocities and ranges as well as better trajectories than straight-walled cartridges thanks to their design.
The change notably unifies firearms standards for hunting in the state’s Lower Peninsula, making the lives of both hunters and conservation officers easier.
The DNR has also revised the December seasons by replacing the muzzleloader season with the December firearm deer season, which runs from December 4 through 6.
It has also eliminated the extended January antlerless and archery seasons, with the late antlerless firearm season now running from December 7 through January 1.
These changes will both help reduce late firearm pressure on bucks while letting hunters still target does, and reduce conflicts with bear hunters using dogs and the Youth Waterfowl Weekend hunting event.
Meanwhile, in New York, a first-time change has been made to deer hunting rules by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
Hunters can now bag two bucks per season, up from one, if they first hunt one buck and bag a doe before targeting their second antlered deer.
By reporting the doe kill to the DEC, they can receive a second buck tag to use for another kill, but they could be asked to provide proof of their doe kill.
If they can’t do so and are found to be falsifying their claim or skip killing a doe altogether, they’re liable to be hit with up to $2,000 in fines from the state.
The DEC made this rule change to combat a booming whitetail deer population statewide, which is wreaking havoc on both the state’s woods and in its populated areas.