Michigan deer hunters have to report their harvests online; how many have been reported?

The Department of Natural Resources announced its new mandatory deer harvest reporting database earlier this year. What does it mean for hunters in St. Clair and Sanilac counties and how many deer have been reported so far?

Under the new mandatory reporting law, hunters must report a harvested deer to the DNR within 72 hours. The purpose of the new reporting system is to better track deer population and management. The penalty for not reporting is still being debated, according to DNR deer specialist Chad Stewart.

“Right now, the penalty is classified as a misdemeanor, but a lot of people are supportive of it being changed to a civil infraction,” he said.

Since it’s the first year the law is in place, Stewart said law enforcement has been told to educate hunters rather that enforce it. Stewart said the likelihood of a hunter being penalized this year is very low.

As of Thursday morning, hunters in St. Clair County have reported 2,087 deer, while Sanilac County hunters reported 2,109. For the entire state, more than 94,400 deer have been reported.

Before the new reporting system, the DNR would send out a collection of deer report surveys to a random number of hunters. Stewart said around 10% of registered hunters would receive the surveys. He said over the last few years, participation in the surveys has dramatically decreased, making them inaccurate.

“We’ve gone from a participation rate of 75% in 2002 to less than 35% for last year,” he said. “That means the range for the data is broader, so we have less confidence in its accuracy.”

Additionally, the surveys would be mailed out. Stewart said the DNR would still be receiving responses in January. The new reporting system provides the DNR more data faster than before.

The DNR will still send out the surveys because it will also allow them to see any similarity between the survey participation and the new reporting system’s participation rates. The DNR has a way of preventing multiple reports for the same deer.

“Once a deer is reported, the hunter will receive a confirmation number,” Stewart said. “That way each deer has a different number dedicated to it.”

Stewart said the reaction he’s seen from hunters is mixed. While some are supportive of the new law, others don’t see it as necessary. Lapeer resident and vice president of the Michigan Bow Hunters Association, Bob Jones said he understands the benefits of the new reporting law. However, his personal opinion of it is mixed.

“I think it gives the DNR the best, most reliable information,” Jones said. “I’m personally not in favor of the 72-hour time limit that it has because it makes reporting difficult for people at deer camp.”

Additionally, Jones said he thinks the current fines attached to the new law are harsh. However, he is not in complete favor of removing the penalty.

“I have respect for the DNR, and people shouldn’t violate the established law,” Jones said.

Lester Gates, a district governor for the Michigan Bow Hunter's Association, said in an email that the issue has been tossed around for years, and it keeps getting more complicated. He believes the law goes too far with requiring hunters to pinpoint the location of where the deer was taken. To make it simpler, Gates suggested each hunter is given a quota each season, where they can fill in the tag and check it in later on.

"I don’t know that many hunters that take a laptop in the field or have that great of service to spend five minutes online on a phone," said Gates, whose district encompasses the Blue Water Area.

Stewart said the person reporting the deer does not have to be the licensed hunter. As long as someone is reporting the deer for the area it was bagged, the data is usable. Stewart said DNR staff will be available throughout firearm season to assist in reporting as well.

Hunters can report their deer through the DNR website or through the harvest reporting app, Michigan DNR. The app can be downloaded through IOS or Google Play.

Firearm season for deer hunting begins on Nov. 15.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.