Michigan’s 2023 regular firearm deer season concluded on November 30, leaving many area hunters empty-handed.

This season closed with a final tally of 361 deer taken in Alger County, down sharply from the 455 reported in 2022. Over half of this year’s total were shot within five days of the November 15 opener.

Activity began trailing off by the second week of the season. Hunters report that deer became more active at night and in the waning minutes of dusk, appearing on trail cameras well after shooting light had faded.

Overall, this year saw both a decline in the amount of deer killed, and the number of hunters participating in the harvest. A warm opening weekend, low pressure from hunters, and less daytime movement appear to have all contributed.