Michigan Deer Harvest Reporting: How to Report Your Deer

AvatarByArthur Cook Harvesting

Michigan deer harvest reporting is mandatory: you must report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer, whichever comes first, under Michigan DNR requirements. You can report online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Here’s how to submit your report and save your confirmation.

What Michigan Deer Harvest Reporting Requires

Harvest reporting records your successful deer harvest with the DNR. Older instructions describing reporting as optional do not reflect the current requirement.

The transfer deadline is especially important. Giving the deer to another person, dropping it off at a processor, or taking it to a taxidermist can make your report due before the time limit would otherwise expire.

For example, if you take a deer to a processor on the day of the hunt, complete the report before handing it over, not after you get home. The requirement concerns transferring possession, not just whether you intend to keep the venison.

Reporting also produces a confirmation number. That number is your proof of reporting; your hunting license number and kill tag license number serve different purposes.

How to Report a Michigan Deer Harvest

Allow about three to five minutes to complete the report, the DNR’s estimated completion time. Gathering your tag and harvest details first makes the process easier.

Step 1: Gather Your Tag and Harvest Details

  1. Find the kill tag license number associated with this deer. If you used a paper tag, a clear photo can provide a convenient reference while you enter the report.
  2. Have your date of birth available. You’ll use it with the tag number to start a direct online report.
  3. Gather the harvest information. Have the harvest date, season, and hunting location ready. Be prepared to identify the county, deer management unit, whether the deer was antlered or antlerless, and antler-point information where requested.

If you have more than one deer tag, take care to identify the one used for the deer you are reporting. Don’t choose a different tag simply because it appears first in your account.

Choose your starting route before opening the form:

Your Situation Best Starting Point
You have the kill tag license number and your date of birth Direct online harvest report
You need to locate tags available to report Your eLicense account
You prefer to report through a phone app Michigan DNR Hunt Fish

Step 2: Open the Harvest Reporting Form

  1. Open one reporting route: the direct online report, eLicense, or Michigan DNR Hunt Fish. For a direct online report, go to Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport and enter your kill tag license number and date of birth to begin. For eLicense, sign in using your driver’s license and birthdate, or your user ID and password. Select the Harvest Report tab to see the tags available to report. If you don’t have an existing eLicense account, you can create one. To use the mobile app, open Michigan DNR Hunt Fish and use its harvest-reporting option. The app is available through Google Play for Android devices and the Apple App Store.
  2. Confirm your selection before continuing.

Finding a tag in your account is only the starting point. You still need to complete and submit the harvest information.

Step 3: Complete and Submit the Report

  1. Enter the requested harvest information. Use the actual hunting location, not your home address or the address of the processor receiving the deer.
  2. Review the entries before submitting. Pay particular attention to the tag, harvest date, location, and deer information.
  3. Submit the report promptly rather than leaving it unfinished for later.

If another person is helping, the report must use the successful hunter’s information, not the helper’s license or birthdate.

Step 4: Save the Confirmation Number

  1. Wait for the confirmation number to appear. Don’t close the page immediately after selecting the submission button.
  2. Write down the number or save a readable screenshot. Keep it somewhere you can retrieve without depending on a page remaining open.
  3. Keep the number available with the deer’s records. Anyone possessing the deer after the reporting timeframe expires should be able to present it.
  4. Pass the confirmation number to the person receiving the deer. This includes a processor, taxidermist, or another individual.

Saving the confirmation completes the reporting task and preserves proof that it was submitted. A confirmation number does not replace applicable tagging or transfer-documentation requirements.

Electronic Deer Tags and Reporting in 2026

Tag validation and harvest-report confirmation are separate things to verify.

New for 2026, eHarvest tags provide an electronic harvest-tagging option for deer under Michigan DNR’s deer hunting regulations.

Validating an eHarvest Tag in the Field

An eHarvest tag can be validated with or without cell service. That offline capability applies to tag validation; don’t assume that an online harvest report has reached the DNR simply because you could validate the tag in the field.

Use the harvest confirmation number as your evidence that reporting is complete.

Attaching a Durable Tag to an Unattended Deer

When using an eHarvest tag, if the deer is no longer personally attended, securely attach a tag made of durable material with the license number written in permanent ink.

A durable tag is not required when the deer is:

  • Stored at the hunter’s primary residence.
  • Transferred directly to a processor or taxidermist.

Getting Help With Deer Harvest Reporting

Lack of a smartphone does not prevent you from reporting: the online reporting route also works on a computer. If internet access or the form itself is a problem, arrange help promptly rather than assuming the deadline is extended.

Help From a Family Member or Friend

A family member or friend may submit the online report for you. Give that person:

  • Your kill tag license number.
  • Your date of birth.
  • Your harvest details and hunting-location information.

Ask the helper to send you the confirmation number when the report is complete. Having someone enter the information is useful only if the report is actually submitted.

Help From Michigan DNR

Call the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 for reporting assistance during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also contact a local DNR customer service center.

Have the relevant records ready when you call. If you encountered a technical problem, note what happened and any error message so you can explain it clearly.

Use this assistance route if you:

  • Cannot access the report or locate the appropriate tag.
  • Submitted information but never received a confirmation.
  • Discover that a submitted report contains an error.
  • Need help completing an overdue report.

Don’t create a second report merely to obtain another confirmation number.

Check Your Report Before Handing Over the Deer

Before leaving for a processor, taxidermist, or another recipient, make a brief final check:

  • Correct deer: The report corresponds to the tag used for this harvest.
  • Correct details: The date, location, and deer information reflect the actual harvest.
  • Readable confirmation: Your saved number is complete and accessible.
  • Recipient informed: The person taking possession has the confirmation number.

For your next hunt, make sure you can access your preferred reporting route before you head into the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Have to Report a Deer I Process Myself?

Yes. Processing the deer yourself does not exempt a successful harvest from reporting. Submit the report within 72 hours or before transferring possession, whichever comes first, even if you intend to keep all the venison.

Do I Need to Report if I Didn’t Harvest a Deer?

No. Mandatory deer harvest reporting is for successful harvests, not unsuccessful hunting trips. Simply hunting without taking a deer does not create a deer harvest to report.

Does a Deer Check or Disease Test Replace the Harvest Report?

No. Having a deer checked or submitting a sample for disease testing does not replace the required harvest report. Complete the reporting process and retain its confirmation number even if you also participate in disease testing.

Where Can I Find Michigan’s Reported Deer Harvest Totals?

On the Michigan DNR harvest-reporting webpage, select View reported deer totals. Reported harvest totals are not a count of the living deer population. A county with a high reported harvest does not necessarily have the most deer, so don’t use that ranking alone to identify Michigan’s highest-population county.

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Arthur Cook

Meet Arthur Cook, the heart and soul behind Plant4Harvest.com. Arthur’s story is deeply rooted in the rich soil of a small American town, where the horizon is wide, and the values of hard work and connection to the land run deep. Born and raised in the quaint town of Elkmont, Alabama, Arthur’s journey in agriculture began in the sprawling fields of his family’s farm, a stone’s throw away from the Tennessee border.

Arthur’s thirst for agricultural knowledge led him to Auburn University, where he majored in Agricultural Science. During his college years, Arthur dedicated his summers to working on local farms, gaining practical experience in modern farming techniques. His academic and real-world experiences combined to give him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in American agriculture.

Arthur Cook is more than just a farmer; he is an advocate for sustainable agriculture and a mentor to the next generation of farmers. Through Plant4Harvest.com, he continues to inspire, educate, and engage with a community of individuals who share his love for the land and commitment to preserving it for future generations.