MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DEER TRACKING IN MICHIGAN

Michigan offers extremely varied wounded-deer tracking conditions, ranging from agricultural country and fragmented woodlots in the southern Lower Peninsula to large forests, cedar swamps, wetlands and remote terrain farther north. Michigan DNR describes deer habitat in many agricultural areas as a mixture of cropland, forests, shrubland and wetlands, while the state also manages millions of acres of public land across both peninsulas.

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Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula can present an entirely different tracking environment. Large blocks of forest, dense conifer cover, swamps, uneven terrain and snow can make conventional blood tracking difficult, while long distances between roads can make recovering a wounded deer considerably more demanding.

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Trained tracking dogs give hunters another recovery option when visible blood becomes sparse or disappears. Rather than depending only on visible blood, an experienced tracking dog can follow scent associated with the individual wounded deer and continue working through leaves, snow, standing crops, wetlands, creek crossings and other difficult terrain.

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Size and Impact

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Some publicly available Michigan deer hunting statistics include:

• Approximately 600,000 hunters purchased about 1.3 million Michigan deer tags during the 2025 season, according to preliminary Michigan DNR reporting.

• Michigan reported more than 231,000 deer harvested during the 2025 season in preliminary Midwest comparisons compiled by the DNR.

• ​Michigan provides deer hunting opportunities through archery, Liberty, Independence, early antlerless firearm, regular firearm, December firearm and late antlerless seasons, with specific opportunities varying by region and deer management unit.

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Michigan Tracking Dog Regulations

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Michigan specifically allows dogs to locate wounded deer, elk and bear under Section 2.1a of the Michigan Wildlife Conservation Order.

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Unlike many states that require tracking dogs to remain physically leashed, Michigan allows a tracking dog to work either on lead or off lead. When working off lead, the tracker must know the dog’s location and be able to demonstrate a method of controlling the dog.

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Anyone using a dog to track wounded game must register with Michigan DNR and receive a dog-tracking permit before conducting a track. The permit expires on December 31 of the second year after it is issued. Trackers must be at least 18 years old.

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The tracker must also log every tracking activity with the state. Required information must be submitted before the track begins, and the tracker must report the conclusion of the track within 12 hours after ending the tracking activity or dispatching a mortally wounded animal.

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The licensed hunter who wounded the deer must accompany the registered tracker, and only that hunter may dispatch and tag the animal.

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Why Michigan Allows Tracking Dogs

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Michigan generally prohibits using dogs to hunt deer, but the Wildlife Conservation Order creates a specific exception allowing trained dogs to locate deer that are already wounded.

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This distinction allows hunters to make a responsible effort to recover wounded animals without permitting dogs to freely hunt or pursue healthy deer. Tracking dogs can continue following an individual animal’s scent after visible blood disappears beneath leaves, snow, standing crops, swamp vegetation or other ground cover.

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Michigan expanded its tracking rules in 2023 to allow qualified handlers to work dogs off lead when they can demonstrate knowledge of the dog’s location and a method of controlling it. The DNR concluded that GPS and remote-control technology could help trackers locate wounded game more efficiently while maintaining handler control.

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The permit and reporting system also gives Michigan DNR information about tracking activity while clearly separating legal wounded-game recovery from conventional deer hunting with dogs.

Certification and Training

Michigan requires anyone using a dog to track wounded game to obtain a Michigan DNR dog-tracking permit, including hunters using their own dogs. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must receive the permit before beginning a track.

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Michigan does not currently require a state-administered blood-tracking certification test for the handler or dog. The current Wildlife Conservation Order instead focuses on registration, reporting, control of the dog, accompaniment by the licensed hunter and compliance with weapon and property-access requirements.

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Some Michigan handlers voluntarily train or test their dogs through blood-tracking organizations such as United Blood Trackers or the American Blood Trackers Association.

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Formal third-party certification is not required by Michigan law, so hunters may also want to consider a tracker's experience, number of completed tracks, service area, availability, equipment, reviews and the experience of the individual dog when selecting a recovery team.

TRAKR in Michigan

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At this time, Michigan does not have an official statewide TRAKR Network.​

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Hunters can still use the TRAKR app to submit a tracking request and notify available tracking dog handlers who provide service in their area.

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If you’re a Michigan tracking dog handler interested in helping hunters recover wounded deer, TRAKR is actively expanding across the United States and welcomes experienced recovery teams.