deer

Happy 2025 Back into the Woods Day!

Posted on December 1, 2025 by farlane

Winter ... a step at a time by Ken Scott

Longtime readers know that “Back Into the Woods Day” is one of the invented Michigan holidays we celebrate on Michigan in Pictures. It’s an annual December 1st holiday that celebrates the end of firearm deer hunting season & the return of (mostly) gun free hiking trails.

Today’s photo is from Leelanau photographer Ken Scott, and I’d like to be sure to highlight his 2026 “Best of the Back Pages” Calendar that features some of his great photos from the back page of the weekly Leelanau Enterprise. See a few more below including these amazing snowy owl tracks and many in Ken’s massive snow gallery on Flickr.

Click for more Michigan photo calendars from photographers we feature on Michigan in Pictures!

Michigan Deer Hunting Season opens Saturday

Posted on November 14, 2025November 14, 2025 by farlane

Opening Day of Bow Season… by Kevin Povenz

Opening Day is Michigan’s largest unofficial holiday, generating a big chunk of the $2.3 billion dollars that hunting in Michigan brings in according to Pure Michigan. UpNorth Live shares that the 2025 Michigan deer hunting season starts tomorrow (Saturday, November 15) and runs through the 30th. They highlight the DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program that lets hunters to donate deer to food pantries. Collection events happen November 21-23 and January 3-4. You can get all the info at the link!

Kevin took this 10 years ago. You can see his talent for wildlife photography in his excellent Animals gallery on Flickr.

Much more about Michigan’s state mammal the Whitetailed deer on Michigan in Pictures!

Look out, it’s Deer Season in Michigan!

Posted on November 15, 2024 by farlane

Wheat Bucks by Andrew I

Michigan Firearm Deer Season started today and runs through November 30th. It’s definitely a time for bright orange outdoors & to know whether or not the place you’re walking is open to hunting.

Back in 2008, Andrew caught this relatable picture of two young bucks in summer velvet watching a doe & this one of a velvetless buck in fall. See more in Andrew’s Whitetailed Deer gallery on Flickr.

The “velvet” on antlers is a fine layer of hairs that help the buck sense branches & other things that might bruise the antler while it is growing. Here’s another pic from Andrew of a velvetless stag in the fall!

No Velvet by Andrew I

Happy Back Into the Woods Day 2021

Posted on December 1, 2021 by farlane

Deer by David Marvin

While I have yet to get any elected officials on board with an official holiday declaration, I will once again wish all of you a very happy Back Into the Woods Day!

As longtime Michpics readers know, Back Into the Woods Day celebrates the end of Michigan’s annual firearm deer season making most of the state’s wild places off limits. Here’s hoping you get a chance to get outside this week or weekend … and that you see some of our many forest friends while you’re there!!

David took this photo last weekend at the Fenner Nature Center. Head over to his Flickr for more.

Belle Isle Bambi

Posted on November 19, 2021 by farlane

Deep Thoughts & Work Comps by Cave Canem

Reaching all the way back to November of 2007 for a sweet shot from one of my favorite photographers & Michigan in Pictures fans, Cave Canem. He no longer lives in Michigan, but regularly shares photos from other photographers in our Facebook group. Check out more in his My Belle Isle gallery & have a great weekend!

Celebrate Michigan Photo Contest underway

Posted on June 4, 2020 by farlane

a Belle Isle deer by Race Bannon

The Detroit News Celebrate Michigan Photo Contest rewards outstanding photos of Michigan, its people and animals, with nine prizes of as much as $300 doled out at the end of the summer:

Each week, judges from the Detroit News photo staff will select 4 photo finalists, 16 total in each category over the entire contest period. At the end of the contest, The Detroit News photo staff judges will select one winner in each category. One People’s Choice winner in each category will be chosen by an online public vote, Aug. 20-24. Each of the six winners will receive $300.

At the end of the contest, three Awards of Excellence will be chosen by the Detroit News photo staff from the remaining finalists of all three themes, and will receive $100 each.

The Celebrate Michigan Photo Contest is open to non-professional photographers age 18 and older. All photos must have been shot in Michigan, with no significant alteration by a software program. More specifics can be found in the official contest rules.

Race gave me a heads up about the contest, so I went back to a favorite photo of mine that he took 15 years ago. See more in his My Belle Isle gallery.

Be Yourself!

Posted on April 20, 2020 by farlane

Albino Deer by Chryz Love

Just a little reminder from the natural world that it’s OK to be yourself & also to check out the new Michigan in Pictures Group on Facebook!! I created it so people can share photos with other readers for possible inclusion in Michigan in Pictures, and this was the first pic shared.

Chryz took it near Davidson. Click through to see it on Facebook & to check out other photos she’s shared in the group!!

King of the Forest

Posted on November 15, 2016November 13, 2016 by farlane

King, photo by Andrew Inwood

Michigan’s firearm deer season starts today and runs through November 30th so remember to practice sensible precautions if you’re headed out for a walk in the wild. I’m still not sure why this day isn’t an official state holiday because it pretty much is up here in northern Michigan where I live!

Good luck to all you hunters in your quest to fill the freezer with what was a staple of Michiganders for thousands of years … and still is for many Michigan families.

Andrew took this back in November 2008 and asks you to note the broken point on this buck’s magnificent 10 point rack of antlers. View his photo bigger and see more in his excellent Whitetailed Deer slideshow.

More photos and information about whitetailed deer on Michigan in Pictures.

PS: I posted this early in case you’re out there waiting for the sun to rise. ;)

Summer White-tail

Posted on June 27, 2016November 13, 2016 by farlane

Summer Whitetail, photo by Arnie Bracy

Arnie quietly paddled his kayak closer to get this awesome shot of our state animal, the White-tailed deer on the shore of Hamlin Lake. View it bigger and see more in his Summer slideshow.

More white-tailed deer on Michigan in Pictures including this cool pic of a white-tail grabbing a drink in the fall.