News Release

New Changes to the Annual North Manitou Island Deer Hunt at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Date: April 22, 2024
Contact: Phil Akers, 231-326-4740

The North Manitou Island deer hunt in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is held each year to manage the introduced/non-native deer population to allow for the recovery of the forests. This year, the National Park Service (NPS) is making several changes to the hunt. Due to increasing popularity of the hunt, the concern for hunter safety, and the need to protect the designated wilderness on the island, the NPS is only accepting 200 applications in 2024. Hunters will also be required to apply on-line. Applications mailed to the park will not be accepted. The application period will open on Monday, June 3, and close Monday, September 30, or when 200 applications are received. In 2024, the hunt will take place Saturday, October 26, through Saturday, November 2. The registration fee will remain $50.00 per hunter.

Hunters can find additional information on the hunt online, or call the park’s permits office at 231-326-4741.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more about the National Park Service at www.nps.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter at www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.