Deer hunting is a big deal in Michigan, but maybe not as much as it once was. The number of hunters in our state peaked in the 1960s, when an average of around 850,000 annually purchased a hunting license. Last year, 620,932 licenses to hunt deer were sold. (The sate estimates about 574,000 actually were used.) Deer hunting season begins Sept. 22, but the regular firearms deer season doesn't run until Nov. 15-30. MORE ►New hunting rules aim to limit chronic wasting disease ►Meijer offering free, junior deer hunting licenses |