The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program, in partnership with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, is offering a Beyond BOW Archery Deer Hunt workshop for women.

Scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 3-6, 2024, the program is for women with little or no previous archery deer hunting experience and who have not participated previously in this event.

The goal of the workshop is to introduce deer hunting basics and offers the opportunity to hunt with an experienced mentor who provides knowledge and guidance.

This Beyond BOW event will be held at Sharon Mills County Park in Manchester.

Enrollment is limited to 10 participants on a first, come first serve basis. Deadline for registration is Aug. 23. The cancellation deadline is Sept. 13, 2024. The cost of this event is $50 per participant.

Lunch will be provided Friday and Saturday, while other meals will be the participants’ responsibility. Campsites and limited space in cabins are reserved at Hayes State Park. A DNR recreation passport sticker is required for vehicle entry.

Participants will take part in educational sessions and hunting opportunities on Washtenaw County parks properties. It is important to note, there is no public hunting permitted on the county’s park lands. However, unique programs such provide limited hunting and help curtail problems with significant deer browse on land parcels.

Scheduled activites

This workshop is open to any properly licensed woman hunter, 18 years of age or older. No experience is required, and use of compound archery or crossbow equipment is accepted. Much of the equipment will be provided, but participants are welcome to provide their personal archery equipment. Proper safety and hunting techniques will be taught and followed.

On Thursday, participants will gain knowledge of deer biology and habitat, hunting as a management strategy, hunting ethics, laws, and safety, and hear from BOW mentors about what this program means to them.

On Friday, general archery safety, shooting, tree stand/blind safety and set up, and deer scouting methods will be taught. Participants will then be paired with mentors to prepare for hunting.

On Saturday, participants and mentors will hunt during the morning and evening. They can also Sunday morning if they choose. Following a successful harvest, the participants will have the opportunity to participate in and learn to field dress and register their harvest.

To attend this event, participants must have a Michigan base license and a deer or universal antlerless deer hunting license, which is available as an apprentice option and purchase prior to attending the workshop. Purchase is available at any license agent or the state's online e-license outlet.

Class information and registration materials are available online at Michigan.gov/BOW There will be a mandatory video orientation for registered participants prior to this event. This will be a rain or shine event.

For further information, contact DNRBOW@michigan.gov