GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — You might see fewer people at work Friday because that is when firearm deer season begins.

It’s become a tradition for many people and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said they expect around 500,000 to 600,000 people to participate in this hunting season.

“With the opener falling on a Friday, we suspect there will be a lot of participation heading into the weekend and certainly those first few days do tend to be the most successful,” Chad Fedewa, an acting deer specialist with the Michigan DNR, said.

The department continues using an online reporting system for hunters to report their successful hunts. All they need to do is use the DNR’s mobile app. Fedewa said the newer method allows them to get data faster and makes it easier for hunters. 

He added that they are still monitoring diseases in deer in West Michigan, including chronic wasting and episodic hemorrhagic diseases. Fedewa said it’s highly unlikely that they would be passed to humans, but hunters can get deer tested if they suspect the deer have the diseases.

“But certainly, if you see a deer that’s acting unusual or acting or looking sick, we don’t recommend eating it,” Fedewa said. 

The firearm deer season runs from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30. More details on this season and other hunting seasons can be found here.