LANSING - With the most active phase of the deer season beginning on Nov. 15, state officials and businesses are looking forward to the bucks it will generate for Michigan's economy.

Overall the deer season will contribute more than $500 million to the state's economy as hunters spend money for equipment, transportation, food and lodging, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Dave Campbell, an employee at Hilltop Sports in Greenville, said October through Christmas is the store's busiest time thanks in part to deer season.

"People now come to get everything from cartridges and shells to hats and gloves," Campbell said. "We make sure we have more products so we can make sure to get people what they need.

"We always make suggestions to customers about what would be the right for what they're looking for," Campbell said.

The state has three seasons for deer hunting: archery from Oct. 1; firearms from Nov. 15; and muzzleloading for the first 10 days in December.

More than 241,000 of the nearly 417,000 deer killed in 2005 died during the 15-day firearm season, according to DNR.

The department is projecting similar numbers this year, even though 2005 registered a nearly 9 percent decrease from 2004.

The archery season accounts for 25 percent of the total deer killed.

The three seasons together attract an estimated, 725,000 hunters.

Tim Payne, supervisor of DNR's Southeast management unit in Southfield which serves seven counties, including Monroe, Macomb, Wayne, Oakland and Lapeer, said his area accommodates both firearm and archery hunters.

"Firearm hunting is definitely the largest form of hunting in Southeast Michigan and throughout the state but with the urban development of the area, archery is also a large method," Payne said.

His territory features the largest proportion of total hunters in the state, as well as archery hunters, and that concentration boosts business in the area, he said.

"In Southeast Michigan, we have 30 to 40 percent of the deer hunters in the state and that is mainly because of the amount of people who live here," he said. "Since so many people that live here are hunting, it will definitely help the places that sell hunting supplies."

Because most hunters hunt near their home, they will spend the money mainly on traveling and supplies than lodging and restaurants.

"Most people who hunt in Southeast Michigan are from here, so if they are going out hunting they will probably just eat at home because they aren't traveling too far.