Michigan Hunting Resources
Explore the complete guide to hunting in Michigan, including state regulations, public hunting lands, outfitter directories, and gear recommendations for a successful hunt.
Michigan Hunting Regulations
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) publishes annual Hunting Regulation Summaries that include the latest rules, bag limits, and season dates for all game species.
Hunting Seasons Calendar – MI Hunting Season
Plan your hunt with Michigan’s official hunting seasons calendar:
- Deer: Archery, firearm, and muzzleloader seasons.
- Turkey: Spring and fall turkey hunting opportunities.
- Waterfowl: Ducks, geese, and migratory bird hunting seasons.
Find the full schedule in the official Hunting Regulation Summaries.
| Category | Species / Season | Dates (2025–26) | Units / Zones / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | Amasa (Period 1) | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Amasa (Period 2) | Sept 15 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Amasa (Period 3) | Sept 25 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Baldwin | Sept 13–23 & Oct 3–9 | — |
| Bear | Baraga (Period 1) | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Baraga (Period 2) | Sept 15 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Baraga (Period 3) | Sept 25 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Bergland (Period 1) | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Bergland (Period 2) | Sept 15 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Bergland (Period 3) | Sept 25 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Carney (Period 1) | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Carney (Period 2) | Sept 15 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Carney (Period 3) | Sept 25 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Drummond Island | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Gladwin | Sept 13–23 & Oct 3–9 | — |
| Bear | Gwinn (Period 1) | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Gwinn (Period 2) | Sept 15 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Gwinn (Period 3) | Sept 25 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Newberry (Period 1) | Sept 10 – Oct 21 | — |
| Bear | Newberry (Period 2) | Sept 15 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Newberry (Period 3) | Sept 25 – Oct 26 | — |
| Bear | Red Oak | Sept 13–23 & Oct 3–9 | — |
| Small Game | Crow | Aug 1 – Sept 30 & Feb 1 – Mar 31 | — |
| Deer | Liberty (Youth) Hunt | Sept 13–14, 2025 | — |
| Deer | Early Antlerless Firearm | Sept 20–21, 2025 | — |
| Deer | Independence Hunt | Oct 16–19, 2025 | — |
| Deer | Archery | Oct 1 – Nov 14 & Dec 1 – Jan 1, 2026 | Extended archery through Jan 31, 2026 in select counties (Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw, Wayne) |
| Deer | Regular Firearm | Nov 15–30, 2025 | — |
| Deer | Muzzleloading | Dec 5–14, 2025 | — |
| Deer | Late Antlerless Firearm | Dec 15 – Jan 1, 2026 | Lower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 115, 145, 245) |
| Deer | Extended Late Antlerless Firearm | Jan 2–11, 2026 | Select Lower Peninsula counties |
| Elk | Hunt Period 1 | Aug 26–29, Sept 12–15 & Sept 26–29 | — |
| Elk | Hunt Period 2 | Dec 13–21 | — |
| Small Game | Pheasant | Zone 1: Oct 10–31 | — |
| Small Game | Pheasant | Zone 2: Oct 20 – Nov 14 | — |
| Small Game | Pheasant | Zone 3: Oct 20 – Nov 14 & Dec 1 – Jan 1 | — |
| Small Game | Quail | Oct 20 – Nov 14 | — |
| Small Game | Rabbit & Hare | Sept 15 – Mar 31 | — |
| Small Game | Ruffed Grouse | Sept 15 – Nov 14 & Dec 1 – Jan 1 | — |
| Small Game | Sharp-tailed Grouse | Zone 1: Oct 10–31 | — |
| Small Game | Squirrel (Fox & Gray) | Sept 15 – Mar 31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU A (0101) | Apr 19 – May 2 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU B (0102) | Apr 19 – May 2 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU E (0103) | Apr 19 – May 2 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU F (0105) | Apr 19 – May 2 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU J (0107) | Apr 19 – May 2 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU K (0108) | Apr 19–25 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU K (0109) | Apr 26 – May 2 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU M (0110) | Apr 19 – May 31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZA (0111) | Apr 19–25 & Jun 1–7 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZA (0112) | Apr 26 – May 9 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZA (0113) | May 10–31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZB (0115) | Apr 19–25 & Jun 1–7 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZB (0116) | Apr 26 – May 9 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZB (0117) | May 10–31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZC (0119) | Apr 19–25 & Jun 1–7 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZC (0120) | Apr 26 – May 9 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZC (0121) | May 10–31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZD (0123) | Apr 19–25 & Jun 1–7 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZD (0124) | Apr 26 – May 9 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZD (0125) | May 10–31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZE (0127) | Apr 19–25 & Jun 1–7 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZE (0128) | Apr 26 – May 9 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZE (0129) | May 10–31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZF (0131) | Apr 19–25 & Jun 1–7 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZF (0132) | Apr 26 – May 9 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZF (0133) | May 10–31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | TMU ZZ (0301) | Apr 19 – May 31 | — |
| Turkey (Spring) | Hunt 0234 | May 3–31 | — |
| Turkey (Fall) | — | Coming soon (per DNR page) | Check fall turkey summary |
| Waterfowl | Common Gallinule | Sept 1 – Nov 9 | Statewide |
| Waterfowl | Coot (North Zone) | Sept 27 – Nov 23 & Nov 29–30 | — |
| Waterfowl | Coot (Middle Zone) | Oct 4 – Nov 30 & Dec 13–14 | — |
| Waterfowl | Coot (South Zone) | Oct 18 – Dec 14 & Dec 27–28 | — |
| Waterfowl | Dark Goose (North Zone) | Sept 1 – Dec 16 | Canada, brant, white-fronted |
| Waterfowl | Dark Goose (Middle Zone) | Sept 1–30 & Oct 4 – Dec 19 | Canada, brant, white-fronted |
| Waterfowl | Dark Goose (South Zone) | Sept 1–30, Oct 18 – Dec 14, Dec 27 – Jan 4 & Jan 31 – Feb 9 | Canada, brant, white-fronted |
| Waterfowl | Dark Goose – Allegan Co. GMU | Sept 1–30, Oct 18 – Nov 5 & Dec 20 – Feb 15 | — |
| Waterfowl | Dark Goose – Muskegon Co. Wastewater GMU | Oct 21 – Dec 20 | — |
| Waterfowl | Duck (North Zone) | Sept 27 – Nov 23 & Nov 29–30 | — |
| Waterfowl | Duck (Middle Zone) | Oct 4 – Nov 30 & Dec 13–14 | — |
| Waterfowl | Duck (South Zone) | Oct 18 – Dec 14 & Dec 27–28 | — |
| Waterfowl | Early Teal (Statewide) | Sept 1–9 | — |
| Waterfowl | Light Goose (North Zone) | Sept 1 – Dec 16 | Snow, blue, Ross’s |
| Waterfowl | Light Goose (Middle Zone) | Sept 1–30 & Oct 4 – Dec 19 | Snow, blue, Ross’s |
| Waterfowl | Light Goose (South Zone) | Sept 1–30, Oct 18 – Dec 14, Dec 27 – Jan 4 & Jan 31 – Feb 9 | Snow, blue, Ross’s |
| Waterfowl | Light Goose – Allegan Co. GMU | Sept 1–30, Oct 18 – Nov 5 & Dec 20 – Feb 15 | — |
| Waterfowl | Light Goose – Muskegon Co. Wastewater GMU | Oct 21 – Dec 20 | — |
| Waterfowl | Merganser (North Zone) | Sept 27 – Nov 23 & Nov 29–30 | — |
| Waterfowl | Merganser (Middle Zone) | Oct 4 – Nov 30 & Dec 13–14 | — |
| Waterfowl | Merganser (South Zone) | Oct 18 – Dec 14 & Dec 27–28 | — |
| Waterfowl | Veterans & Active-Duty Waterfowl Days | Sept 20–21 | Statewide |
| Waterfowl | Virginia & Sora Rails (Statewide) | Sept 1 – Nov 9 | — |
| Waterfowl | Wilson’s Snipe (Statewide) | Sept 1 – Nov 9 | — |
| Waterfowl | Youth Waterfowl Weekend (Statewide) | Sept 20–21 | — |
| Small Game | Woodcock | Sept 15 – Oct 29 | — |
| Year-Round | Ground squirrel (incl. chipmunk), porcupine, red squirrel, Russian boar (hunt/trap) | Year-round | Statewide with valid base license |
| Year-Round | Feral pigeon, house sparrow, starling, woodchuck (hunt) | Year-round | Statewide with valid base license |
Notes: Always confirm bag limits, license requirements, zone maps (waterfowl & turkey TMUs), and any local closures in the current Michigan DNR regulations summaries linked from the calendar page.
Public and Private Hunting Lands
Public Hunting Lands
Michigan offers extensive public hunting areas, including:
- State Game and Wildlife Areas: Managed by the DNR for wildlife conservation and public hunting.
- National Forests: Huron-Manistee National Forests.
Use the Mi-HUNT Interactive Map for detailed access points.
Private Land Access Programs
The Hunter Access Program (HAP) allows hunters to access private lands enrolled in the program. Learn more about HAP here.
Private Michigan Hunting Lands
There are several websites that allow you to find private land you can lease for hunting.
https://www.basecampleasing.com/searchstates/michigan_map.htm
https://huntinglocator.com/leases/state/michigan
https://www.huntingleasenetwork.com/Land_for_Lease/viewlistings.asp?State=MI
Hunting Licenses and Permits
Michigan hunters can purchase licenses through the DNR eLicense system. Available licenses include:
- Resident and non-resident hunting licenses
- Youth licenses
- Special deer and turkey permits
For a step-by-step guide on obtaining a hunting license in Michigan, visit this resource.
Michigan Deer Harvest Report
Michigan has a great county by county tally of how successful hunters were year by year. You can see the deer harvest report on the Michigan DNR website.
Outfitters and Hunting Guides
Michigan requires all hunting guides to hold a Commercial Hunting Guide License. While the state does not provide a public directory, ensure your guide is licensed and verified before booking a hunt. More information can be found on the Michigan DNR website.
Gear Recommendations for Michigan Hunts
Ensure success with gear tailored for Michigan’s terrain and seasons:
- Clothing: Layered, waterproof gear for changing conditions.
- Footwear: Insulated boots for cold weather and waterproof boots for wetland areas.
- Hunting Equipment: Tree stands for deer, decoys and calls for waterfowl.
Conservation and Ethical Hunting
Support Michigan’s conservation efforts by participating in programs like HAP and adhering to ethical hunting practices. Hunting license fees contribute to wildlife management and habitat preservation across the state.
Hunting Tips for Michigan
Maximize your success with these tips:
- Scout public hunting areas early to secure the best spots.
- Learn game habits, like deer feeding patterns and turkey roosting sites.
- Check weather forecasts and plan accordingly.
Plan Your Next Michigan Hunt
Whether you’re hunting deer, turkey, or waterfowl, Michigan offers opportunities for hunters of all experience levels. Stay informed, gear up, and head out for a successful season!