Michigan Hunting Season Details for 2025-2026 – Units, Permits & Species
Welcome to your complete guide for the Michigan hunting season! Whether you’re a seasoned backwoods veteran or just getting your feet wet in the Great Lakes State’s rich hunting tradition, this resource covers everything you need for a successful 2025 season. We’ve gathered all the essential information about dates, top species, hunting zones, and licensing requirements to help you plan your outdoor adventures.
What’s Inside This Michigan Hunting Guide
Michigan offers some of the most diverse and abundant game hunting opportunities in the Midwest. From the expansive northern forests to the fertile southern farmlands, hunters have access to over 10 million acres of public land. This guide will walk you through the season dates for deer, turkey, small game, waterfowl, and more – plus provide valuable information on licenses, hunting zones, and regulations.
🎯 Michigan Hunting Season Dates 2025
Below is a summary of key hunting season dates for Michigan’s most popular game species. Always check the Michigan DNR website or Hunt Fish app for any last-minute changes before heading out.
📅 Quick Reference: Key Species & Dates
| Species | Primary Dates | Methods | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer 🦌 | Nov. 15-30 (Regular Firearm) | Bow, Firearm, Muzzleloader | Multiple seasons available |
| Wild Turkey 🦃 | April 19 – May 31 (Spring) | Shotgun, Bow | Zone-specific dates |
| Black Bear 🐻 | Sept. 10 – Oct. 26 | Firearm, Bow | Multiple periods by unit |
| Elk 🦏 | Aug. 26-29, Sept. 12-15 | Firearm, Bow | Limited draw only |
| Waterfowl 🦆 | Sept. 27 – Dec. 14 (varies) | Shotgun | Zone splits apply |
| Pheasant 🐓 | Oct. 10 – Jan. 1 | Shotgun | Three zones |
🦌 Big Game: Archery & Rifle Adventures
Whitetail Deer – The Crown Jewel
Michigan’s deer population offers exceptional opportunities across varied terrain. Here’s your complete schedule:
Archery Opportunities: • Early Archery: October 1 – November 14, 2025 (statewide) • Late Archery: December 1 – January 1, 2026 (statewide) • Extended Archery: Through January 31, 2026 (select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw, Wayne)
Firearm Dates: • Regular Firearm: November 15-30, 2025 (statewide) • Early Antlerless: September 20-21, 2025 (Lower Peninsula only) • Late Antlerless: December 15 – January 1, 2026 (Lower Peninsula) • Extended Late Antlerless: January 2-11, 2026 (select counties)
Special Youth & Disability Opportunities: • Liberty Hunt: September 13-14, 2025 (youth ≤16 & qualified disabilities) • Independence Hunt: October 16-19, 2025 (qualified disabilities only)
Muzzleloader: December 5-14, 2025 (statewide)
🎟️ Tag Information: Statewide limit of two antlered deer annually (except DMU 117: one only). Universal antlerless licenses available up to 10 per hunter.
Black Bear – Michigan’s Apex Predator
Multiple units across northern Michigan offer bear opportunities:
Unit Dates (all 2025): • Amasa, Baraga, Bergland, Carney, Gwinn, Newberry:
- Period 1: September 10 – October 21
- Period 2: September 15 – October 26
- Period 3: September 25 – October 26 • Baldwin, Gladwin, Red Oak: September 13-23 and October 3-9 • Drummond Island: September 10 – October 21
Elk – Premium Trophy Opportunity
Michigan’s elk herd in the northern Lower Peninsula provides limited but exceptional opportunities:
• Hunt Period 1: August 26-29, September 12-15, September 26-29, 2025 • Hunt Period 2: December 13-21, 2025
🎟️ Drawing required for all elk tags. Applications typically open in spring.
🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall & Youth
Spring Turkey (Primary Season)
Michigan’s diverse Turkey Management Units (TMUs) offer extended spring opportunities:
Early TMUs (April 19 – May 2, 2025): • TMU A, B, E, F, J
Staggered TMUs with Multiple Periods: • TMU K: April 19-25 (Hunt 0108), April 26 – May 2 (Hunt 0109) • TMU M: April 19 – May 31 (Hunt 0110) • TMU ZZ: April 19 – May 31 (Hunt 0301) • Special Hunt 0234: May 3-31
Zone A-F TMUs feature split schedules:
- Early period: April 19-25 and June 1-7
- Middle period: April 26 – May 9
- Late period: May 10-31
Fall Turkey
Fall dates are typically announced in late summer – check Michigan DNR for updates.
Youth Turkey Opportunities
Most TMUs accommodate youth hunters during regular periods with adult mentorship required.
🦝 Furbearers: Year-Round to Seasonal
Year-Round Species
• Opossum: Statewide, all year (both methods) • Skunk: Statewide, all year (both methods)
• Weasel (all varieties): Statewide, all year (both methods)
Seasonal Furbearers
Coyote: • Method: July 15 – April 15, 2026 (nighttime allowed) • Trapping: October 15 – March 1, 2026
Fox (Gray & Red): • Method: October 15 – March 1, 2026 (nighttime allowed) • Trapping: October 15 – March 1, 2026
Raccoon: • Method: October 1 – March 31, 2026 (nighttime allowed)
• Trapping: October 1 – March 31, 2026
Bobcat (limited units): • Method: January 1 – March 1, 2026 (Units A-D) • Shorter seasons in Units G & H • Trapping varies by unit: November-January
🐓 Upland Birds: Classic Gamebirds
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Michigan’s pheasant zones offer varied opportunities:
• Zone 1: October 10-31, 2025 • Zone 2: October 20 – November 14, 2025
• Zone 3: October 20 – November 14, 2025 and December 1, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Ruffed Grouse
• Statewide: September 15 – November 14, 2025 and December 1, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
• Zone 1: October 10-31, 2025
🐰 Upland Animals: Small Game Favorites
| Species | Dates | Zone Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | Sept. 15 – March 31, 2026 | Statewide |
| Snowshoe Hare | Sept. 15 – March 31, 2026 | Statewide |
| Fox Squirrel | Sept. 15 – March 31, 2026 | Statewide |
| Gray Squirrel | Sept. 15 – March 31, 2026 | Statewide |
| Woodchuck | Year-round | Statewide |
🕊️ Other Small Game Species
| Species | Season Dates | Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Quail | Oct. 20 – Nov. 14, 2025 | Shotgun, Bow |
| Crow | Aug. 1 – Sept. 30, 2025 & Feb. 1 – March 31, 2026 | Shotgun |
| Woodcock | Sept. 15 – Oct. 29, 2025 | Shotgun |
🦅 Migratory Birds: Rails & Snipe
Wilson’s Snipe: September 1 – November 9, 2025 (statewide) Virginia Rail & Sora Rail: September 1 – November 9, 2025 (statewide)
Common Gallinule: September 1 – November 9, 2025 (statewide)
🦆 Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers: Zone-Based Waterfowl
Regular Duck Seasons
North Zone: September 27 – November 23 and November 29-30, 2025 Middle Zone: October 4 – November 30 and December 13-14, 2025
South Zone: October 18 – December 14 and December 27-28, 2025
Mergansers
Follow same zone dates as regular ducks above.
Early Teal Season
Statewide: September 1-9, 2025 (blue-winged and green-winged only)
🪿 Geese: Canada, Snow & Specialty
Dark Geese (Canada, Brant, White-Fronted)
North Zone: September 1 – December 16, 2025 Middle Zone: September 1-30 and October 4 – December 19, 2025 South Zone: September 1-30, October 18 – December 14, December 27 – January 4, 2026, and January 31 – February 9, 2026
Special Management Units: • Allegan County GMU: September 1-30, October 18 – November 5, December 20 – February 15, 2026 • Muskegon County Wastewater GMU: October 21 – December 20, 2025
Light Geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s)
Follow identical dates as dark geese above.
🦢 Other Waterfowl: Coots & Specialty
American Coot
North Zone: September 27 – November 23 and November 29-30, 2025 Middle Zone: October 4 – November 30 and December 13-14, 2025 South Zone: October 18 – December 14 and December 27-28, 2025
Special Waterfowl Days
Youth Waterfowl Weekend: September 20-21, 2025 (statewide) Veterans & Active Military Days: September 20-21, 2025 (statewide)
🔗 Additional Game Opportunities
Specialty Furbearers (Trapping Only)
Beaver (by unit): • Unit A: October 25 – April 30, 2026 (residents); November 15 – April 30, 2026 (nonresidents) • Unit B: November 1 – April 24, 2026 (residents); November 24 – April 24, 2026 (nonresidents)
• Unit C: November 10 – April 24, 2026 (residents); December 15 – April 24, 2026 (nonresidents)
Muskrat & Mink (by zone): • Zone 1: October 25 – March 1, 2026 • Zone 2: November 1 – March 1, 2026 • Zone 3: November 10 – March 1, 2026
River Otter (by unit): • Unit A: October 25 – March 31, 2026 • Unit B: November 1 – March 31, 2026
• Unit C: November 10 – March 31, 2026
Fisher & Marten: Zone 1 only, December 5-14, 2025.
🗺️ Michigan Hunting Zone Maps
Michigan provides excellent resources for hunters looking to explore public lands:
- Mi-HUNT: An interactive mapping application showing lands open to public hunting. Access it at Michigan.gov/mi-hunt
- DNR Hunting Land Maps: County-by-county PDF maps showing public hunting lands are available on the Michigan DNR website
- Wildlife/Game Areas: Michigan maintains numerous dedicated wildlife and game areas specifically managed for hunting
These resources allow hunters to identify state forests, state game areas, commercial forest lands, and other public hunting areas throughout Michigan.
🎟️ License Information
Resident License Costs (2025)
- Base License: $17 (required for all hunters)
- Deer License: $30
- Deer Combo License: $65
- Antlerless Deer License: $20
- Spring Turkey: $15
- Fall Turkey: $15
- Fur Harvester: $15
- Waterfowl License: $12 (in addition to base license and federal duck stamp)
- Pheasant License: $25 (required for public land pheasant hunting)
Non-Resident License Costs (2025)
- Base License: $161
- Deer License: $170
- Deer Combo License: $270
- Spring Turkey: $80
- Fall Turkey: $80
Note: License fees are subject to change as there are proposed increases for the 2025 hunting season.
Special Hunting Programs
- Mentored Youth Hunting Program: For children under 10
- Apprentice Hunting License: For new hunters without hunter safety certification
- Pure Michigan Hunt: Enter for $5 for a chance to win hunting licenses for elk, bear, antlerless deer, and spring and fall turkey
- Hunters Feeding Michigan: Program that allows hunters to donate venison to food banks
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many deer tags can I get in Michigan?
The standard combo license provides two tags for antlered deer (with restrictions on the second deer). Additional antlerless tags can be purchased for specific DMUs. During the extended late antlerless season, the bag limit is 10 deer.
Where can I find public hunting land in Michigan?
Michigan offers approximately 10 million acres of public hunting land. Use Mi-HUNT (Michigan.gov/mi-hunt) to locate state forests, state game areas, and other public hunting opportunities.
Is night hunting allowed in Michigan?
Night hunting is permitted for certain species like raccoon, opossum, and coyote under specific regulations. Always check the current hunting digest for permitted species, methods, and timeframes.
Do I need to wear hunter orange in Michigan?
Yes, hunter orange is required during all firearm deer seasons and is highly recommended during other seasons. Consult the appropriate hunting digest for specific requirements.
Can I hunt on Sundays in Michigan?
Yes, Sunday hunting is permitted throughout Michigan, unlike some neighboring states that have restrictions.
Related Resources
Final Thoughts for Michigan Hunters
Michigan’s abundant wildlife, diverse habitats, and extensive public lands offer something for every outdoors enthusiast. As you prepare for the 2025 hunting season, remember to check specific zone regulations, secure your licenses well in advance, and always prioritize safety in the field.
The Department of Natural Resources works diligently to maintain healthy wildlife populations while providing excellent recreational opportunities. By following regulations and practicing ethical hunting, you help ensure these traditions continue for generations to come.
Happy hunting in the Great Lakes State!
Sources: Michigan DNR Hunting Season Calendar and official 2025-2026 regulation summaries.
