Michigan shines with its deep-rooted hunting customs, providing a plethora of possibilities for hunters all year round. Understanding the pursuit schedules is vital, whether you’re a beginner eager to grasp more or a seasoned nature enthusiast. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Michigan’s main harvest times for the year 2025. It includes small game, ducks, deer, turkeys, and furbearers.
Important Considerations
When you’re gearing up for a wildlife excursion, be sure to plan meticulously. Know your regulations. Each animal you aim to hunt and each location you choose has its own separate laws and required permits. Different areas mean different rules. It’s likely that a license or game collection permit will be needed. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) can guide you, helping to avoid trouble or law issues. We’ll delve deeper into specific game periods in the coming sections.
Indeed, scrutinizing every game season closely is necessary. Don’t forget the specific dates, what you’re allowed to bag, and your license specifics.
MI Key Season Dates and Hunting Timeline
🦌 Whitetail Deer Hunting
Archery
- Early: Oct 1 – Nov 14, 2025 (statewide)
- Late: Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 (statewide)
- Extended: Until Jan 31, 2026 (select counties)
Firearm
- Regular: Nov 15-30, 2025 (statewide)
- Early Antlerless: Sep 20-21, 2025 (Lower Peninsula)
- Late Antlerless: Dec 15, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 (Lower Peninsula)
- Extended Late Antlerless: Jan 2-11, 2026 (select counties)
Special Hunts
- Liberty Hunt: Sep 13-14, 2025 (youth & disabilities)
- Independence Hunt: Oct 16-19, 2025 (disabilities only)
Muzzleloader
- Dec 5-14, 2025 (statewide)
🐻 Black Bear Hunting
Northern Units (Amasa, Baraga, etc.)
- Period 1: Sep 10 – Oct 21, 2025
- Period 2: Sep 15 – Oct 26, 2025
- Period 3: Sep 25 – Oct 26, 2025
Baldwin, Gladwin, Red Oak
- Sep 13-23 & Oct 3-9, 2025
Drummond Island
- Sep 10 – Oct 21, 2025
🦌 Elk Hunting (Drawing Required)
Hunt Period 1
- Aug 26-29, 2025
- Sep 12-15, 2025
- Sep 26-29, 2025
Hunt Period 2
- Dec 13-21, 2025
🦃 Turkey Hunting
Spring (Early TMUs)
- Apr 19 – May 2, 2025 (TMU A, B, E, F, J)
Staggered TMUs
- TMU K: Apr 19-25 & Apr 26 – May 2, 2025
- TMU M: Apr 19 – May 31, 2025
- TMU ZZ: Apr 19 – May 31, 2025
- Special Hunt: May 3-31, 2025
Fall & Youth
- Dates announced late summer
🦝 Furbearer Hunting
Year-Round
- Opossum, Skunk, Weasel
Seasonal
- Coyote: Jul 15, 2025 – Apr 15, 2026
- Fox: Oct 15, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
- Raccoon: Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
- Bobcat: Jan 1 – Mar 1, 2026 (Units A-D)
🐓 Upland Bird Hunting
Pheasant
- Zone 1: Oct 10-31, 2025
- Zone 2: Oct 20 – Nov 14, 2025
- Zone 3: Oct 20 – Nov 14 & Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Grouse
- Ruffed: Sep 15 – Nov 14 & Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
- Sharp-Tailed: Oct 10-31, 2025 (Zone 1)
🐇 Small Game Hunting
Rabbit & Hare
- Sep 15, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
Squirrel
- Sep 15, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
Woodchuck
- Year-round
🕊️ Other Small Game
Quail
- Oct 20 – Nov 14, 2025
Crow
- Aug 1 – Sep 30, 2025 & Feb 1 – Mar 31, 2026
Woodcock
- Sep 15 – Oct 29, 2025
🦆 Waterfowl Hunting
Ducks & Mergansers
- North Zone: Sep 27 – Nov 23 & Nov 29-30, 2025
- Middle Zone: Oct 4 – Nov 30 & Dec 13-14, 2025
- South Zone: Oct 18 – Dec 14 & Dec 27-28, 2025
Early Teal
- Sep 1-9, 2025 (statewide)
Geese
- Dark & Light: Follow duck zone dates
- Special GMUs: Varies by county
🦢 Other Waterfowl
Coot
- Follows duck season dates
Special Hunts
- Youth Weekend: Sep 20-21, 2025
- Veterans/Military: Sep 20-21, 2025
🦫 Trapping Seasons
Beaver (By Unit)
- Unit A: Oct 25, 2025 – Apr 30, 2026
- Unit B: Nov 1, 2025 – Apr 24, 2026
- Unit C: Nov 10, 2025 – Apr 24, 2026
Muskrat & Mink
- Zone 1: Oct 25, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
- Zone 2: Nov 1, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
- Zone 3: Nov 10, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
River Otter
- Unit A: Oct 25, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
- Unit B: Nov 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
- Unit C: Nov 10, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
Fisher & Marten
- Dec 5-14, 2025 (Zone 1 only)
Other Furbearers
- Opossum, porcupine, weasel, red squirrel, skunk, ground squirrel, woodchuck, Russian boar
- Allowed year-round.
MI Licenses & Permit
Here’s a quick guide about hunting licenses in Michigan. The table below captures essential information like types and prices. For all the license specifics, check out Michigan’s eregulations website.
| License | Age | Resident Cost | Non-Resident Cost |
| Base License | 17-64 | $11 | $151 |
| Junior | 16-Oct | $6 | N/A |
| Senior (65+) | 65+ | $5 | N/A |
| Mentored Youth | Under 10 | $7.50 | N/A |
| Deer (1 tag) | 17+ | $20 | $20 |
| Deer Combo (2 tags) | 17+ | $40 | $190 |
| Universal Antlerless | 17+ | $20 | $20 |
| Small Game (3-day Non-Resident) | 17+ | N/A | $50 |
| Small Game (7-day Non-Resident) | 17+ | N/A | $80 |
| Hunt/Fish Combo | 17-64 | $76 | $266 |
| Pheasant | 18+ | $25 | $25 |
| DNR Sportcard | All Ages | $1 | $1 |
Michigan Hunting Rules and Regulations
License Requirements:
- Have to choose – one antlered license or a combo. Management units have different rules.
- With a Universal Antlerless License, you can hunt female deer anywhere, anytime, during the open season.
- You’ll need a base license for deer game plus any deer-specific permits/licenses.
- You have to join a lottery for Spring turkey. There might be extras. Hunt 0234 gives you a statewide spring turkey license without lottery worries.
- Waterfowl needs a base license and a federal Duck Stamp. Special seasons or managed pursuing areas may add extra rules.
Deer:
- Gun carrying rules shift between archery and firearm periods.
- Equipment rules vary for zones in gun and muzzleloading times.
- You might have to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Bovine Tuberculosis (TB). • Lower Peninsula’s got unique regulations for no-antler gun seasons, longer archery, and baiting.
- Antler Point Limits (APR) change, depending on the area.
Turkey:
- The process of distributing spring turkey licenses involves a lottery, with additional licenses up for grabs.
- Applicants select their desired turkey management units (TMUs) and seasons.
- You can apply for a spring turkey license in pairs with one other individual.
- Opportunities exist for Apprentice and Youth mentoring.
Waterfowl:
- The Civil Waterfowl Committee (CWAC) plays a key role by giving important feedback.
- Money from permits helps protect our wetlands.
- Special hunting times are for Early Teal, Youth Waterfowl Weekend, and those in the military.
- If you hunt in Managed Hunt Areas, you have to follow special rules and win a permit lottery.
- The Michigan Waterfowl Stamp is a voluntary program to help wetland projects.
Top Michigan Hunting Locations
Michigan is a hunter’s paradise, thanks to its diverse landscapes holding many different species of animals. Let’s spotlight some top spots for specialized hunts:
White-tailed Deer:
- The Upper Peninsula (U.P.): Here, you’ll find a surplus of public lands, teeming with a bounty of whitetails. Top pick spots by bow and gun hunters alike include the Huron Mountains and Ottawa National Forest.
- Northern Lower Peninsula: This place hosts a blend of pine forests and farmland, crafting a perfect habitat for whitetails. Prime deer hunting territories include the Pigeon River State Forest and Mackinac Straits State Park.
- Eastern Upper Peninsula: The eastern part of the U.P. is a sweet spot for black bears, especially in areas like Mackinac State Forest and Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Both bait and hound hunting are common activities for hunters in these locations.
Turkey:
- Southern Lower Peninsula: You’ll find a perfect haven for turkeys down here. With a mix of scattered woodlands and farmland, it’s just the spot they love. Key highlights include the Kalamazoo River path and the popular Barry County State Game Area known for their turkey sightings during the spring and fall seasons.
Waterfowl:
- Michigan’s Great Lakes Coast: A vast coastline that offers fantastic spots for waterfowl hunting. You can go to places like Bay City or Monroe. These areas have marshes, estuaries, and open water – all prime for hunting.
- Lakes and Rivers Inland: Michigan is dotted with vital rest spots for migratory waterflowls – our many inland lakes and rivers. The Allegan State Game Area and the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge are major draws for hunting ducks, geese, and swans.
Pheasant:
- Lands of Lower Peninsula’s South: Pheasant hunting is alive and well in Michigan’s southern farm-rich districts. The locales of Cass County and Lenawee County provide plenty of farmland for pheasants, especially in the chilly autumn and winter times.
Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com
Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.
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