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 2024. 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

Big Games

Deer

Early archery:
- October 1st to November 14th

Liberty Hunt:
- September 14th-15th
- (for young hunters or those with disabilities)

Early Antlerless Firearm:
- September 21st-22nd (private land only)

Independence Hunt:
- October 17th-20th (for hunters with disabilities)

Regular Firearm:
- November 15th to November 30^th

Muzzleloading:
- December 6th to 15th (in specific zones)

Late Antlerless Firearm:
- December 16th to January 1st (private land only)

Late archery:
- December 1st to January 1^st

Extended Urban Archery:
- December 1st to January 31st (in certain areas)

Elk

Elk Hunt Period 1: This offers three separate hunts:
- August 27th – 30th
- September 13th – 16th
- September 27th – 30th
Elk Hunt Period 2: This period runs for one hunt:
- December 14th – 22nd

Bear

Zones A, B, D:
- September 4th – 10th: Baiting allowed with all other legal methods.
- September 11th – October 1st: All legal methods allowed, including bait and dogs.
- October 2nd – 8th: Hunting with dogs permitted.
Zones C, E, F:
- September 4th – October 4th: Baiting allowed with all other legal methods except dogs.

Russian Boar

Year-round

Turkey

Spring:
- April 20th to June 7th
Fall:
- September 15th to November 14th

Limited Licenses: These are applicable for predetermined zones with set limits and dates from September 15th to November 14th. (Hunting zones G, GB, GC, J, L, M, T, W, WA)

Private-Land-Only Licenses: Just usable on private land and require landowner approval, during the same time span of September 15th to November 14th. (Hunting zones HA, YY)

Small Games

Rabbit

Cottontail rabbit:
- September 15th through March 31st.
Snowshoe hare:
- September 15th through March 31st.

Squirrel

Fox and gray squirrels (including black phase):
- September 15th through March 31st.
Red and ground squirrels:
- Can be hunted year-round.

Upland Birds

Pheasant

Males only

Zone 1:
- October 10th – October 31st
Zones 2 & 3:
- October 20th – November 14th
Zone 3 (additional):
- December 1st – January 1st

Quail

October 20th – November 14th

Grouse

Ruffed grouse:
- September 15th – November 14th
- December 1st – January 1st
Sharp-tailed grouse:
- Zone 1:
  - October 10th – 31st

Woodcock

September 15th – October 29th

Crow

Early Fall: August 1st – September 30th
Late Winter: February 1st – March 31st

Waterfowls & Migratory Birds

Goose

North Zone: September 1st – December 16th
Middle Zone: September 1st – 30th & October 5th – December 20th
South Zone:
- September 1st-30th
- October 12th – December 8th
- December 28th – January 5th, 2025
- February 1st – 10th, 2025
Allegan County GMU:
- September 1st-30th
- November 19th – December 8th
- December 21st – February 15th, 2025
Muskegon County Wastewater GMU: October 15th – December 21st

Early Teal

Statewide, September 1st – 16th

Youth and Veterans/Active-Duty Hunt

September 21st-22nd

Duck

North Zone: September 28th – November 24th & November 30th – December 1st
Middle Zone: October 5th – December 1st & December 14th-15th
South Zone: October 12th – December 8th & December 28th-29th

Falconry

Gun hunting goes by the same schedule
There are extra days for ducks, mergansers, coots, and moorhens:
- Starting Dec. 30, ending Jan. 12, 2025
- Begins Feb. 22, Ends Mar. 10, 2025

Bag Limits for Waterfowl

Geese (all zones):
- Daily limit: 5 dark geese (including only 1 brant)
- Light geese daily limit: 20
Ducks (all zones):
- Maximum daily limit allowed by Federal Frameworks
Scaup:
- North Zone: 2 birds per day for the first 45 days of the season.
- Middle & South Zones: 2 birds per day for the last 45 days of the season.
Youth, Veterans/Active-Duty Hunt, Falconry Season: Follow regular waterfowl bag limits for ducks.
Possession Limit (all seasons): 3 times the daily bag limit

Furbearer

Bobcat

Trapping:
- Unit A & B: Oct. 25 – Dec. 26 & Dec. 1 – Jan. 18
- (closed Nov. 15 – Nov. 30)
Hunting:
- Jan. 1 – Mar. 1

Coyote

Open year-round statewide.

Fisher

Trapping in Zone 1 (except Drummond Island)
Starts on the first Friday of December and lasts for 9 days.

Raccoon

October 1st to March 31st.

Fox (gray and red)

October 15th to March 1st.

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
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.

Black Bear:

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.