Michigan Hunting Season Dates
Recorded hunting windows for Michigan, including historical and unverified entries.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
1 of 8 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Michigan Hunting Season Calendar
Find all hunting season dates for Michigan including deer, elk, turkey, and waterfowl. Filter by species and hunting method.
Coming Up in Michigan
Seasons opening in the next 60 days
Dec 4-6, 2026
Opens in 51 days
Recorded Season Windows
All Michigan hunting seasons organized by species
Deer 5 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct 1 - Nov 14, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Early archery | |
| Archery | Dec 1, 2025 - Jan 1, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Late archery | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Dec 4-6, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Lower Peninsula — December firearm base dates only | Upcoming | Actual Michigan DNR Aug19,2026 public bulletin states Lower Peninsula December firearm deer season Dec4–6 and all legal firearms may be used. It separately states Limited Firearms Deer Zone eliminated beginning Sept12. Only published December base dates are reviewed, not individual permission. Sex/tag eligibility, antler restrictions/bag, license/permits/exemptions, DMU/private/public eligibility, current firearm/ammunition rules, orange/hours, reporting, CWD, access and closures require the full guide/current rules. Guide and current chapter403 are explicit gaps; their contents are not verified from search. U.P. muzzleloader dates, regular November firearms, Dec7–Jan1 late antlerless and other hunts are excluded, with no bridge. | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 15-30, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Firearm season | |
| Muzzleloader | Dec 6-22, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Lower Peninsula | Historical record | Muzzleloader - south | |
Turkey 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Apr 20 - May 31, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Spring season - multiple periods | |
Bear 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Sep 15 - Oct 26, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Hunt period 1-3 | |
Elk 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Sep 7 - Oct 4, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Limited permit | |
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Michigan Hunting Regulations
License year, species, and agency information
- License Year
- Mar 1, 2025 - Feb 28, 2026
- Available Species
-
- Bear
- Deer
- Elk
- Turkey
- Hunting Methods
-
- Archery
- Rifle/Firearm
- Muzzleloader
- Any Legal Method
- Wildlife Agency
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Important Note for Michigan
Only published Lower Peninsula December firearm deer base dates Dec4–6,2026 are reviewed from actual DNR Aug19 bulletin; no November/UP/late-antlerless or other coverage is verified. Current guide/chapter403 remain source gaps. Sex/tag eligibility, antler/bag, licenses/permits, DMU/private/public eligibility, firearm/ammunition, orange/hours, reporting, CWD, access/permission and closures need full current rules. Seven historical rows and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Hunting Method Legend
Michigan Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting seasons in Michigan
What are the hunting season dates for Michigan?
Recorded Michigan entries cover Bear, Deer, Elk, Turkey. Dates include history and unverified records; the recorded license-year metadata is not current verification. Check row evidence and current agency regulations and your license.
When does deer season start in Michigan?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-10-01 to 2025-11-14; 2025-12-01 to 2026-01-01; 2026-12-04 to 2026-12-06; 2025-11-15 to 2025-11-30; 2025-12-06 to 2025-12-22. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Does Michigan require a draw for hunting?
Draw requirements depend on species, GMU or zone, hunt code and license type. Recorded date windows do not establish eligibility. Check the current Michigan agency rules and your actual license.
Which recorded windows include the assessment date 2026-10-14 UTC in Michigan?
The next recorded window is Deer starting Dec 4, 2026. Check its row evidence and current regulations; the record may be unverified.
What should I know about hunting in Michigan?
Only published Lower Peninsula December firearm deer base dates Dec4–6,2026 are reviewed from actual DNR Aug19 bulletin; no November/UP/late-antlerless or other coverage is verified. Current guide/chapter403 remain source gaps. Sex/tag eligibility, antler/bag, licenses/permits, DMU/private/public eligibility, firearm/ammunition, orange/hours, reporting, CWD, access/permission and closures need full current rules. Seven historical rows and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Other States
Compare hunting seasons across states
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