Michigan Hunting Digest 2022-2023 (2024)

FAQs

Can you hunt deer on your own property without a license in Michigan? ›

A Hunting License is required in the state of Michigan to hunt any game animal.

In Michigan, safety zones are considered to be all areas within 150 yards (450 feet) of any occupied house, building, cabin, barn, or any building used for a farming operation.

A conventional (smokeless powder) handgun must be . 35-caliber or larger and loaded with straight-walled cartridges and may be single- ormultiple-shot but cannot exceed a maximum capacity of nine rounds in the barrel and magazine combined. A firearm deer hunter may carry afield a bow and arrow, crossbow and firearm.

Michigan's new license structure requires hunters to choose at the time of purchase if they want the opportunity to harvest one or two antlered deer, and purchase either a single deer license (one kill tag) or a deer combo license (two kill tags).

Shooting within a Safety Zone (MCL 324.40111(7)) – you cannot hunt with a firearm within 150 yards of an occupied, house, building, cabin, or barn without obtaining written permission from the owner, renter, or occupant of the property.

Can I fire a gun in my own backyard? Michigan law doesn't technically prohibit you from firing a weapon in your backyard. However, it DOES prohibit you from firing a weapon in a place where there aren't enough safeguards in place to ensure that no one gets hurt.

House Bill 4315 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to prohibit an employee of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from entering private property without the permission of the owner or lessee of the property, unless the employee is a peace officer or authorized park and ...

If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowner's permission.. If you'll be hunting near someone else's property, contact the landowner ahead of time; don't wait until you're tracking game.

11.3 The use of bait to attract deer for the purpose of hunting is prohibited. 11.4 Tree stands and ground blinds (type 1 only) may be used according to the laws of the Department of Natural Resources of the State of Michigan.

Hunting with an AR-15 type rifle in Michigan is legal, provided you comply with caliber and magazine capacity restrictions applicable to the area you hunt in.

Are pit blinds legal in Michigan? ›

Constructed ground blinds are legal in forests, but are illegal in fields. Constructing a shooting pit or permanent blind is prohibited.

If you have a Concealed Pistol License in Michigan, you can carry concealed or open. If you do not have a CPL, you cannot conceal carry. When carrying a handgun without a CPL, handguns must be carried in plain view. You may not take any game with a handgun while bow hunting.

Baiting remains illegal in most of Michigan after a bill to end the existing ban was vetoed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Throughout Michigan, all hunters that harvest two antlered deer must ensure at least one has four or more antler points on one side, and this requirement will remain in place within these counties.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources requires a person involved in a vehicle-deer crash to obtain a free Michigan Roadside Salvage Permit to possess the game unintentionally killed in the crash. A vehicle crash with a large animal can be just as destructive as one with another vehicle.

Upper Peninsula Changes:

In DMU 352, when using a universal antlerless deer license, an antlerless deer hunting access permit is required. DMU 351 will be closed to antlerless hunting with a universal antlerless deer license in 2024. There will be 500 access permits available in DMU 352.

I believe there was a time where you had to have a minimum of 5 acres to hunt ............ Never a minimum to hunt. There was a minimum to apply for an antlerless permit at one time. You can see how that has changed over the years by visiting the DNR site.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters across the state that deer harvest reporting is once again required this hunting season.