Get Outdoors, Michigan
Calendar

Early Teal Season: Sept. 1-9 statewide! Only blue-winged and green-winged teal may be harvested. HIP endorsement and federal duck stamp required.

Elk Hunt Period 1 continues: Sept. 12-15 and Sept. 26-29. Northern Lower Peninsula only - 260 licenses available through drawing.

Liberty Hunt: Sept. 13-14 for youth and hunters with disabilities. Special early deer hunting opportunity on public and private lands.

Bear Season Opens: Sept. 13-23 Northern Lower Peninsula (first period). Drawing required - 6,278 licenses available statewide.

Archery Deer Season Opens Sept. 15! Michigan's longest deer hunting opportunity begins statewide.

Small Game Season Opens Sept. 15! Ruffed Grouse, Rabbits, Squirrels, and Woodcock seasons all begin.

Early Antlerless Firearm: Sept. 20-21 Lower Peninsula (select DMUs). Youth Waterfowl Weekend same dates.

Duck Season Opens: North Zone Sept. 27. Federal duck stamp and waterfowl license required for hunters 16+.

Bear Season Continues: Oct. 3-9 Northern Lower Peninsula (second period). Upper Peninsula seasons vary by management unit.

Duck Season Middle Zone opens Oct. 4, South Zone opens Oct. 18.
Michigan has three different hunting zones with staggered openings.

Sharp-tailed Grouse: Zone 1 opens Oct. 10-31. Zones 2 & 3 open Oct. 20-Nov. 14 with second period Dec. 1-Jan. 1.

Independence Hunt: Oct. 16-19 for hunters with disabilities. Special firearm deer season on private and select public lands.

Pheasant Season: Oct. 20-Nov. 14 (male only). Check specific area regulations and zone boundaries.

Furbearer Seasons Begin: Fox and raccoon hunting seasons open Oct. 15. Major trapping seasons also begin this month.

Regular Firearm Deer Season: Nov. 15-30. Michigan's most popular hunting season begins. Remember to wear hunter orange during daylight hours.

Peak Trapping Season: Bobcat trapping begins Nov. 1-14 (Units A & B, first period). Most furbearer species now in season.

Ice fishing season begins when safe ice forms. Lake trout, northern pike, and panfish opportunities through the ice.

Elk Hunt Period 2: Dec. 13-21. Winter elk hunting season in northern Lower Peninsula management units.

Late Archery Deer Season: Dec. 1 - Jan. 1. Extended opportunities for bowhunters after firearm season.

Muzzleloader Deer Season: Dec. 5-14. Special primitive weapons deer hunting season statewide.

Fisher & Marten Season: Dec. 5-14 (Zone 1 only). Combined bag limit of 2 animals total. Kill tags required.

Waterfowl Seasons Continue: Middle Zone reopens Dec. 13-14, South Zone reopens Dec. 27-28.

Prime ice fishing season begins. Northern Pike, Walleye, and Lake Trout through safe ice conditions.

Extended Late Antlerless Firearm: Jan. 2-11 in certain Lower Peninsula counties. Extended archery continues through Jan. 31 in select counties.

Cable Restraints Allowed: Jan. 1-March 1 nonlethal cable restraints for coyote and fox on private land only.

Prime ice fishing season continues. Perch, Bluegill, Crappie, Northern Pike and Walleye through ice when safe.

Crow Season: Feb. 1 - Mar. 31. One of the few hunting opportunities available during late winter months.

Final Trapping Month: Last chance for fox and coyote trapping before March 1 closure. Prime pelt conditions.

Ice fishing continues (weather permitting). Northern Pike and Walleye through ice in many areas of the state.

Season Closures: Fox and coyote trapping close March 1. Rabbit, Squirrel, and Snowshoe Hare seasons close Mar. 31.

Spring Transition: Most trapping seasons end March 31. Remove equipment and prepare for spring fishing.

Ice-out preparations begin. Check ice conditions carefully as weather warms for spring fishing opportunities.

Trout Season Opens: April 26 statewide opener for Type 1 & 2 streams and Type A & D lakes. Great Lakes trout open year-round.

April 15 -Coyote Season closes

Beaver Trapping Continues: Units A, B & C continue through April with staggered closure dates by unit and residency.

2026 Licenses: New fishing and hunting licenses become effective April 1. Plan ahead for upcoming seasons.

Bass Possession Season Opens: May 24 statewide (except Lake St. Clair system which opens June 21). Daily limit: 5 bass, 14" minimum.

New Kill Tags Available: May 1 - new furbearer kill tags become available for upcoming trapping seasons.

Drawing Applications: May 1-June 1 application periods for 2026 elk and bear hunting licenses begin.

Muskellunge Season Opens: June 7 on Great Lakes and inland waters. 42" minimum, 1 per year limit, mandatory registration within 24 hours.

Free Fishing Weekend: June 7-8. Fish without a license during Michigan's annual free fishing weekend.

Drawing Results: June 23 - elk and bear hunting drawing results become available. Check online or through Hunt Fish app.

Coyote Hunting Season Opens: July 15.

Dog Training Season: July 8-April 15 dog training seasons begin. Permits required for training on state lands.

Summer Scouting: Excellent time to pattern deer and locate new hunting areas for fall seasons. Plan your strategy now.

Reserved Waterfowl Hunt Applications: Aug. 1-28 application period for 2026-2027 managed area waterfowl hunts.

Summer Fishing Peak: All fishing seasons open, great time for bass, pike, walleye, and Great Lakes fishing.

Fall Preparation: Start planning for fall hunting seasons. License applications and gear preparation time.