Regulations apply August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009, unless otherwise noted
Major Changes for 2008 Reminders for 2008
Poachers Beware: Hunters are Watching REPORT ALL POACHING Call: 800-292-7800 Mandatory Penalties for Certain Hunting Violations Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact   Hunter Harassment

Online Hunter Harvest Surveys
Accurate and complete information on hunting activity is vital for sound wildlife management. All hunters and trappers are encouraged to report their hunting activity after their season has ended. These surveys are the same as those traditionally mailed to randomly selected hunters. The online reporting option now allows all hunters to participate.

TABLE OF CONTENTS - HTML Version

• Information for Hunters with Disabilities
  • Resident Veterans with Disabilities
  • Ground Blinds, use of, on Public Lands by Hunters with Disabilities
  • Youth Firearm and 100% Disabled Veteran Firearm Deer Hunting Days, Sept. 27-28, 2008
• License Information
  • Hunting & Trapping License Fees
  • Sportsperson Discount
  • Apprentice License
  • U.S. Military Personnel
  • Rules for Young Hunters (10-16 Years of Age)
  • Lost Licenses and Hunter Safety Certificates
• Hunting Hours
• Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits
• Hunting and Trapping and Rifle/Shotgun Zones
• Where Can I Hunt?
  • Hunting Access Program
  • Select Privately Owned Lands
  • Tips for asking permission to hunt on private lands
  • Commercial Forest (CF) Lands
  • State Parks and Recreation Areas
• Additional Hunting Rules
• Artificial Lights and Shining
• Control of Certain Nuisance Species
• Cooperator Patches, history and pictures
• Deer, White-tailed
  • Antler Definitions & Requirements
    • "Button Bucks", Hunters, Learn to Identify
  • Antler Restriction Regulations
    • Tagging Option for Antlerless Deer Hunters
    • Specific DMU Regulations
  • Antlerless Deer Hunting License
  • Archery Deer Hunting License
  • Baiting Deer and Feeding Deer or Elk
  • Combination Deer Hunting License
  • Deer Cooperator Patches
  • Deer Carcass Disposal
  • Deer Management Assistance (DMA) Permits
  • Early Firearm Antlerless Deer Season
  • Firearm Deer Hunting License
  • Late Antlerless Firearm Deer Season
  • Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles
  • Special Deer Hunts: South Fox Island, North Manitou Island, Shiawassee River State Game Area, Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge,  Hoffmaster State Park, Fort Custer Training Center
  • Upper Peninsula buck hunting regulations
  • Junior Antlerless Deer Hunting License
• Dog Training
• Emerald Ash Borer - Hunters, Do NOT Move Firewood
• Field Dressing, Handling, and Cooking Wild Game
• Firearm and Bow and Arrow Rules
• Float Hunting
• Furbearers
  • Bait
  • Beaver and Otter Trapping Regulations
  • Bobcat Hunting and Trapping
  • Federal Regulations
  • Fisher & Marten Trapping
  • Fur Harvester License
  • Fur Harvester Rules
  • Hunting & Trapping License Fees
  • Live Traps
  • Furbearer Kill Tags
  • Furbearer Registration
  • Furbearer Season Dates (table)
  • Incidental Catches
  • Nighttime Raccoon and Predator Hunting
  • Nonresident Fur Harvester License
  • Special Management Units
  • Trapper Education Program
  • Winter Fox and Coyote Non-Lethal Snaring
• Ground Blinds on Public Land, also see Ground Blinds, use of, on Public Lands by Hunters with Disabilities
• Handgun Regulations, Statewide
• Hunter Education
  • Hunter Education Promotes Our Wildlife Heritage
• Hunter Harassment
• Hunter Orange Clothing Requirements
• Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
• Live Animal Restrictions
• Migratory Game Birds Harvest Information Program (HIP)
• Penalties, Mandatory, for Certain Hunting Violations
• Pheasant Seasons
• Protected Wildlife
  • Identifying Wolves from CoyotesNote: Coyote hunting in Zone 1 and Zone 2 is closed Nov. 15-30.
  • The Impacts of Wolves on Deer in the Upper Peninsula
  • Wolf-Dog Conflicts
• Raised Platforms and Tree Stands
• Regulations listed by species
• Restricted Hunting Applications
• Road or Railroad Right-of-Way, Hunting Within
• Safety Zones Around Buildings
• Small Game Licenses and Fees
• Sportsmen Against Hunger
• Tagging Big Game and Furbearers
• Townships with Hunting Restrictions
• Transportation of Game
• Transporting Firearms and Bows and Arrows
• Trespassing, Recreational
• Upland Game Bird
  • General Bird Hunting Information
    • Game Bird Hunting Preserves
  • Pheasant Seasons
  • Quail
• Waterfowl
  • Michigan Waterfowl Hunting License
  • Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp
  • Early September Canada Goose Hunting
  • How Hunters Can Help: Leg band reporting, hunter surveys, Hunter Information Program (HIP)
  • Youth Waterfowl Hunting on Managed Waterfowl Areas
  • Youth Waterfowl Weekend
• Wildlife Diseases - For additional information on wildlife diseases, contact the Wildlife Disease Lab at 517-336-5030 or visit the Emerging Disease websiteand the Wildlife Disease Manual.
  • Avian Influenza
  • Bovine Tuberculosis
  • Chronic Wasting Disease
  • West Nile Virus
  • Field Dressing, Handling, and Cooking Wild Game
  • Precaution about Lead in Venison
  • Dioxin Advisory Information
• Youth Hunting Opportunities
  • Apprentice License
  • Hunting License Information
  • Special Rules for Young Hunters (10-16 Years of Age)
  • Youth Firearm Deer Season
  • 2008 Youth Waterfowl Weekend Sept. 20-21
  • Youth Waterfowl Hunting on Managed Waterfowl Areas brochure will be available on the Waterfowl Huntingwebpage
• Zones Boundaries

A complete listing of regulations and legal descriptions.

Thank you for purchasing a 2008 Michigan hunting or fur harvester license
    Michigan is among the top states in the nation in almost every hunting category with more than 800,000 licensed hunters contributing $2 billion annually to our economy. Your purchase of a hunting or fur harvester license supports the work of the department employees who manage and protect Michigan's wildlife habitat. We encourage you to keep hunting and trapping, and to share your experience with others. In doing so, you can do your part to keep our state's wildlife heritage alive for future generations.

The printed version of this guide was printed at zero cost to the State of Michigan, which resulted in a savings of more than $100,000 to the Game and Fish Protection Fund.

Funding the Wildlife Division
Facts You Should Know

Need information? Contact the Department of Natural Resources