Friday, September 3, 2010

Michigan Hunting Guide

2010-2011 Hunting Seasons Dates

Deer

Early Antlerless Only**
Sept. 16 - Sept. 20

Youth and Disabled Veterans
Sept. 25 & 26

Special Disabled Firearm Hunt
Oct. 14 - Oct. 17

Archery
Oct. 1 - Nov. 14
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1

Regular Firearm
Nov. 15 - Nov. 30

Muzzleloading
Dec. 3 - Dec. 12 (Upper Peninsula)
Dec. 3 - Dec. 19
(Southern Lower Peninsula)
Dec. 10 - Dec. 19
(Northern Lower Peninsula)

Late Antlerless Only**
Dec. 19 - Jan. 1

BLACK BEAR*

Sept. 10 - Oct. 26
(Upper Peninsula, except Drummond Island)

Sept. 10 - Sept. 25
(North Baldwin area)

Sept. 10 - Oct. 21
(Drummond Island)

Sept. 17 - Sept. 25
(Gladwin, Baldwin and Red Oak areas)

Oct. 8 - Oct. 14
(Red Oak area – archery only)

OTHER SPECIES

Cottontail Rabbit & Varying Hare
Sept. 15 - March 31

Elk* 
Aug. 31 - Sept. 3 
Sept. 24 - Sept. 27 
Oct. 16 - Oct. 20
Dec. 4 - Dec. 12
Jan. 12 - Jan. 16 (if necessary)

Pheasant 
Oct. 9 - Oct. 31 (Upper Peninsula)
Oct. 20 - Nov. 14
(Lower Peninsula)
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1**

Quail
Oct. 20 - Nov. 14

Ruffed Grouse
Sept. 15 - Nov. 14
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1

Squirrel (Fox and Gray)
Sept. 15 - March 1

Waterfowl
(Ducks and Geese) 
For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting
and click on Waterfowl.

Wild Turkey**
Sept. 15 - Nov. 14

Woodcock
Sept. 25 - Nov. 8

* limited licenses available ** in selected areas

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Pure Michigan Hunt: You Could Win!

Apply now through Dec. 31. | Each application costs $4.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment is inviting hunters to test their luck by entering to win the Pure Michigan Hunt. Three lucky hunters will be selected to win a special hunting license package that includes elk, bear, antlerless deer and turkey hunting during any open season for each species. Winners will also receive first selection of hunting sites during the reserved hunts at managed waterfowl areas.

For more information or to enter, visit www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt.

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Share the Tradition Safely

As you know, hunting is more than just a sport here in Michigan – it’s a tradition. It’s an annual ritual passed down from generation to generation, with families heading out into Michigan’s great outdoors to enjoy hunting grounds and game that are the envy of sportsmen and sportswomen across the country. Safe hunting begins with teaching responsibility, ethics, wildlife conservation, survival and first aid.

Successful completion of a hunter education class is required of all first-time hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1960.

Fact: Nearly 30,000 new hunters complete Michigan’s hunter education course each year.*

For more information about courses in our area, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting and click on hunter education.

*Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment

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Sportsperson’s Discount

Individuals receive a 15 percent discount when they buy four or more hunting or fishing licenses at the same time. The waterfowl hunting license, 24-hour fishing license and all-species upgrade license are not eligible for the discount.

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E-Licenses

Michigan’s E-License system lets hunters and anglers purchase licenses, applications and permits 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Visit www.mdnr-elicense.com to:

  • Buy most hunting licenses, special hunting applications and kill tags. Some can even be printed from your computer.
  • Give the gift of Michigan’s outdoors. Gift cards are available in denominations of $15, $30 and $50 and can be redeemed online for licenses for fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.

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More Michigan Hunters Can Use Crossbows

In August, Michigan broadened the rules for using crossbows. They may now be used by any hunter 10 and older anywhere in Michigan. However, they can only be used from Dec. 1 through March 31 by hunters with disabilities.

A crossbow stamp is required in addition to a valid hunting license. Stamps are FREE and are available from all license agents or online at www.michigan.gov/dnre.

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Protecting Our Hunting Land

Outdoor activities have long been a rich part of Michigan’s heritage. Fathers and mothers share family traditions with their children while hunting on chilly autumn mornings. I want to make sure that this special way of life can continue to be passed on for generations to come.

We must also protect the vital role hunting plays in our economy. When visitors from all over the country come to enjoy Michigan’s excellent hunting grounds, they pump money into our economy by staying at our hotels, eating at our restaurants and shopping in our stores.

That’s why I was proud to vote for a law to replace any hunting land sold by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment with an equal amount of new public hunting land.

Preserving our hunting land will protect our special heritage and the income that many of our residents rely on to help provide for their families. It will also ensure that Michigan remains a top destination for those who want to enjoy our outdoors and spend their money here doing it.

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 Hunting and Trapping and Rifle/Shotgun ZonesHunting and Trapping Zones

Michigan is divided into Hunting and Trapping Zones 1-2-3.

Zone 1 includes all of the Upper Peninsula.

Zones 2 and 3 are divided as follows:



From the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Muskegon Lake easterly on Memorial Drive to Ruddiman Drive to Lake Avenue, easterly on Lake Avenue to M-120 in North Muskegon, northeasterly on M-120 to M-20, easterly on M-20 to US-10, easterly on US-10 to Garfield Road in Bay County, northerly on Garfield Road to Pinconning Road, easterly on Pinconning Road to Seven Mile Road, northerly on Seven Mile Road to Lincoln School Road (County Road 25) in Arenac County, northerly on Lincoln School Road to M-61, easterly on M-61 to US-23, easterly on US-23 to center line of AuGres River, southerly along center line of AuGres River to Saginaw Bay, easterly 90 degrees east for 7 miles into Saginaw Bay, then northerly 78 degrees east to the International Boundary.

Exception: The waterfowl hunting zone lines differ from those above. Refer to the 2010-2011 Waterfowl Hunting Digest for waterfowl zone descriptions.

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Rifle and Shotgun Zones

Michigan is also divided into a northern rifle zone – where rifles may used for firearm deer hunting – and a southern shotgun zone – where only shotguns, muzzleloading firearms and certain handguns may be used for deer hunting.

The dividing line between the northern rifle zone and the southern shotgun zone is as follows:

Starting at a point on the Lake Michigan shoreline directly west of M-46, then easterly to M-46, then easterly along M-46 to US-131 at Cedar Springs, southerly on US-131 to M-57, easterly on M-57 to Montcalm Road on the Kent-Montcalm county line, southerly on Montcalm Road and the Kent-Ionia county line to M-44, easterly on M-44 to M-66, northerly on M-66 to M-57, easterly on M-57 to M-52 near Chesaning, northerly on M-52 to M-46, easterly on M-46 to M-47, northerly on M-47 to US-10 west of Bay City, easterly on US-10 to I-75, northerly on I-75 and US-23 to Beaver Road (about 1 mile north of Kawkawlin), easterly to Saginaw Bay, north 50 degrees east to the International Boundary

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