MICHIGAN · DEER · 2026–27
Michigan deer
seasons 2026–27.
Nov. 15–30 regular firearm dates, October and December archery, three-day December seasons and the DMU/tag restrictions that change your hunt.
NEW FOR 2026
Use the current deer rules
- The former limited-firearms deer zone is gone. Legal deer firearms can be used throughout the Lower Peninsula, subject to local discharge rules.
- Dec. 4–6 is a three-day December firearm season in the Lower Peninsula and a muzzleloader season in the Upper Peninsula.
- Lower Peninsula late antlerless firearm dates are Dec. 7–Jan. 1. There is no ordinary extended January antlerless or January archery season after Jan. 1.
- UP DMUs 351 and 352 and their antlerless access drawing were removed. Use the current unit map and universal-antlerless limits.
- A Michigan resident 65+ with a valid senior deer license can use a crossbow during UP late archery; other crossbow permits require individual confirmation.
Source: Michigan DNR: current 2026 deer regulations ↗; Michigan DNR: approved 2026 and 2027 deer changes ↗; Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter III: species seasons, limits and licenses ↗
PUBLISHED HUNT DATES
Season dates & equipment
Use the finder for county, DMU, eligibility and local limits. Archery and firearm entries can overlap with different tag restrictions. During the UP Dec. 4–6 muzzleloader overlap, the finder applies firearm tag rules even to bows and qualifying crossbows. Public and special hunts stay guarded.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early archery · bow / crossbowOpen now · through Nov. 14Bow or crossbow | Oct. 1 – Nov. 14, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Lower Peninsula late archeryOpens Dec. 1, 2026Bow or crossbow | Dec. 1, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. Bow/crossbow late archery retains its tag rules while overlapping antlerless firearm dates. Wear required orange where firearm seasons overlap. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Upper Peninsula late archery · bowOpens Dec. 1, 2026Bow; ordinary crossbows excluded | Dec. 1 – Dec. 3, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Regular firearm · Nov. 15–30Opens Nov. 15 (in 11 days)Legal deer firearm, bow or crossbow | Nov. 15 – Nov. 30, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Lower Peninsula December firearmOpens Dec. 4, 2026All legal deer firearms, bow or crossbow | Dec. 4 – Dec. 6, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. The former limited-firearms deer zone was eliminated for 2026. This is a three-day season, not the previous longer muzzleloader window. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Upper Peninsula muzzleloader / bowOpens Dec. 4, 2026Black-powder muzzleloading rifle/shotgun/pistol or bow | Dec. 4 – Dec. 6, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. UP firearm tag restrictions apply even when using archery equipment during this season. Ordinary rifles, shotguns and crossbows are excluded. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Lower Peninsula early antlerless firearmClosed for 2026-27Legal firearm, bow or crossbow | Sept. 12 – Sept. 13, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. Antlerless only; all Upper Peninsula units and DMUs 145/245 are excluded. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Lower Peninsula late antlerless firearmOpens Dec. 7, 2026Legal firearm, bow or crossbow | Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. Antlerless only under this firearm entry; no antlered harvest. All UP units and DMUs 145/245 are excluded. The former extended January antlerless season is not listed. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Liberty Hunt · youth 16 and youngerClosed for 2026-27Legal youth firearm, bow or crossbow | Sept. 12 – Sept. 13, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. Hunters 9 and younger need a mentored license and qualified mentor. Ages 10–16 need required adult supervision. Antler-point restrictions are waived; hunter orange is required. Youth do not gain the Lower Peninsula disability bait exception. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Liberty Hunt · qualifying disabilityCheck Michigan DNRAuthorized firearm, bow or crossbow | Sept. 12 – Sept. 13, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Independence Hunt · qualifying disabilityCheck Michigan DNRAuthorized firearm, bow or crossbow | Oct. 15 – Oct. 18, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Upper Peninsula late crossbow · resident seniorOpens Dec. 1, 2026Crossbow with valid Michigan resident senior deer license | Dec. 1 – Dec. 3, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. Resident 65+ with a valid senior single/combo/universal-antlerless deer license only. Age alone or a nonresident senior license does not establish this exception. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Upper Peninsula December crossbow · resident seniorOpens Dec. 4, 2026Crossbow with valid Michigan resident senior deer license | Dec. 4 – Dec. 6, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. Firearm-season tag and antlerless restrictions apply during the muzzleloader overlap. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Upper Peninsula late crossbow · special permitCheck Michigan DNRCrossbow / modified bow with qualifying DNR permit | Dec. 1, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| South Fox Island · special archery datesCheck Michigan DNRAuthorized archery equipment | Oct. 1 – Oct. 28, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| South Fox Island · special firearm datesCheck Michigan DNRLegal island firearm / bow / crossbow | Oct. 29 – Nov. 26, 2026 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| North Manitou Island · confirm NPS huntCheck Michigan DNREquipment authorized for the selected NPS hunt | Check Michigan DNR | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. No unpublished NPS hunt dates are inferred. | One deer per valid unused kill tag. License type, DMU antler rules and universal-antlerless use limits apply.source · source |
| Approved Zone 3 DMA property huntCheck Michigan DNROnly the equipment authorized by the property DMA hunt | Dec. 21, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 | Open land in the selected Michigan deer management unit; property rules still apply. Have an unused valid kill tag and lawful access. Validate the tag before field dressing or moving the deer; report within 72 hours or before transfer of possession, whichever comes first. Local firearm-discharge rules, 150-yard building safety zones and hunter-orange requirements apply. Calendar dates are not shooting hours. | Antlerless harvest under the property-specific DMA authorization; an appropriate deer license and the special hunt-period permit are required. Ordinary tags alone do not grant this property hunt.source · source |
LICENSE & TAG RULES
Single, combo and antlerless tags
One deer per unused valid kill tag. A single deer license has one tag; a combo has two, one regular and one restricted. You cannot buy a single and a combo to add tags together. The antlered limit is two across seasons, except one in DMU 117 (Drummond Island). An antlerless-only entry never authorizes a buck.
DMU antler-point restrictions depend on tag type. Combo restricted bucks normally need four qualifying points on one side. The finder lists the single and combo regular rules for the selected DMU. Youth 16 and younger, mentored and base-apprentice holders have APR exceptions, but those do not automatically make ordinary UP single/combo tags valid for antlerless deer during firearm seasons.
Universal-antlerless tags can be purchased without a drawing. At most 10 universal/discounted DMU-487 licenses may be purchased statewide, and each unit or county has a separate use limit. This is not an automatic ten-deer allowance everywhere.
Upper Peninsula: universal tags are valid in DMU 022 (use limit 1), 121/122/155/255 (2 each), and 055 (5). Ordinary universal tags are not valid in the other UP units. Special standing-vehicle and DMA permits have their own conditions.
Lower Peninsula universal-tag use limits by county:
- 3 per hunter: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Monroe, Otsego, Roscommon, Wexford.
- 4 per hunter: Clare, Gladwin, Oceana.
- 5 per hunter: Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Manistee, Mason, Midland, Missaukee, Muskegon, Oakland, Ogemaw, Osceola, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne.
- 10 per hunter: Alcona, Alpena, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oscoda, Presque Isle.
DMU 487 discounted antlerless tags are limited to the northeast area: Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle. Special island and reserved-area tags are managed locally.
Source: Michigan DNR: current 2026 deer regulations ↗; Michigan DNR: 2026 deer guide and unit maps (PDF) ↗; Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter III: species seasons, limits and licenses ↗
REPORTING & DISEASE
Tag, report and check transport rules
Validate the paper or eHarvest tag before field dressing or moving the deer. Report harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession, whichever is first. Report before submitting a head for testing.
CWD testing in 2026 focuses on Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo. DNR also has bovine-TB surveillance in northeast counties; use current head-submission instructions and collection sites. Testing guidance is kept separate from hunting closures.
Montcalm County and specified Ionia/Kent townships have carcass-movement restrictions. Check permitted parts and the direct-to-registered-processor or licensed-taxidermist exceptions before moving a carcass. Out-of-state import rules also apply. Baiting and feeding are banned in the Lower Peninsula except specific qualifying disability-hunt bait exceptions; UP baiting has dates, volume and dispersal limits.
Source: Michigan DNR: current 2026 deer regulations ↗; Michigan DNR: current CWD testing ↗; Michigan DNR: CWD transport and hunting restrictions ↗; Michigan DNR: bovine tuberculosis ↗
CHECK THE BOUNDARY
Your county is the first step
DMUs cross county lines and some counties contain several units. Pick the unit for the actual property using the current DNR map and legal descriptions. Isle Royale is closed to deer hunting. DMUs 145, 174, 245 and 273 require individual island/reserved-area confirmation. Beaver/Garden (115) text and antlerless maps disagree, and South Fox (245) buck-threshold wording differs across sources; these remain flagged for DNR confirmation. County/DMU mismatches cannot produce confirmed calendar dates.
Source: Michigan DNR: 2026 deer guide and unit maps (PDF) ↗; Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter XII: deer, turkey, goose and upland units ↗; Michigan DNR: reserved deer drawing and access requirements ↗
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Reviewed for this season
We compare the current Michigan DNR species guides, maps and Wildlife Conservation Order. Only published dates are listed. Saved calendars and printouts do not update automatically; sources are reviewed weekly before editorial changes are published.
- Michigan DNR: current 2026 deer regulations ↗
- Michigan DNR: 2026 deer guide and unit maps (PDF) ↗
- Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter III: species seasons, limits and licenses ↗
- Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter XII: deer, turkey, goose and upland units ↗
- Michigan DNR: current CWD testing ↗
- Michigan DNR: CWD transport and hunting restrictions ↗
Last checked: Nov. 2, 2026. Report a change.