Michigan Deer Season 2026: Firearm, Archery and December Firearm Dates

Deer season dates

What changed for 2026

The Natural Resources Commission approved these changes in May 2026:

• December Firearm season: in the Lower Peninsula, the former muzzleloader season is now a three-day December Firearm season (Dec. 4, 2026 to Dec. 6, 2026), starting the first Friday in December. Any legal firearm may be used.
• Upper Peninsula muzzleloader: reduced from 10 days to three (Dec. 4, 2026 to Dec. 6, 2026).
• Limited Firearms Deer Zone eliminated: all legal firearms, including bottleneck cartridges, are allowed throughout the Lower Peninsula. See how this compares with the deer rifle rules in other states.
• Every season ends by Jan. 1: the extended late antlerless and January archery seasons were eliminated.
• Early antlerless with the Liberty Hunt: the early antlerless firearm season now runs the same weekend as the Liberty Hunt, Sept. 12, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026.
• Upper Peninsula antlerless: the antlerless access drawing ended and DMUs 351 and 352 were rescinded. Universal antlerless licenses are valid in DMUs 022, 055, 121, 122, 155 and 255.
• Crossbows for seniors: residents with a senior deer, senior combo or senior antlerless license may use a crossbow during the Upper Peninsula late archery season.

Antlerless firearm seasons

The early (Sept. 12, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026) and late (Dec. 7, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027) antlerless firearm seasons are open in Lower Peninsula DMUs except 145 and 245, on public and private land. DMU 115 is open for both. These seasons are limited to the Lower Peninsula.

Liberty Hunt and Independence Hunt

• Liberty Hunt (Sept. 12, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026): for qualified youth and hunters with disabilities. One antlered deer plus antlerless deer, one per valid kill tag. Antler point restrictions do not apply, and all participants must wear hunter orange.
• Independence Hunt (Oct. 15, 2026 to Oct. 18, 2026): for qualified hunters with disabilities. Public land by permit only; private land is open.

Licenses and bag limits

• Deer license: one kill tag, valid for one deer.
• Deer combo license: two kill tags, a regular tag and a restricted tag, each valid for one deer. The restricted tag carries a four-point antler point restriction.
• After buying a single deer license, you cannot buy a second single deer license or the deer combo license.
• Statewide limit of two antlered deer, except DMU 117, where the limit is one.

Antler point restrictions

A legal antlered deer has one antler 3 inches or longer. Antler point restrictions vary by license and DMU and are shown on the DNR maps and charts in the 2026 regulations summary. Youth hunters 16 and younger, hunters licensed under the Mentored Hunting Program and apprentice license holders are exempt in all seasons, including the four-point restriction on the restricted tag.

Hunter orange

During firearm deer seasons, you must wear a cap, hat, vest, jacket or rain gear of hunter orange. Camouflage counts if it is at least 50 percent hunter orange. Archery hunters are exempt during archery seasons, but not when hunting during a firearm season.

Legal hunting hours

Deer may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Michigan prints the daily times for Zone A; hunters in other zones add the minutes shown on the zone map. In counties on Central Time, subtract one more hour from the printed time.

Approved for 2027

For 2027, the commission approved a limit of one buck per season in the Lower Peninsula, with a single license valid for one deer with at least three antler points on one side or one antlerless deer, and a combo license valid for one antlered and one antlerless deer or two antlerless deer. The Upper Peninsula rules do not change. These rules do not apply to the 2026 season on this page.

Frequently asked questions

When does firearm deer season start in Michigan?

The regular firearm deer season runs Nov. 15, 2026 to Nov. 30, 2026 statewide.

When does bow season start in Michigan?

The archery season has two segments: Oct. 1, 2026 to Nov. 14, 2026 and Dec. 1, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027, statewide.

Is there still a muzzleloader season in Michigan?

In the Upper Peninsula, yes: Dec. 4, 2026 to Dec. 6, 2026. In the Lower Peninsula it has been replaced by the December Firearm season on the same dates, when any legal firearm may be used.

When does deer season end in Michigan?

All 2026 deer seasons end by Jan. 1, 2027. The late archery segment and the late antlerless firearm season both close that day.

How many bucks can I take in Michigan?

The statewide limit is two antlered deer, except in DMU 117, where it is one.

What is a legal antlered deer in Michigan?

A deer with one antler 3 inches or longer. Antler point restrictions also apply depending on the license and the DMU.

What are legal hunting hours for deer in Michigan?

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Michigan publishes the times as a table for Zone A, and hunters in other zones add the minutes shown for their zone. In Central Time counties, subtract one hour.

Deer season in other states

Texas · Pennsylvania · Wisconsin · Ohio · Georgia · New York · Missouri · Minnesota · Indiana · Virginia · North Carolina · Kentucky · Tennessee · Alabama. Compare every state on the deer season dates by state page.

Duck seasons are on the Michigan duck season page.

Always check the DNR regulations and the antler point restrictions for your DMU before hunting.