Michigan's Firearm Deer Season Kicks Off This Saturday: Essential Information for Hunters

Michigan's eagerly awaited firearm deer season commences this Saturday, November 15, 2025, drawing hunters statewide to participate in this cherished tradition.

 

Season Dates and Legal Shooting Hours

 

The regular firearm season spans from November 15 to November 30, 2025.

 

On opening day, legal shooting hours are from 6:53 a.m. to 5:40 p.m.

 

Licenses and Tags

 

All hunters must possess the appropriate licenses and tags:

 

Annual base hunting license: $11

 

Single deer license: $20

 

Deer combo license (includes two licenses): $40

 

Antlerless deer license: $20

 

Senior licenses are available at discounted rates.

 

Out-of-state residents: $151 base license; deer combo license: $191

 

Each harvested deer requires a kill tag, which must be completed immediately after the harvest, detailing the date, gender, and antler points, and securely attached to the deer.

 

Harvest Reporting Requirements

 

Hunters are mandated to report their harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession.

 

Reporting can be done via the DNR Hunt Fish app or online.

 

Safety Requirements

 

Wearing hunter orange is compulsory for all deer hunters, ensuring visibility from all directions.

 

Camouflage patterns are acceptable if at least 50% hunter orange.

 

Firearm hunting is prohibited within 450 feet of occupied buildings without prior written permission.

 

Firearm Handling and Transport

 

Firearms must be unloaded in both the barrel and magazine and enclosed in a case or stored in the vehicle's trunk during transport.

 

Land Use and Trespassing

 

Hunters must obtain permission before hunting or retrieving game on private land.

 

Baiting Rules

 

Deer baiting is banned in the Lower Peninsula.

 

Violations can be reported to the DNR hotline at 800-292-7800; anonymous tips are accepted, and rewards may be available.

 

For comprehensive information on hunting licenses, regulations, and safety tips, visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website.

 

Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com