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Michigan regulations 2026–27

Copied from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summaries. Deer and fall turkey dates are cross-checked against the DNR hunting season calendar. Every table links to the official source. If anything here disagrees with the Michigan DNR, the Michigan DNR is right.

Checked against Michigan DNR Oct 17, 2026Fishing rules Apr 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027
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General fishing regulations (statewide)

Statewide rules for warmwater species. Many waters have exceptions (by county, trout and salmon types, Great Lakes, border waters) — check the DNR guide before you keep fish. Muskellunge, lake sturgeon, cisco/whitefish and smelt rows are left out until verified by hand.

Michigan statewide fishing limits
SpeciesDaily bagMin lengthMax length
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass
  • Possession season: 3rd. Sat. in June - Dec. 31: L. St. Clair, St. Clair R., Detroit R. (See NOTE 2 ) Sat. before Memorial Day - Dec. 31: All other waters including Gr. Lakes (except those listed in NOTE 2 )
5 in any combination14"—
Walleye
  • Possession season: May 15 - March 15: Upper Peninsula Gr. Lakes and inland waters, and St. Marys R. Last Sat. in April - March15: Lower Peninsula inland waters Open All Year: Lower Peninsula Gr. Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Clair R. and Detroit R.
515"—
Northern Pike
  • Possession season: May 15 - March 15: Upper Peninsula Gr. Lakes and inland waters, and St. Marys R. Last Sat. in April - March15: Lower Peninsula inland waters Open All Year: Lower Peninsula Gr. Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Clair R. and Detroit R.
224"—
Flathead Catfish
  • Possession season: Open All Year
515"—
Channel Catfish
  • Possession season: Open All Year
1012"—
Yellow Perch
  • Possession season: Open All Year
25No size limit—
Sunfishes
  • Possession season: Open All Year
25 in any combination of the listed speciesNo size limit—
White Bass
  • Possession season: Open All Year
25 on Gr. Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Marys R., St. Clair R., and Detroit R. 10 on inland watersNo size limit—
All others
  • Possession season: Open All Year
No possession limitNo size limit—
Burbot
  • Possession season: Open All Year
5No size limit—

Michigan DNR 2026 Fishing Regulations (PDF) 2026 (Apr 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027) · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026

Hunting season dates 2026–27

Deer9 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
Archery (early segment)StatewideOct. 1 - Nov. 14
Archery (late segment)StatewideDec. 1 - Jan. 1
December firearmLower Peninsula DMUsDec. 4-6
Early antlerless firearmLower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 145 and 245)Sept. 12-13
Independence HuntStatewideOct. 15-18
Late antlerless firearmLower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 145 and 245)Dec. 7 - Jan. 1, 2027
Liberty HuntStatewideSept. 12-13
MuzzleloaderUpper Peninsula DMUsDec. 4-6
Regular firearmStatewideNov. 15-30

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Turkey (fall)2 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
Fall season (hunt 0401)TMU ISept. 15 - Nov. 14
Fall season (hunt 0402)TMU MSept. 15 - Nov. 14

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Quail1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewide (select counties)Oct. 20 - Nov. 14

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Cottontail rabbit1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewideSept. 15 - Mar. 31

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Pheasant4 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonZone 1Oct. 10 - 31
SeasonZone 2Oct. 20 - Nov. 14
SeasonZone 3Oct. 20 - Nov. 14
December seasonDecember pheasant management unitDec. 1 - Jan. 1

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Snowshoe hare1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewideSept. 15 - Mar. 31

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Ruffed grouse2 seasons
SeasonZone / areaDates
Early seasonStatewideSept. 15 - Nov. 14
Late seasonStatewideDec. 1 - Jan. 1

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Sharp-tailed grouse1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonZone 1Oct. 10 - 31

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Squirrel (fox and gray)1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewideSept. 15 - Mar. 31

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Woodcock1 season
SeasonZone / areaDates
SeasonStatewideSept. 15 - Oct. 29

DMU, TMU and zone rules, antler point restrictions and license quotas apply — check the DNR summary.

Michigan DNR 2026–27 · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026

Michigan DNR 2026 · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026

Michigan DNR 2026–27 · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026

Licenses

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