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Ring in the new year with an invigorating hunt in Michigan's scenic wilderness.
The spring turkey application period is Jan. 1-Feb. 1, 2026. You can buy an application for $5 online, at a license agent, or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.
New changes for the 2026 application period:
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Eligible applicants: To apply for a spring turkey license during the application period, hunters must be 17 years old or older during the hunt period and have a hunter education certificate, or they must be licensed as an apprentice hunter. Hunters 10-16 years old can purchase a spring turkey youth license, so there is no need to apply for a license.
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New Spring Turkey Management Units: The number of spring turkey management units has been reduced from 14 to 3. The units are now M (Upper Peninsula), NN (northern Lower Peninsula) and ZZ (southern Lower Peninsula). The boundary line between NN and ZZ does not follow the existing hunting and trapping zone lines. Please see the 2026 spring turkey hunting regulations summary to view the official TMU boundary maps, as well as season dates and license quotas.
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Hunt 0234 and Hunt 0301: These guaranteed licenses do not require an application in the drawing. You can purchase a Hunt 0234 license or a Hunt 0301 license when leftover licenses go on sale Mar. 16 at 10 a.m.
Drawing results will be available Mar. 2, 2026. You can check your drawing results online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app or by calling 517-284-9453. You are responsible for obtaining your drawing results.
Additional season information can be found in the 2026 spring turkey hunting regulations summary.
Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4, join us at a deer donation drive at Knutson’s Sporting Goods, located at 151 Wamplers Lake Rd. Brooklyn, MI 42930. Through the Hunters Feeding Michigan program, all donated venison will be distributed to Michigan food pantries.
Online harvest reporting is required within 72 hours of harvesting a deer. You can report your deer through the DNR Hunt Fish app or at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport.
Deer hunting season dates, regulations and more are available in the deer hunting regulations summary.
Extended late antlerless firearm, Jan. 2-11
- Licenses for the extended late antlerless firearm deer season cost $5 and can only be used Jan. 2–11, 2026.
- See map of open DMUs below. Open on public and private lands in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. All Upper Peninsula DMUs are closed.
- During this season, you can harvest up to 10 antlerless deer (one per valid kill tag).
- You can harvest an antlerless deer with these license types: Unused single deer licenses (including those issued through the Mentored Hunting Program), deer combo licenses (regular kill tags), deer combo licenses (restricted kill tags), universal antlerless deer licenses, extended late antlerless deer licenses and DMA permits.
 January extended archery, Jan. 2-31
- Open on public and private lands in Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
- A single deer license, deer combo license or universal antlerless license is valid during the extended season.
- All rules and regulations for the archery season apply.
There's still time for goose hunting this month. Visit one of Michigan's Wetland Wonders in the southern Lower Peninsula for exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities.
Waterfowl hunting information is available in the waterfowl hunting regulations summary.
South Zone
- Goose (dark and light): Now through Jan. 4 and Jan. 31-Feb. 9
Allegan County GMU
- Goose (dark and light): Now through Feb. 15
Season dates and bag limits are available in the small game hunting regulations summary.
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Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare: Now through Mar. 31
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Fox and gray squirrels (black phase included): Now through Mar. 31
Fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and season dates are available in the furbearer harvest regulations summary.
Hunting seasons
- Fox (gray and red) hunting: Now through Mar. 1
- Raccoon hunting: Now through Mar. 31
- Coyote hunting: Now through Apr. 15
- Opossum, skunk and weasel hunting: year-round
- Bobcat hunting opportunities are available. See the furbearer harvest regulations summary for open units, season dates and bag limits.
Trapping seasons
- Coyote and fox (gray and red) trapping: Now through Mar. 1
- Raccoon trapping: Now through Mar. 31
- Opossum, skunk and weasel trapping: year-round
- Badger, beaver, bobcat, muskrat, mink and otter trapping opportunities are available in January in some areas. See the furbearer harvest regulations summary for open units, season dates and bag limits.
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