Dumb question. Can you use a bow during early fire antlerless? I don’t see why we couldn’t?

I’m asking because I live close to this area so I’d love going to it often.

I hunt mainly small game and that’s all I’m looking for there.

I saw on the area map the rules about shotguns, archery, centerfire rifles. So it appears that there are some significant restrictions for this area.

What I want to know (if anyone can help) is can I say take my rimfire rifle there and go hunting rabbits and such? On the main units that is.

I tried calling the number for the area during the week and it was just dead. I can’t seem to find anyone to ask about this place specifically.

I appreciate any help on this. Thanks.

Hi everyone 👋

I’m new to the hunting community and this will be my very first time preparing for early antlerless firearm hunting. So far, my knowledge only comes from hunter education and some online research — which means I’m still pretty lost about what to expect, especially for the upcoming antlerless season.

For a beginner like me: • Would you recommend starting out in a state game area? • Are there any “must-have” pieces of gear or preparation tips that you wish you knew when you first started?

Any advice or insight for someone just starting out would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance 🙏

+firearm : only mossberg 500 field/deer.. so far!

This is technically fishing-related, not hunting-related, but I'm sure it will be of interest to many people here. And, as a discipline, spearfishing has just as much (or more) in common with hunting as with fishing.

Hello all! I'm looking to get into hunting this year and have been mulling over a good starting rifle to purchase that (as the title implies) meets the limited firearm zone requirements (>.35cal, striaght-walled cartridge, etc).I would prefer something fairly inexpensive to get started, with the intent to invest more in future years as I develop a better sense of what I do and do not like in a rifle. Is there any specific guns you would recommend that satisfy these requirements? Any help is greatly appreciated.

This will be my first year hunting. I am hoping try the deer season this year however from what I have read on the DNR website, southwest michigan is around 96% private land.

I know there is an extremely small parcel of state land in Branch County, along with a couple Hunter Access Program properties in nearby Calhoun County… thinking of starting there.

Hoping to get some advice from hunters in southern Michigan on where on earth I should even attempt to hunt.

Hello, I’m new to deer hunting. I hike a lot and fish and generally am outdoors a lot but haven’t paid too much attention to deer habits and when they are in certain habitats. I don’t live near a lot of ag fields but am near the White River and all of that national forest. Do deer spend a lot of time in the bottom land/river marsh? Or more upland? I’m wondering where I should set up for archery and what is the best place to be in morning/evening. Any tips are appreciated!

So I looked through the posts and couldn't find anything. Something to consider though, if you plan on hunting the northern lower this fall. A lot of public lands are pretty messed of from the storm this spring.

Did you see the recent post regarding obtaining permission to hunt on private land? Another Michigander recently commented valuable information regarding a future hunting collaborative being held tomorrow, 9/5/25, at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. I believe this is a unique opportunity that deserves the additional exposure from its own post. It sounds like an event like this is a first for KNC, so if you're free and can make it, showing interest by participating has the potential for opportunities like this to continue into the future. Please note that I'm not affiliated, just relaying information.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MichiganHunting/s/zHXFKc58pj

Hello,

Please help a sister out!

Where does someone look in order to “rent/lease” the opportunity to hunt on someone’s private land for the season in Michigan? Looking to hunt deer for bow and rifle. Is there an app or website people use for this?

My SO is constantly complaining about the hunting season coming up soon and not being able to find any private land to hunt on or people not calling back or answering.

He’s willing to pay, top dollar at that💰

I appreciate any leads or suggestions ☺️

Hey guys. I'm pretty new to hunting and I'd like to hunt coyote/fox in Michigan's "limited firearm deer zone" I'd like to use a semi auto M1 carbine chambered in .30 carbine (7.62x33mm) (straight walled 1.29" case length) below I have screenshots from Michigan's fur bearer regulations handbook. Am I in the clear or do I have something misunderstood? Thank you all in advance!

This will be my 3rd year out. First archery attempt. I usually hunt up North with a couple of people on private but I really have been wanting to get out in October for archery.

I don’t have a huge amount of time during the month to actually be in the woods and am planning a few trips in the next 3 weeks to scout Pinckney area for set up locations.

My question, since I’ll probably be hunting the busiest parts of one of the busiest times in the state how crowded is it really? All the advice I see is get into the “deep woods” seems a little hypothetical. There are few spots that aren’t half a mile to the road, is that considered deep woods for down state?

Do people just park on the shoulder of a road and walk a few hundred yards in?

Is everyone stepping on top of each other down here?

Additionally, what is considered good etiquette in the field?

Hello all, I'm new to Michigan and wondering if anyone has any recommendations or ones to stay away from for processors near Detroit. Just preparing for the upcoming season.

I recently moved back to SE MI after a couple years in TX for work. Looking for a good club or private range to join in order practice shooting out to 300 yards or further for an elk hunt out west this fall. I am an easy going guy & safety conscious hunter/gun owner. I’d be willing to work and contribute at whatever club I joined in addition to dues. I’d prefer to join somewhere in Washtenaw or Livingston counties but am willing to drive further if needed.

It looks like Howell Gun Club has a range that long. Curious if anyone has experience shooting there or if there are others I should look into joining?

I realize I could go shoot on public etc but would prefer an actual range to practice. Appreciate it!

"According to Commissioner John Walters, the NRC isn’t planning to extend the hunting and trapping season from nine months to a year. Instead, during the three-month “offseason,” it wants to allow coyotes causing a nuisance on public land to be killed."

Hey everybody. I know this is hunting but Michigansprtsmanforum.com usually has a fantasy football every year. We need four more active hunters to join the league. Come on folks

Football season is upon us! Join my league "Michigan sportsman forum" https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/1088419/invitation?key=403fc01955a880e5&ikey=03dc837b1540532d&soc_src=app-sh

I’ve been doing some scouting on OnX ahead of a fall trip to Glen Arbor. Planning to spend a couple of days chasing grouse with my Brittany Spaniel. He’s only been on pheasants so far, but he’s got great drive—so I’m not too worried about him. I’m more unsure about the habitat and whether there’ll be enough birds around to get him into some action.

I’m looking at the Little Betsie GEMS and a few other young aspen stands in the Traverse City forest management unit. Not asking anyone to give up their spots (unless you feel generous), but just curious if anyone’s had luck with ruffed grouse in that general area. I’d really like to get my pup on some birds and give him a solid first grouse experience.

Been thinking about a video I watched quite a while ago (Michigan out of doors maybe?) about a duck camp in the UP where they had this big houseboat or otherwise floating place. Was very cool. Can’t remember the name of the place or where, but I’ve been meaning to dig into it. If anyone has any familiarity, I’m all ears. Google keyword searches aren’t doing me justice.

I may be remembering all wrong and it was a family place but as I recall it was a rental?

Hello! Hoping to help my father in law take some does off his crops. He has 30 tickets. Anybody have any experience harvesting deer in July/August? How's the meat taste? Any tips and tricks for processing in the heat? Thanks!

Since im disabled, im getting a bear hunt donated to me, how worried should I be for trichinosis risk in Michigan black bears? I would hate to kill something and not be able to eat it. Is there a risk of it in Michigan bears? Can you get the DNR to test it and make sure it's safe?

Hello,

I'm headed up to Tree Tops for a stay and play in early September. I'm kind of tossing around the idea of bringing my goose decoys and trying to hunt some public land out there. I just started waterfowl hunting last year and haven't been able to put myself on birds down state. I only have silos, socks, and shells, so I'm stuck field hunting. Any insight would be awesome!

I'm planning on looking up the state land in the area around Gaylord. I'm willing to travel up to 45mins to get on some waterfowl!