Michigan Bow Hunting: 9.5M Public Land Acres
📅 2026 Season & License Info
Archery Season Open
October 1
Archery Season Close
November 14
Min Draw Weight
35 lbs
Resident License
$15/yr
Non-Resident License
$151/yr
Top Species
Whitetail Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Wild Turkey
📍 Top Public Hunting Spots
Hiawatha National Forest
Whitetail Deer, Bear, Turkey
Upper Peninsula. Remote forest hunting with very low pressure. Float-in opportunities.
Ottawa National Forest
Whitetail Deer, Bear, Elk
Western UP. Elk herd in Pigeon River area. Black bear hunting exceptional.
Pigeon River State Forest
Elk, Whitetail Deer, Bear
Michigan's elk capital. Limited archery elk tags by draw. Excellent deer hunting too.
⚖️ Michigan Archery Regulations
- •Minimum draw weight: 35 lbs
- •Michigan has separate archery and firearm seasons — check dates carefully
- •Elk hunting requires limited draw tag
- •Sunday hunting allowed
💡 Expert Tips for Michigan
- →Michigan has 9.5 million acres of public hunting land — one of the most in the nation
- →The Upper Peninsula offers remote wilderness hunting with low pressure
- →Michigan's elk herd in Pigeon River Country is the largest wild elk herd east of the Mississippi
- →November firearm season brings pressure — use archery season to take unpressured deer
🏛️ Official Wildlife Agency & Sources
Hunting seasons, tag quotas, and bag limits are established by state wildlife agencies and change annually. For official regulations, proclamations, and license purchases, consult:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
Official State Wildlife Agency
Status: 2026 Season Guide
Michigan Bowhunting FAQ
How much public hunting land does Michigan have?
Michigan has approximately 9.5 million acres of publicly accessible hunting land, including state forests, state game areas, national forests, and other public land. This makes Michigan one of the top 5 states for public land hunting acreage, particularly impressive given Michigan's relatively small geographic size compared to western states.