LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Michigan’s hunting grounds are getting a rule refresh: Starting August 1, 2025, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) will implement a revised set of deer-hunting regulations for the 2025–26 season. 

The Lower Peninsula.

For starters, select Lower Peninsula counties will now enjoy an Extended Late Antlerless Firearm Season from January 2 to 11, 2026, open on both public and private lands. 

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In Zones 2 and 3, the muzzleloader season (December 5–14) now permits any legal firearm.

The Upper Peninsula.

Archers in the Upper Peninsula will also notice subtle tweaks to antlerless harvest rules during both early and late bow seasons. These shifts are intended to fine‑tune buck‑to‑doe ratios. 

Additionally, hunters are reminded that reporting their harvest remains mandatory. This helps the MDNR monitor deer populations. 

Season dates to mark on your calendar.

  • Liberty (Youth) Hunt: September 13–14, 2025
  • Early Antlerless Firearm: September 20–21, 2025
  • Independence Hunt: October 16–19, 2025
  • Archery: October 1–November 14 and December 1–January 1, 2026
  • Extended Archery: Through January 31, 2026, in select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174, according to the Detroit Free Press), Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne.
  • Regular Firearm: November 15–30, 2025
  • Muzzleloading: December 5–14, 2025
  • Late Antlerless Firearm: December 15–January 1, 2026, on private and public lands in Lower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 115, 145, and 245).
  • Extended Late Antlerless Firearm: January 2–11, 2026, in select counties. 

Notably, you are permitted to hunt on your own property, so long as all established safety regulations are met. If you intend to hunt on someone else’s private land, securing explicit permission is required. Moreover, many state parks do allow deer hunting, but national wildlife refuges remain off-limits unless the MDNR has specifically authorized hunting in those areas.