05/15/2026
At its May 13, 2026 meeting, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved several deer regulation changes for the 2026 and 2027 hunting seasons following extensive public input. The seven-member public body whose members are appointed by the governor, acted on and amended recommendations developed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to support healthy deer populations while balancing hunter opportunity and public feedback. The department presented the recommendations to the NRC on April 8, 2026. Under Michigan law, the NRC has the exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game and establish hunting regulations.
Changes approved for the 2026 deer seasons:
🔶 Elimination of the antlerless deer hunting access drawing in the Upper Peninsula. There will not be an antlerless deer hunting access drawing in the Upper Peninsula. DMUs 351 and 352 have been rescinded. Hunters in the Upper Peninsula will only be able to use universal antlerless deer licenses in DMUs 022, 122, 155, 255, 121, and 055 during the 2026 season.
🔶 Reduction of the statewide muzzleloader deer season from 10 days to three days. The shortened season will begin on the first Friday in December. In the Lower Peninsula, any legal firearm may be used during this season, which will now be called the December Firearm Deer Season.
🔶 Opening the Late Antlerless Firearm Deer Season earlier, beginning on the Monday following the December Firearm Deer Season and continuing through Jan. 1. The season will be open across the Lower Peninsula except in Deer Management Units 245 (South Fox island) and 145 (North Manitou island). Deer Management Unit 115 (Beaver and Garden Islands) are now open for both early and late antlerless firearm deer seasons.
🔶 Elimination of the Limited Fi****ms Deer Zone in the Lower Peninsula, allowing the use of all legal fi****ms, including bottleneck cartridges, throughout the Lower Peninsula. Fi****ms larger than .22 rimfire are now permitted statewide.
🔶 Authorization for residents with a valid senior deer license, senior deer combination license, or senior antlerless deer license to use a crossbow during the late archery deer season in the Upper Peninsula.
🔶 Elimination of the extended late antlerless firearm deer season and the January archery deer seasons, concluding all deer hunting seasons after Jan. 1.
🔶 Scheduling the early antlerless firearm deer season to run concurrently with the Liberty Hunt during the second weekend in September. The Liberty Hunt and Early Antlerless Firearm Deer seasons will be on September 12-13 this year.
🔶 Authorization for the department to establish universal antlerless deer license use limits in consultation with the NRC. The universal antlerless deer license use limits will be reviewed and published annually. This change applies limits on the number of universal antlerless licenses that hunters may use within individual Deer Management Units or counties.
In addition, the NRC approved several administrative changes for 2026, including:
🔶 Allowing case-by-case exceptions to authorize wildlife rehabilitators to possess fawns for rehabilitation.
🔶 Resolving a gap between Deer Management Units 027 and 036. This gap existed in the Wildlife Conservation Order only.
Changes approved for the 2027 deer seasons:
🔶 Limiting harvest to one buck per hunter in the Lower Peninsula.
Under the new regulations:
🔶 A single deer license in the Lower Peninsula will be valid for one deer with at least three antler points on one side or for one antlerless deer.
🔶 A deer combination license will allow hunters to take one antlered deer and one antlerless deer, or two antlerless deer.
🔶 Existing DMU-specific antler point restrictions will remain in place.
🔶 Upper Peninsula deer regulations will remain unchanged.
The NRC also approved a pilot “earn a second buck” program in the southern Lower Peninsula (Zone 3). Under the pilot program, hunters must first harvest an antlerless deer before becoming eligible to harvest a second buck with a four-point antler point restriction. The department will determine participating counties at a later date and will bring forward a Wildlife Conservation Order amendment in July outlining the program parameters.
In addition, the NRC expanded exceptions authorizing deer management assistance permits for the take of antlered deer causing horticultural damage because of the new one-buck limit in the Lower Peninsula. These exceptions will require approval from wildlife and law enforcement supervisors.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is currently preparing the 2026 deer hunting regulations summary, which will include complete season regulations and hunting information. Digital versions will be available first through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and on the DNR website, followed by printed copies distributed to license retailers and DNR offices statewide.
