Hunting and Trapping and Rifle/Shotgun Zones
New Law Protects Hunting Land
Who Can Hunt With A Crossbow?
Changes to Hunter Orange Requirements
Chronic Wasting Disease
Michigan Hunting Facts
E-Licenses & Discounts
Pure Michigan Hunt
Hunting and Trapping and Rifle/Shotgun Zones
Michigan is divided into Hunting and Trapping Zones 1-2-3. Zone 1 includes all of the Upper Peninsula. The dividing line between Zones 2 and 3 is: From the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Muskegon Lake easterly on Memorial Drive to Ruddiman Drive to Lake Avenue, easterly on Lake Avenue to M-120 in North Muskegon, northeasterly on M-120 to M-20, easterly on M-20 to US-10, easterly on US-10 to Garfield Road in Bay County, northerly on Garfield Road to Pinconning Road, easterly on Pinconning Road to Seven Mile Road, northerly on Seven Mile Road to Lincoln School Road (County Road 25) in Arenac County, northerly on Lincoln School Road to M-61, easterly on M-61 to US-23, easterly on US-23 to center line of AuGres River, southerly along center line of AuGres River to Saginaw Bay, easterly 90 degrees east for 7 miles into Saginaw Bay, then northerly 78 degrees east to the International Boundary.
Exception: The waterfowl hunting zone lines differ from those above. Refer to the 2009-2010 Waterfowl Hunting Guide for waterfowl zone descriptions. Michigan also is divided into a northern rifle zone where rifles may used for firearm deer hunting and a southern shotgun zone where only shotguns, muzzleloading firearms and certain handguns may be used for deer hunting
(see Shotgun Zone Rules). The dividing line between the northern rifle deer hunting zone is as follows: Starting at a point on the Lake Michigan shoreline directly west of M-46, then easterly to M-46, then easterly along M-46 to US-131 at Cedar Springs, southerly on US-131 to M-57, easterly on M-57 to Montcalm Road on the Kent-Montcalm county line, southerly on Montcalm Road and the Kent-Ionia county line to M-44, easterly on M-44 to M-66, northerly on M-66 to M-57, easterly on M-57 to M-52 near Chesaning, northerly on M-52 to M-46, easterly on M-46 to M-47, northerly on M-47 to US-10 west of Bay City, easterly on US-10 to I-75, northerly on I-75 and US-23 to Beaver Road (about 1 mile north of Kawkawlin), easterly to Saginaw Bay, north 50 degrees east to the International Boundary.
I want to make sure generations to come have the same opportunities that we have to experience hunting in Michigan’s great outdoors.
In addition, I want to protect hunting’s vital role in our economy. Visitors come from all over to enjoy Michigan’s excellent hunting grounds. They pump money into our economy by staying at our hotels, eating at our restaurants and shopping in our stores. Preserving our hunting land will protect our special heritage and the income that many of our residents rely on to help raise their families.
That’s why I was proud to vote in favor of a House plan that passed earlier this year that ensures that any hunting land sold by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is replaced with an equal amount of public hunting land. The plan, which is now law, will help ensure that the state of Michigan continues to be a top destination for hunters across the country.
Michigan’s crossbow regulations have recently been updated to retain and recruit more hunters and to allow those with physical limitations to participate in the important tradition of hunting. Under the new regulations, crossbows may now be used:
- By any hunter age 50 and older statewide during bow hunting deer season (Oct. 1 to Nov. 14).
- By any hunter age 12 and older during any hunting season in southern Michigan (Zone 3).
- By any hunter age 12 and older statewide during any season in which a firearm may be used, for both big and small game.
The crossbow changes do not affect hunters who have crossbow permits due to a permanent disability.
A crossbow stamp is required in addition to a hunting license. Stamps are free and available at all license retailers. The DNR will use the stamp system to monitor and survey crossbow hunters over the next three years in order to re-evaluate the new regulations.
Previously, hunters who take bear with a bow, deer with a bow during archery season and turkey or migratory birds other than woodcock were exempt from Michigan’s hunter orange requirements.
A new law allows more hunters to take game without wearing orange. Now, the following hunters also are exempt: hunters taking bear with a crossbow, or deer with a crossbow during archery season; people who are engaged in the sport of Falconry; and any a person who is stationary while hunting bobcat, coyotes or fox. Hunters are required to wear hunter orange when walking to their location to hunt bobcat, coyote or fox. Those using crossbows during firearm deer seasons will still need to wear hunter orange.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) attacks the brain and nervous system of infected deer and elk and produces small wounds that result in death. The disease is easily spread among animals that are drawn together to feed. Although the exact means of transmission is not known, most scientists believe any exchange of bodily fluids – saliva, urine and feces – spreads the disease. It also can be indirectly transmitted through contaminated soil, which can remain infected for years.
CWD was first confirmed in Michigan in August 2008 in a Kent County deer breeding facility. At that time, a ban on the feeding and baiting of deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula was enacted in an effort to reduce the spread of CWD.
Although the baiting ban was originally ordered for a six-month period, the Natural Resources Commission voted in October 2008 to extend it until further notice. As of the printing of this newsletter, the baiting ban for Michigan’s Lower Peninsula remains in effect for the 2009-2010 deer and elk seasons.
Animals infected with CWD become very thin and may show symptoms that include the loss of bodily functions; abnormal behavior such as staggering or standing with very poor posture; carrying the head and ears lowered; consuming large amounts of water; and drooling.
If you see an animal showing any of these signs, notify the DNR right away. We all have to work together to keep Michigan’s deer and elk herds healthy.
- Michigan ranks third in the nation in licensed hunters, who contribute $1.3 billion annually to our economy.
- Michigan leads the nation in hunting white-tailed deer – hunters spend nearly 10 million days afield.
- Hunters also spend 2.5 million days afield in pursuit of our most popular small-game species, including the cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel, ruffed grouse and
ring-necked pheasant.
- Michigan’s two scenic peninsulas provide 8 million acres of public hunting land, including 4.5 million acres managed by the DNR.
- The DNR leases several thousand acres of farmland in southern Michigan for public hunting.
- About 2.2 million acres of private forestland in northern Michigan – managed mainly for commercial forest products – provide even more hunting access.
*Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan’s E-License system lets hunters and anglers purchase licenses, applications and permits 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit www.mdnr-elicense.com to:
- Buy most hunting licenses, special hunting applications and kill tags. Some can even be printed from your computer.
- Give the gift of Michigan’s outdoors. Gift cards are available in denominations of $15, $30 and $50 and can be redeemed online for licenses for fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.
Keep in mind the Sportsperson’s Discount: individuals receive a 15 percent discount when they buy four or more hunting or fishing licenses at the same time. The waterfowl hunting license, 24-hour fishing license and all-species upgrade license are not eligible for the discount.
Three lucky hunters will be selected for the Pure Michigan Hunt – a special hunt package including elk, bear, antlerless deer and turkey hunting during any open season for each species, in addition to opening day reserved hunts at managed waterfowl areas.
Winning hunters will be selected by a random drawing. Apply now through Dec. 31. Each application
fee is only $4.
For more information or to enterto win, visit: www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt