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Fur Harvester License

All persons who hunt and trap furbearing animals, including those who trap or hunt on their own enclosed farmland or private property, must have a valid fur harvester license. This license allows you to hunt fox, bobcat, coyote or raccoon, and trap badger, bobcat, fisher, marten, fox, coyote, weasel, mink, raccoon, muskrat, beaver, otter, skunk or opossum.

Exceptions:

  • Raccoon and coyote may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee all year if they are doing or about to do damage on private property. A license or written permit is not needed.


  • Residents possessing a valid small game license may hunt coyote during the established season.


  • Bobcat, otter, fisher and marten require a free kill tag. See Furbearer Kill Tags.

A person may trap at any age but must possess a valid fur harvester license. This license does not authorize a person under age 10 to possess a firearm while trapping. A junior resident fur harvester-trap only license is available to youths without hunter safety training.

Nonresident Fur Harvester License

Nonresidents may hunt and trap furbearing animals only from Nov. 15 through the regular season closing dates (except for beaver and otter, see map of beaver and otter units for nonresident season dates). A nonresident cannot purchase a license before Nov. 15. Residents of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the province of Ontario cannot purchase a Michigan nonresident fur harvester license.

Related Content
 •  Trap Selectivity
 •  2011 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest (PDF)
 •  2011-2012 Fur Harvester Trapping and Hunting Season Dates
 •  Licensed Fur Buyers  PDF icon
 •  Fur Harvester Rules
 •  Special Management Areas
 •  Furbearer Registration
 •  Nighttime Raccoon and Predator Hunting
 •  Incidental Catches
 •  Federal Regulations

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