Archery Deer Hunting License

It is unlawful to purchase more than one archery deer hunting license. This license entitles residents and nonresidents 10 or older to take one antlered or antlerless deer during the Oct. 1-Nov. 14 or Dec. 1-Jan. 1 open bow and arrow deer season. Exceptions: See Antler Restriction Regulations.

Firearm Deer Hunting License

It is unlawful to purchase more than one firearm deer hunting license. Residents and nonresidents 12 or older may take a deer with at least one antler three inches or longer during the Nov. 15-30 firearm season or during the muzzleloading season. Exceptions: A firearm deer license is valid for an antlerless deer in Deer Management Unit 487. See the 2011 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest. Also see Antler Restriction Regulations and Firearm Hunting Rules for Youth Deer Hunters.

Combination Deer Hunting License

Residents and nonresidents are entitled to purchase only one license with two kill tags (regular and restricted) for use during any the firearm, muzzleloading and archery seasons. These tags are not valid for the early/late antlerless firearm seasons.

A hunter can use both kill tags in the firearm seasons, both in the archery season or one in each season.

The regular combination kill tag can be used in DMU 487 and all archery seasons to tag either an antlered or antlerless deer. The regular combination kill tag can be used in the firearm seasons to tag a legal (three inches or longer antler) antlered deer except in those areas with antler restrictions as noted in Antler Restriction Regulations.

The restricted combination kill tag can be used in DMU 487 and all archery seasons to tag an antlerless deer or it can be used to tag an antlered deer during either the archery or firearms seasons if the antlered deer has at least one antler with four or more antler points each one inch or longer. It is unlawful to use this tag on a smaller antlered deer regardless of the season or area in which it was taken.

Combination kill tags cannot be used to tag an antlerless deer during the firearm or muzzleloading seasons, except within DMU 487 and during the Youth and 100 Percent Disabled Veteran Firearm Deer Hunt. See the 2011 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest. Exception: See Tagging Option for Antlerless Deer Hunters.

Antlerless Deer Hunting License

This license entitles residents and nonresidents 10 and older to take an antlerless deer, or a deer with antlers less than three inches in length, within the DMU specified on the license. Hunters may apply for a private-land OR public-land antlerless deer license from July 15-Aug. 15. An application is recommended for public-land antlerless deer hunting or private-land hunting in DMUs where license availability is relatively limited. In some DMUs, private-land antlerless deer licenses are only available over the counter beginning Sept. 6. For additional details on antlerless deer hunting, see the 2011 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest.

Junior Antlerless Deer Hunting License

Young hunters, ages nine to 16, may purchase one junior antlerless deer license over the counter July 15 through Aug. 15; however, a nine-year-old must be 10 by Sept. 15, 2011 to purchase this license. For additional details on the junior antlerless deer hunting license, see the the 2011 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest.