Types of Deer Hunting Licenses Available

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 may take a deer with at least one antler three inches or longer during the Nov. 15-30 regular 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 2012 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 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 2012 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. A public-land antlerless deer license is required to hunt antlerless deer on Commercial Forest land. In some DMUs, private-land antlerless deer licenses are only available over the counter beginning Sept. 10. For youth hunting opportunities see Rules for Young Hunters and Firearm Hunting Rules for Youth Hunters. For additional details on antlerless deer hunting, see the 2012 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest.

Apprentice Hunting License

A person who does not have a hunter safety certificate and is 10 years of age or older may purchase an apprentice hunting license. An apprentice hunter may purchase this license for two license years before he or she must successfully complete a hunter safety course. The apprentice hunting license is available to residents and nonresidents.

When afield, an apprentice hunter must be accompanied by someone 21 or older who possesses a regular current-year hunting license for the same game as the apprentice. For apprentices between ages 10-16, the accompanying hunter must be the apprentice's parent, guardian, or someone designated by the parent or guardian. "Accompanied by" requires the accompanying hunter to be able to come to the immediate aid of the apprentice and stay within a distance that permits uninterrupted, unaided visual and verbal contact.

For hunting antlerless deer, the accompanying hunter needs a 2012 deer hunting license that is valid sometime within the 2012 deer hunting season. A person may accompany no more than two apprentice hunters while hunting.

For additional details, see the the 2012 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest.

Mentored Youth Hunting Program

New! The Mentored Youth Hunting Program allows youth hunters nine years old and younger to hunt deer, turkey and small game, trap furbearers and fish for all species with a qualified youth mentor who is 21 years old. The mentored youth license is a "package" license that entitles the youth to hunt, trap and fish for the species listed above during all open seasons for the species. Additional restrictions apply; complete program details can be found online at www.michigan.gov/mentoredhunting.

A deer kill tag issued under the mentored youth license is valid for any deer in any deer management unit, except during antlerless-only seasons when only an antlerless deer may be taken.