Get all your fishing information here, including rules and regulations, license info, the weekly fishing report and much more. Use the link above to visit the fishing home page, or go directly to your area of interest below:
Get all your hunting information here, including hunting season dates, rules and regulations, and much more. Use the button above to visit the hunting home page, or go directly to your area of interest below:
Information on DNR shooting and archery ranges, rules and regulations, resources to get started and more. Use the button above to visit the target shooing and archery home page, or go directly to one of the pages below:
Find snowmobile trail permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE SNOWMOBILE HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below:
Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket.
Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more.
Find facility info, overnight info, an event calendar and much more.
Find a great trail experience near you - whether you want to hike, bike, snowmobile or ride an ORV. From long, paved linear trails to rugged forest terrain, Michigan offers trail opportunities for all abilities and interests.
Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below.
We administer grants that enable our local partners to promote the lifestyles we all enjoy by providing recreational opportunities, enhancing wildlife habitat and ensuring public safety. Visit the grants home page by clicking on the button above, or view a specific area of interest below:
Recreational Safety and Hunter Education
Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below.
DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests.
All DNR-related boards, committees, and advisory groups
Find seasonal, part-time and full-time job openings with the DNR
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No. You cannot hunt or pursue waterfowl from a car, snowmobile, aircraft, drone, off-road vehicle or other motorized vehicle. Certain regulations apply while hunting waterfowl from a watercraft. Special permits may apply; see Michigan.gov/DNRAccessibility for more information for hunters with disabilities.
Can I hunt while my boat motor is running or while my boat is propelled by the wind?No. You cannot hunt from or by means of any motorboat, power boat or other craft having a motor attached, any sailboat or any floating craft or device of any kind propelled or towed by power or sail, unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sails furled and its progress ceased. A craft under power can be used to retrieve dead or crippled birds. However, crippled birds cannot be shot from such craft while under power or until forward progress has ceased.
Can I drive, rally or chase migratory birds with my boat?No. You cannot drive, rally or chase birds with any motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put them in the range of hunters.
Can I hunt waterfowl while under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or controlled substances?No. You cannot hunt waterfowl while under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or controlled substances.
Return to table of contentsYes. Falconry is a permitted method of hunting migratory game birds.
When is the falconry season and which migratory game bird species can I take using falconry?Rails, Wilson’s snipe, woodcock, geese, ducks, mergansers, coots and common gallinules may be taken during the established firearm seasons in the respective zones and goose management units. In addition, ducks, mergansers, coots and common gallinules may be taken statewide by falconry from Dec. 30 – Jan. 12, 2025, and Feb. 22 to March 10, 2025.
What are the daily bag limits and possession limits for falconry?The daily bag limit is three birds of a single or combined species. The possession limit is nine birds.
Do I need to wear hunter orange while engaging in falconry?No. If you are engaged in the sport of falconry, you are exempt from the hunter orange requirement.
Return to table of contentsNo. You cannot use live decoys to hunt migratory birds. All live, tame or captive ducks and geese should be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting and confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such tame birds from the sight of migratory waterfowl.
Can I use mechanical or electronic decoys to hunt migratory birds?No. You cannot use recorded or electronically amplified bird calls, imitations of bird calls, bird sounds or imitations of bird sounds. Use of electronically or mechanically operated decoys that do not produce bird sounds or calls is not prohibited.
I hunt on public lands and waters. Are there restrictions for setting out decoys?Yes. You cannot leave decoys set out between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. in waters of the Great Lakes and connecting waters and lakes wholly enclosed by publicly owned lands.
Return to table of contentsNo. You cannot use bait to aid in the taking of migratory birds. Hunters should be aware that a baited area is considered to be baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait. This does not apply to standing farm crops (normal agricultural practices) or other naturally growing grains, fruits or vegetables.
Can I use nonfood imitations while hunting migratory birds?Yes. You can use nonfood imitations to aid in the taking of migratory birds. Nonfood imitations may include plastic corncobs.
Return to table of contentsYes. You can hunt migratory birds, including waterfowl, with dogs.
Can I retrieve my hunting dog if it runs on to private property?Yes. Unless previously prohibited by the landowner, you can enter on foot the property of another person for the sole purpose of retrieving a hunting dog. You cannot be in possession of a firearm when retrieving a dog from private property. You should not remain on the property beyond the reasonable time necessary to retrieve the dog.
Return to table of contentsYes. You can hire a commercial hunting guide for waterfowl hunting in Michigan. A list of licensed commercial hunting guides is available at Michigan.gov/WildlifePermits.
