Bear and elk hunt transfer program

Hunters who are selected in the bear or elk license drawings may transfer their drawing success to an eligible person they know, or to an individual on the DNR hunt waiting list.

To request a hunt transfer, the successful applicant (hunt donor) must complete the online form according to instructions provided. If a hunt recipient is not named on the form, the hunt will be offered to the next person on the DNR hunt waiting list.

The following individuals are eligible to receive a hunt through the transfer program:

• Youth hunters, up to 16 years of age, who applied for the current-year bear and elk drawings and were not selected for a license.
• Any person who has been diagnosed with an advanced illness. An application for a license in the current-year drawing is not required. Advanced Illness is defined by the Public Health Code** and requires a Physician Certification of Advanced Illness (PDF) form be printed, completed and mailed to the address on the form.

Transfer successful draw

E-mail addresses must be provided on each transfer request form and will be used to communicate with participants regarding transfer status.*

It is unlawful for an individual to receive a fee, other consideration, or service of value, either directly or indirectly, for transferring drawing success to another person, or assisting and/or guiding that person in the hunt which has been transferred.

DNR hunt waiting lists

Waiting list registration is only available from March 1 through July 10.

Eligible persons may register for the bear or elk hunt waiting lists by clicking the link below. Individuals on each waiting list will be contacted via e-mail as donated hunts become available. Note:

• Waiting lists apply to current-year hunts only. There is no guarantee that all persons on the waiting lists will receive a donated hunt.
• A parent or legal guardian must complete waiting list registration for youth hunters ages 16 and younger.
• Waiting lists will be randomly ordered at the end of the waiting list registration period. Additional persons may be added to the lists after the registration period but will be considered only if all previously-registered individuals have received a hunt. For more information, contact the Wildlife Division at 517-648-4222.
• Do not register for a waiting list if you are already receiving a donated hunt (i.e., a successful applicant has already named you as the hunt recipient on his or her transfer request form).
• Individuals registering with advanced illness eligibility must also provide a Physician Certification of Advanced Illness (PDF) to the Wildlife Division.
• Individuals must provide a working email address to register for a waiting list. The DNR will use email addresses to notify individuals regarding donated hunts.

*Email addresses and other personal information provided by participants shall be kept confidential by the DNR.

**The Public Health code, Act 368 of the Public Acts of 1978, Section 333.5653, defines "Advanced Illness" as a medical or surgical condition with significant functional impairment that is not reversible by curative therapies and that is anticipated to progress toward death despite attempts at curative therapies or modulation, the time course of which may or may not be determinable through reasonable medical prognostication.