Skip to main content

Trapping and fur harvesting in Michigan

Season information:

See each of the species below for season information and bag limits.

License requirements for fur harvesting:

  • Base license 
  • Fur harvesting license 
  • Residents who intend to harvest bobcat, otter, fisher or marten must request and be issued free kill tags for those species. The kill tag must be replaced by an official DNR seal at a registration station.

Nuisance coyote FAQ

Buy a license online

Fur harvesting regulations

Wildlife Conservation Order Thumbnail

Wildlife conservation order

The general hunting regulations are a condensed summary of the full regulations and legal descriptions found in this wildlife conservation order, issued by the Natural Resources Commission.

Fur Harvester Digest Graphic

Fur harvester regulations

This brochure is not a legal notice or a complete collection of hunting regulations and laws. It is a condensed summary of the wildlife conservation order issued for hunters’ convenience.

A promotional poster for the hunt fish app with a nature scene.

Hunt Fish app

Download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app today! With it, you can store and access regulations, report your harvests, purchase applications, licenses and permits, check drawing results and much more.

Fur harvester species

  • Hunting season dates:

    • Unit A, B and C
      • Jan. 1 - March 1
    • Unit D
      • Jan. 1 - Feb. 1
    • Unit G
      • Jan. 1-20
    • Unit H
      • Jan. 1-11

    Trapping season dates:

    • Units A and B
      • Nov. 1 - 14
      • Dec. 1 - Jan. 18
    • Units C, D and G
      • Dec. 10 - 29
    • Unit H
      • Dec. 10 - 20

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.

    Note: Oct. 31 is the last day to obtain bobcat kill tags for a season. 

    Bag limits:

    • 2 per resident fur harvester. One kill tag is valid for all lands and for all units combined. A second kill tag is valid for Unit A ONLY, on public and private lands (excluding Commercial Forest lands).

    Species info:

    About bobcats

  • Trapping season dates:

    • Zone 1 (excluding Drummond Island)
      • Dec. 6-15, 2024

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.

    Bag limits:

    • Fisher/marten have a combined bag limit of 2 per resident fur harvester.

    Species info:

  • Trapping season dates:

    • Zone 1 (excluding Drummond Island)
      • Dec. 6-15, 2024

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.

    Bag limits:

    • Fisher/marten have a combined bag limit of 2 per resident fur harvester.

    Species info:

  • Trapping season dates:

    • Zone 1
      • Oct. 25 - March 1
    • Zone 2
      • Nov. 1 - March 1
    • Zone 3 
      • Nov. 10 - March 1

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.

     

    Bag limits:

    • No limit

    Species info:

  • Trapping season dates:

    • Unit A
      • Resident: Oct. 25 - April 30
      • Nonresident: Nov. 15 - April 30
    • Unit B
      • Resident: Nov. 1 - April 25
      • Nonresident: Nov. 24 - April 25
    • Unit C
      • Resident: Nov. 10 - April 25
      • Nonresident: Dec. 15 - April 25

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.


    Bag limits: 

    • No limit

    Species Info:

  • Hunting season dates:

    • Jul. 15 – Apr. 15

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for more information.

    Note: The use of centerfire firearms .269 caliber or smaller for the take of coyotes, foxes, raccoons and opossums at night is now permitted on public and private lands statewide. Nighttime take with centerfire firearms is still prohibited in all state parks and recreation areas.

    Trapping season dates:

    • Oct. 15 - March 1

    See Fur Harvester Digest for more information.

    Bag limits:

    • No limit

    Species info:

  • Trapping season dates:

    • Zone 1
      • Oct. 25 - March 1
    • Zone 2
      • Nov. 1 - March 1
    • Zone 3 
      • Nov. 10 - March 1

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.

    Bag limits: 

    • No limit

    Species info:

  • Trapping season dates:

    • Unit A
      • Oct. 25 - March 31
    • Unit B
      • Nov. 1 - March 31
    • Unit C
      • Nov. 10- March 31

    See Fur Harvester Regulations Summary for unit information.

     

    Bag limits:

    • 4 per resident. Only three may be taken from Unit B, and only two from Unit C.

    Species info:

  • Opossums, skunks, and weasels may be harvested year-round, statewide with a valid Michigan Fur harvesting license. There is no bag limit for these species.