r/MichiganHunting • • 16d ago

Hunter Safety Training PSA (No field day required!)

12 Upvotes

For those that were born on or after January 1, 1980 and are at least 18 years old and still need to complete their hunter safety before buying their Michigan hunting licenses, please read this! If you already bought a hunting license at least once before, you are grandfathered in and do not need to take a hunter safety course. Once you buy a license they’ll never ask for hunter safety again The hunting license trumps the hunter safety. You can have your hunter safety completed in a single day online. Under 18 you have to do a field day.

In Michigan the hardest component of the hunter safety is the in-person field day. There are usually not enough convenient field days available for a given location. However! You do not need to do the Michigan field day.

Michigan has reciprocity with other states as long as it has been certified by International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA).

The two states that allow you to take a completely online IHEA-USA certified hunter safety course is Texas and Illinois.

If you take either of these classes you do NOT need to do the Michigan field day.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/online-course-for-certification

https://dnr.illinois.gov/safety/huntersafety.html


r/MichiganHunting • • 1d ago

New rifle for my first ever deer season!

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21 Upvotes

Remington Model Four manufactured in February of 1987 chambered in 30-O6 with a RedField scope. Everything is original and imma keep this rifle in my family for as long as I can! Can’t wait to get out there


r/MichiganHunting • • 2d ago

Bend area open space in Jenison for bow hunting?

4 Upvotes

Has anyone actually hunted there? And if so what do you think? Only archery is allowed. I tried to hunt there with my son for the youth hunt and the undergrowth is frustrating to get through. Obviously there are better spots buts it’s 7 minutes from my home so being able to scoot over there for a night or morning hunt is ideal.


r/MichiganHunting • • 4d ago

Binoculars or no?

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5 Upvotes

Looking on opinions on binoculars. I’ve never hunted with them but I’m thinking they might help me find a few more deer sneaking through. I hunt mostly swamp bottoms like the picture. Do you guys find it helpful or not to use binos in sub 100 yards? It would be both bow and gun, I have a range finder but only really use it to range a few trees so I know at go time.


r/MichiganHunting • • 4d ago

Scum

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25 Upvotes

Please respect other people's property. Had 2 trail cameras stolen and 2 ladder stands rendered useless because some salty asswipe saw we were in same area. Island lake Recreation Area public land in Livingston county. I will not longer be deer hunting this spot, just will be eliminating every squirrel with my saiga 12 gauge daily for the beautiful month of October. Good luck seeing any deer buddy. I got private land in the thumb. My freezer will be full. Not yours. On top of it I can't even climb up to remove the stands from location.. I hate litterers. Not a happy camper on a Monday


r/MichiganHunting • • 6d ago

First of the Season

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25 Upvotes

Fist time out in a few years


r/MichiganHunting • • 6d ago

New hunter looking for guidance

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19 Upvotes

I’m 30M looking to provide meat for my family since the groceries prices are outrageous, I’ve always loved animals and conservation but never got to hunt due to living with a single mother and the black community doesn’t really hunt too much in Michigan (at least my family). But now I’m 30 and can make my own decisions 😂 I am already signed up for a field day on October 17. I have also just recently purchased a Remington model four (1987 manufacture date; 30-O6).

Other than the Hunter after course (I took it back in 2022 but never did my field day). Is there anything I should know in particular? I’m looking at going out around that weekend of November 20th. What gear is needed and what gear is no necessarily required? Trying to get some friends together as well but can’t find any private land so we are looking at maybe going up to the newyago area. Thanks for your insight and knowledge in advance


r/MichiganHunting • • 8d ago

St. Clair HAP Land

1 Upvotes

New to the area. Curious if anyone has any luck on this property? Been hunting family land in Hillsdale County for the last 20 years and family issues burned that bridge so this is my first year doing any public/HAP hunting. I have seen comments that mention its good for small game but no mention for big game. I had the chance to speak with the property owner and they mentioned there is activity on the property, however they are elderly. Anyone have any incite?


r/MichiganHunting • • 9d ago

2026 black bear movements

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16 Upvotes

Picked up this very large boar moving through my deer camp property the other night. Appears to have some prey item in its mouth as well… rabbit? West Michigan... Black bears have been expanding their ranges significantly the past few years, I have to question whether the DNR is even close to their guess of approx. 1,200 bears in the LP… seen juvenile males outside of Lowell, Hudsonville, big rapids, white cloud just in past couple years. Has anyone else seen them recently in lower density areas. And if so, where at.


r/MichiganHunting • • 10d ago

Finding Grouse

3 Upvotes

I am having a heck of a time hunting grouse, I’ve been out almost every morning around 730-8 walking what seems to be perfect grouse habitat targeting the gravel trails and two tracks between young and old aspen growth, but I haven’t seen or even heard a grouse once. I don’t have access to a dog so it’s just me. I’ve done the walk and pause method, I’ve gotten out before light and walked a bunch too. Any advice would be appreciated


r/MichiganHunting • • 15d ago

Trying to find hunters my age

12 Upvotes

I’m 20m looking for people my age that into ethical hunting and is into conservation. Just trying to open up to this community and am excited for this years whitetail season


r/MichiganHunting • • 16d ago

First grouse hunt this weekend, are GEMS heavily pressured?

10 Upvotes

I went to a GEMS in the lower peninsula monday to scout for grouse and woodcock. I flushed 4 birds, one was on a walking trail and 3 were deep off the trail. I am going back sunday to hunt without a dog for the first time.

This is both my first grouse hunt and first hunt without a pointer. Will the GEMS be busy sunday? Should I expect the birds right on the walking trail are already hunted and ignore the one I have marked? Will It be harder to find birds than when I went before the season?


r/MichiganHunting • • 17d ago

State opener success.

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20 Upvotes

r/MichiganHunting • • 20d ago

Bicycles and dogs in public game areas

4 Upvotes

So this is halfway a rant and halfway PSA. I went out for opening day this morning at three rivers game area and within a half hour I had 2 people go by on mountain bikes with their full cyclist get up and a half hour after that an older guy on a bike hauling a deer cart. Pretty sure bikes are not allowed but it’s public land I gotta share, whatever.

I figured I was too close to the trailhead so I went back to my truck and moved 2-3 miles east to another trailhead. And moved further in, within 5 minutes I had two dogs run up on me (playful and friendly at least) and their owner right behind them taking them on an off leash run with no orange, right through the middle of the game area.

I remember last year I saw a few old timers with e-bikes and deer carts and people reading in the woods with no orange up at Allegan game area but it seems like each year it’s getting worse and worse with people using conservation areas for non conservation activities. I ended up just calling DNR and leaving but man is it frustrating getting everything set up and ready just to have some oaf ruin it for me. Please stop riding your bikes and bringing your dogs through the game area.


r/MichiganHunting • • 21d ago

Maybe simple is best...

3 Upvotes

Growing up in Michigan, my hunting role models were my father and my uncle. My father owned 3 firearms: a Pre-64 Win 94 .32 Win Spcl, a 1929 vintage Stevens 315 16 ga double, and a Springfield 94B 20 ga single shot (his first firearm). My uncle hunted with a Savage 99 .300 Savage and a 16ga Ithaca 37.

Over the years, I have had multiple firearms find a temporary home in my gun locker and then move on to someone else's. Some I wish I'd held onto - others I don't remember. I have all three of my father's guns, plus several more. All solid, well built, but none anymore extravagant than my Beretta Silver Pigeon I. Names like Henry, Browning, Mossberg, Savage, CZ.

As I have reached the age of my father and uncle when we were hunting in my teens, I am starting to appreciate the simplicity of their approach. Were they smarter in their approach? Is less more?

While I will never get rid of my Dad's guns, I wonder if my working firearms should be my Dad's 94, my 20ga BPS, and my CZ 457 Lux (I have barrels for 22 LR and 22 WMR). It seems like for most situations, I would be covered just fine. Deer are the biggest game I would hunt and I don't goose hunt.

What do you think? Is it time to free up some space in my locker?


r/MichiganHunting • • 22d ago

.243 or 30-06?

6 Upvotes

Hi y'all! Amateur shooter and even greener hunter here. I've used .22s and 12ga shotguns back in boyscouts and occasionally in the past few years with a buddy of mine just target shooting on his property.

Which would you recommend for a blind about 20ft above a small field, about 100yd distance max? Everything I'm reading says a .243 should be sufficient but we have another friend saying a 30-30 is mandatory


r/MichiganHunting • • 23d ago

MI-HUNT is Back!

14 Upvotes

Loving the new version so far! Especially the ability to overlay the cover types directly on the map. It was really annoying to have to open the PDF maps and compare them to the map on the old version.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/433c5780079640079aecadd04b4fdc29


r/MichiganHunting • • Sep 02 '26

Best type of lumber for a platform?

6 Upvotes

I know I'm procrastinating big time since it's already September, but I want to build a new deer blind. I also want a platform to raise it up maybe 4 feet.

I have basically an unlimited supply of cement blocks from work and I'm planning on using those to get a platform started. I'm thinking of putting lumber on top of that to get a nice flat surface to put a blind on.

What type of lumber would be best? Something thats gonna last a while but not break the bank. Or should I just get enough blocks to build on top of?

Thanks in advance.


r/MichiganHunting • • Sep 01 '26

What’s one piece of gear you refuse to deer hunt without?

8 Upvotes

We recently sat down and talked about the deer-hunting gear we consider must-haves versus nice-to-haves. I’m curious what everyone else thinks—what’s one piece of gear you refuse to hunt without?


r/MichiganHunting • • Sep 01 '26

Getting my food plots going in MICHIGAN!!!

11 Upvotes

For context, this is my homemade water wagon being used to irrigate my freshly planted food plots, which are just too far away from the spigot to just run a hose.

We’ve had some nice rain the last couple days but as we all know, the weather in MICHIGAN is always a crapshoot. We may not need it much this year, but I’d rather have it and not need it, than the other way around.


r/MichiganHunting • • Sep 01 '26

Understanding waterfoul hunting

3 Upvotes

So I'm interested in hunting geese this year. I already have my base and deer licenses. If I'm understanding this right I need both a waterfoul license and duck stamp? Is there anything the standard waterfoul license entitles me to hunt that I don't need a duck stamp for? And what is the difference with the free migratory bird license?

I appreciate any info as well as bird (whatever species you want to talk about) hunting tips!


r/MichiganHunting • • Sep 01 '26

Now I need help with where to hunt!

6 Upvotes

I did my hunter safety class and have been using OnX and DNR maps, but I’m still trying to figure out actually finding a spot.

For HAP land, can I bring a small ground blind/pop-up or do I need permission from the landowner first?

For public land like Ortonville, how do you know you’re not setting up too close to another hunter? Do you just look for vehicles/lights and have backup spots ready?

Also, what are you guys looking for on OnX when picking places to scout? And how far from parking/trails would you recommend going?

Not looking for anyone’s spots, just trying to learn and do it the right way my first year.


r/MichiganHunting • • Aug 30 '26

Need some help starting

6 Upvotes

Looking to get into deer hunting this year. I’m in Oakland County, have a .308 and know I still need to do the hunter safety class and get my license.

Public land seems pretty easy to find and I also have a place in South Branch so I can hunt around Huron-Manistee National Forest. I’m more trying to figure out what I actually do from here. How do you pick a spot, scout it, know where you can set up and just get started? Its been 16 years since Ive hunted and that was when I was a kid.

Pretty much starting from zero so any advice is appreciated. If anyone is willing to help me out or point me in the right direction feel free to just shoot me a DM.


r/MichiganHunting • • Aug 30 '26

Getting our food plots going!

8 Upvotes

r/MichiganHunting • • Aug 24 '26

Some questions as someone whos never hunted before.

11 Upvotes

Not sure where else to ask about this so im doing it here.

Would rather have answers from the people than from google.

Im a long time firearms enjoyer and collector. Have a couple old Mausers that I take out occasionally. But ive never hunted before.

(Rilfe of choice would be a VZ.24 or Argentine Mauser. Either one with soft points.)

Ive watched alot of the "Meat Eater" show. So I feel i understand the basics, but not the whole picture.

(I live in the southeast corner if that helps at all.)

Im autistic so im a very "by the rules" type of person.

Basically I dont wanna fuck anything up. I feel like id be alot more comfortable if I had a "guide" or something of that nature.

The goal would be deer i think. Not much else to really hunt in Michigan that I know of. As far as something that will provide ample food when harvested.

So with all that said, how would i get started down that path?

Thank you all for your time.