Michigan has nearly 10 million acres of public hunting land. The state website, Michigan.gov, has an interactive map you can use to plan your next hunting trip. You can camp for up to two weeks within public hunting grounds.
But there are limitations. You need a hunting license, a good crossbow, or a hunting rifle. It also helps to join a hunting group. You can learn a lot about hunting in MI with the help of a guided tour.
Before you pack your gear, read this Michigan guide about the best casinos in the state. Casino gaming can be fun while out in the wild. It is a popular pastime now that Internet gaming is legal in the Great Lakes State.
Without further ado, here are the best hunting trip ideas in Michigan:
Hunt White-tailed Deer Hunting in the Northern Lower Peninsula
It is always open season for hunting white-tailed deer in many private ranches across Michigan. However, public land hunting is a different case. Michigan requires all hunters to have a base hunting license.
The Northern Lower Peninsula is the best place for white-tailed deer. The hunting season is usually in November. But there are places you can hunt any time of the year.
Michigan has a deer population of two million. With the number of hunters decreasing annually, the government estimates deer might become a major problem for farmers in the next decade.
Despite that, Michigan has a maximum hunting limit of 12 deer per license every hunting season. The government recommends two bucks and 10 does. However, most people prefer to hunt bucks because of their larger size.
Hunt Canada Geese in Southern Michigan
Did you know that 80% of the giant Canadian geese population in MI is concentrated in the south? If you love eating duck, you need to head south this November or December. This is the best time to hunt waterfowl in the Great Lakes State.
Like deer, hunting geese requires a base license. This license permits you to hunt deer, geese, and other small game animals. For large animals, a special license may be required.
You can hunt up to 20 geese of different kinds every day with a base license. That’s more than enough birds to feed a family of four for a month.
Hunt Ruffed Grouse in the North
Hunting a small bird is not for beginners. Picture this. The ruffed grouse weighs around 20 ounces and measures less than 20 inches. The fruit-loving snowbird is great at hiding. It is agile and can camouflage to avoid detection.
If you love a challenge, pack your bow and find your hunting license. Then drive all the way to the Upper Peninsula, especially in the Felch and Ontonagon areas. September through December are the best times to hunt ruffed grouse in Michigan.
Unlike deer, ruffed grouse is a protected bird in Michigan. You need a special stamp authorizing you to hunt grouse and a few more birds. You also have a daily hunting limit of two birds.
Hunt Woodcocks in Houghton Lake
Michigan hunters love Woodcocks. The state ranks first in the number of woodcock harvests every year. The bird’s hunting season starts in November and runs through November.
What’s the best place to hunt Woodcocks in Michigan? Almost every public hunting land with trees has these birds. However, the northern peninsula has a higher concentration of birds, especially in Houghton Lake and Wolverine.
Yes, you need a license to hunt woodcock birds. You also need a special stamp, which you can acquire online at no cost.
Hunt Pheasant Birds in Huron
Pheasants are a beautiful type of bird predominantly found around Lake Huron. They have grey, white, and black feathers and conspicuously long tail feathers.
In addition to their beauty, pheasant birds are delicious birds. They’re a close relative of chicken and have a similar taste. If you own a base hunting license, get the online free stamp required to hunt pheasant birds.
Also, practice your crossbow shooting skills. Pheasants are incredibly fast and can hit maximum speeds of 60 miles per hour. Most hunters chase male pheasants because they’re larger and meatier.
The hunting season in MI runs between October and November. The public hunting grounds around Lake Huron provide the best opportunity to hunt pheasants successfully. Another alternative is the area around Maple River in Clinton.
Hunt Elk in Wolverine
Because MI has a relatively small elk population, acquiring the required hunting license can be difficult. The government sells about 200 licenses in the summer. Despite that, more than 30,000 people apply for these licenses.
If you’re lucky enough to acquire an elk-hunting license, ensure you also own a base license. The hunting season runs between August and September although you can also be allowed to hunt in December.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise but you’re only allowed to hunt on elk with your license. This is to ensure there’s a healthy management of the elk population and encourage the species’ growth in the state. Elk meat is a great source of protein, phosphorous, zinc, iron, and other minerals. No wonder Joe Rogan is such a huge proponent of the elk diet.
Travel to North Detroit to Hunt Ducks
Depending on who you ask, duck is more flavorful than chicken. Perhaps this is why thousands of hunters drive north of Detroit to the Clair Flats State Wildlife region every fall to hunt wild ducks.
Although Harsens’s Island in Northeast Detroit has the highest concentration of wild waterfowl in MI, you can find the bird in nearly every lake. By law, you need a special waterfowl license and a base license to hunt ducks in MI. A waterfowl might also be necessary, especially if you hunt in federal government areas.
For a beginner hunter, ducks are arguably the best bird to hunt. They’re large, move in flocks, and are slower than pheasants. Additionally, there’s a six-ducks per-day hunting limit in MI. That’s a lot of bird meat to carry home after a successful day in the wild.
