Firearms deer hunting season in Michigan begins on Saturday.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Opening day of Michigan’s traditional firearm deer hunting season is coming up this Saturday, and many hunters are busy scouting land, watching trail cameras and preparing equipment.
To ensure a safe season on both public and private land, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to follow best practices to help them avoid the most common violations conservation officers see every year.
—————
Properly license, tag your deer
Make sure to purchase your license with enough time to receive the tag in the mail. It takes several business days to receive tags. Before field-dressing or moving a deer, kill tags must be filled out to include the month and date the deer was harvested, animal gender and number of antler points, if any.
Kill tags must be properly placed on the deer. Stick the tag to a piece of string, wire or a zip-tie that can be attached to the deer. Conservation officers often see the wrong kill tag on game – such as fish or turkey licenses on deer.
This usually is a simple mistake made in the dark that can easily be corrected by retagging the deer as soon as the error is noticed.
Remember that reporting your deer within 72 hours of harvest is just as important as tagging it. A great deal of information hunters need to know is available on the DNR Hunt Fish app. Regulation summaries are also available from most hunting license vendors across the state.
—————
Know and safely transport your firearm
Proper handling and transportation of your firearm are key to safe hunting. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your firearm and make sure it is properly sighted and functioning before your hunt. If it’s been a while since you used your firearm, consider visiting a local shooting range to practice. Many ranges have extended hours this time of year. Locate ranges through the DNR Hunt Fish app or visit Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges.
When transporting a firearm, be sure it is unloaded in both the barrel and magazine, and enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle.
—————
Know your target and what’s beyond it
Know the area you’ll be hunting, including nearby buildings and properties. No one may hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied structure, including buildings, dwellings, homes, residences, cabins, barns or structures used for farm operations unless they have permission from the landowner.
Each year, conservation officers investigate property damage caused by firearms. Rifle rounds travel long distances, and hunters are responsible for where bullets end up.
—————
Respect landowner rights
Always respect posted “no trespassing” signs and property boundaries. If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowner’s permission. Conservation officers usually are contacted when trespass disagreements escalate and a resolution cannot be reached.
Hunting near someone else’s property? Contact the landowner ahead of time; don’t wait until you’re tracking game. Most of the time, a friendly call or visit to your neighbor will remedy the situation.
And remember, all hunting regulations apply on private property.
—————
Share public land
Research and scout the land you plan to hunt before opening day. State-managed public land is a popular place to hunt. Conservation officers often respond to confrontations over hunting spots, blocked roads and illegal posting of “no trespassing” or “no hunting” signs on state-managed public land. COs, who often are asked to help resolve these disputes, said hunter confrontations over hunting spots frequently erupt due to last-minute hunters randomly picking their spots.
Tree stands and ground blinds on public land are just that: public. Regardless of who constructed or tends to these blinds, when they’re on state-managed public land, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Public land cannot be posted or reserved.
A person placing a tree stand or ground blind that is left overnight on public land must have one of the following affixed in legible English that can easily be read from the ground: their name and address, complete driver’s license number or DNR Sportcard number. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts.
Refer to the current deer hunting regulations for additional information about the different types of ground blinds.
—————
Leave land better than you found it
Practice the “leave no trace” ethic and don’t litter. Whatever is brought into the woods must be taken back out. Leaving propane bottles, hand-warmer wrappers, food wrappers, bottles and other trash is illegal and may result in a fine.
It is the responsibility of all people spending time outdoors to be good environmental stewards and clean up after themselves. Learn more about responsible recreation.
—————
Wear hunter orange
Nov. 15-30, deer hunters, including those using archery equipment, are required by law to wear caps, hats, vests, jackets or raincoats of hunter orange. The orange must be worn on the outermost layer of clothing at all times and visible from all directions, regardless of whether hunters are on private or shared public land, even if hunting from within a blind.
Hunter orange garments may have a camouflage pattern as long as the pattern is at least 50% hunter orange. The DNR recommends wearing as much hunter orange as possible to increase visibility to other hunters. Don’t worry; hunter orange does not deter deer.
—————
Know, follow baiting regulations
Deer baiting and feeding are banned in the entire Lower Peninsula.
In the Upper Peninsula, baiting may occur from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed 2 gallons. Bait must be spread on the ground and in an area that measures a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet or its equivalent. Mechanical spin-cast feeders are legal to use provided the feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed. On commercial forest land, bait must be brought in each night, unless the landowner has given permission. Use bait sparingly to help curb the spread of diseases like bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
—————
Hunt in season, during legal hours
During firearm season, a hunter may legally shoot game starting 30 minutes before local sunrise and until 30 minutes after local sunset. Anyone who witnesses or suspects hunting outside of legal hours should immediately call or text the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Fast reporting makes it more likely that a conservation officer will identify the suspect.
—————
Respect other hunters
Michigan law prohibits anyone from obstructing or interfering with the lawful taking of animals. Hunter harassment – when a person or organization intentionally sabotages another hunter’s quality opportunity to take game – is a misdemeanor offense.
Examples include spraying repellent around a hunter’s blind, creating loud noises and/or barriers that prevent or deter a hunter or game from accessing an area, or destroying other hunters’ equipment such as trail cameras and blinds.
Anyone who feels targeted by hunter harassment or who witnesses a natural resource violation should immediately call or text the Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously. Monetary rewards may be offered for information that leads to the prosecution of violators.
For more information on the firearm deer season, hunting safety, lands open to hunting, hunting regulations and more, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting. The 2025 Michigan deer hunting preview also is available.
Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.
Opening day of Michigan’s traditional firearm deer hunting season is coming up this Saturday, and many hunters are busy scouting land, watching trail cameras and preparing equipment.
To ensure a safe season on both public and private land, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to follow best practices to help them avoid the most common violations conservation officers see every year.
—————
Properly license, tag your deer
Make sure to purchase your license with enough time to receive the tag in the mail. It takes several business days to receive tags. Before field-dressing or moving a deer, kill tags must be filled out to include the month and date the deer was harvested, animal gender and number of antler points, if any.
Kill tags must be properly placed on the deer. Stick the tag to a piece of string, wire or a zip-tie that can be attached to the deer. Conservation officers often see the wrong kill tag on game – such as fish or turkey licenses on deer.
This usually is a simple mistake made in the dark that can easily be corrected by retagging the deer as soon as the error is noticed.
Remember that reporting your deer within 72 hours of harvest is just as important as tagging it. A great deal of information hunters need to know is available on the DNR Hunt Fish app. Regulation summaries are also available from most hunting license vendors across the state.
—————
Know and safely transport your firearm
Proper handling and transportation of your firearm are key to safe hunting. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your firearm and make sure it is properly sighted and functioning before your hunt. If it’s been a while since you used your firearm, consider visiting a local shooting range to practice. Many ranges have extended hours this time of year. Locate ranges through the DNR Hunt Fish app or visit Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges.
When transporting a firearm, be sure it is unloaded in both the barrel and magazine, and enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle.
—————
Know your target and what’s beyond it
Know the area you’ll be hunting, including nearby buildings and properties. No one may hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied structure, including buildings, dwellings, homes, residences, cabins, barns or structures used for farm operations unless they have permission from the landowner.
Each year, conservation officers investigate property damage caused by firearms. Rifle rounds travel long distances, and hunters are responsible for where bullets end up.
—————
Respect landowner rights
Always respect posted “no trespassing” signs and property boundaries. If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowner’s permission. Conservation officers usually are contacted when trespass disagreements escalate and a resolution cannot be reached.
Hunting near someone else’s property? Contact the landowner ahead of time; don’t wait until you’re tracking game. Most of the time, a friendly call or visit to your neighbor will remedy the situation.
And remember, all hunting regulations apply on private property.
—————
Share public land
Research and scout the land you plan to hunt before opening day. State-managed public land is a popular place to hunt. Conservation officers often respond to confrontations over hunting spots, blocked roads and illegal posting of “no trespassing” or “no hunting” signs on state-managed public land. COs, who often are asked to help resolve these disputes, said hunter confrontations over hunting spots frequently erupt due to last-minute hunters randomly picking their spots.
Tree stands and ground blinds on public land are just that: public. Regardless of who constructed or tends to these blinds, when they’re on state-managed public land, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Public land cannot be posted or reserved.
A person placing a tree stand or ground blind that is left overnight on public land must have one of the following affixed in legible English that can easily be read from the ground: their name and address, complete driver’s license number or DNR Sportcard number. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts.
Refer to the current deer hunting regulations for additional information about the different types of ground blinds.
—————
Leave land better than you found it
Practice the “leave no trace” ethic and don’t litter. Whatever is brought into the woods must be taken back out. Leaving propane bottles, hand-warmer wrappers, food wrappers, bottles and other trash is illegal and may result in a fine.
It is the responsibility of all people spending time outdoors to be good environmental stewards and clean up after themselves. Learn more about responsible recreation.
—————
Wear hunter orange
Nov. 15-30, deer hunters, including those using archery equipment, are required by law to wear caps, hats, vests, jackets or raincoats of hunter orange. The orange must be worn on the outermost layer of clothing at all times and visible from all directions, regardless of whether hunters are on private or shared public land, even if hunting from within a blind.
Hunter orange garments may have a camouflage pattern as long as the pattern is at least 50% hunter orange. The DNR recommends wearing as much hunter orange as possible to increase visibility to other hunters. Don’t worry; hunter orange does not deter deer.
—————
Know, follow baiting regulations
Deer baiting and feeding are banned in the entire Lower Peninsula.
In the Upper Peninsula, baiting may occur from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed 2 gallons. Bait must be spread on the ground and in an area that measures a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet or its equivalent. Mechanical spin-cast feeders are legal to use provided the feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed. On commercial forest land, bait must be brought in each night, unless the landowner has given permission. Use bait sparingly to help curb the spread of diseases like bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
—————
Hunt in season, during legal hours
During firearm season, a hunter may legally shoot game starting 30 minutes before local sunrise and until 30 minutes after local sunset. Anyone who witnesses or suspects hunting outside of legal hours should immediately call or text the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Fast reporting makes it more likely that a conservation officer will identify the suspect.
—————
Respect other hunters
Michigan law prohibits anyone from obstructing or interfering with the lawful taking of animals. Hunter harassment – when a person or organization intentionally sabotages another hunter’s quality opportunity to take game – is a misdemeanor offense.
Examples include spraying repellent around a hunter’s blind, creating loud noises and/or barriers that prevent or deter a hunter or game from accessing an area, or destroying other hunters’ equipment such as trail cameras and blinds.
Anyone who feels targeted by hunter harassment or who witnesses a natural resource violation should immediately call or text the Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously. Monetary rewards may be offered for information that leads to the prosecution of violators.
For more information on the firearm deer season, hunting safety, lands open to hunting, hunting regulations and more, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting. The 2025 Michigan deer hunting preview also is available.
Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.
Deer Hunting and Deer Camp
By Jack Payne
Urp, urp, urp, and a pause. Then another urp, urp, and urp. The deer turned, stared in the direction of the sound, and trotted in. Five different bucks responded to my soft, subtle grunt call.
Every 15 minutes or so, I will grunt softly a series as described. If I see a deer, I will do the same. Please do not call often, loudly, or for extended periods. A deer can hear a long way away, and your goal is to capture their attention.
I mentioned before that our group sits all day on the opener. We carry in snacks, water, and a ton of patience. We have zero squirrels, some birds, and a few mice to keep us entertained.
When a deer is taken, we skin and bone it in the woods. This reduces the weight to drag out. After field dressing the deer, we roll it onto a plastic tarp and skin it.
If the head will be mounted, we take along a generous amount of the hide. If not, then we cut the head off somewhere in the neck and carry only that portion out.
Our group enjoys salami and jerky. At some point in deer camp, we will clean every piece and grind the burger. Once home, we can make the salami and jerky.
Scouting is a large part of our downtime. If the tags are filled, numerous rides are in order. We search out new, clear cuttings and note where other cars are parked.
The rides provide great information for future hunts. A fresh, clear cut becomes a new food source. The absence of cars parked nearby suggests that other hunters might not have found it.
On our rides, our eyes are peeled for deer camps. On one such ride, we spotted what appeared to be a log cabin. In reality, it turned out to be a wall tent. The front of this tent was painted to look like a log cabin.
A bunch of photos were taken, and nobody was home. The following year, we drove by, wondering if this camp was back. Indeed, they were, so we stopped in.
We were barely out of the truck when an older man came out, spotted us, and said, “Stay where you are,” before he ran into the tent. We were just about ready to hop in the truck and bail out when he yelled, “You took a photo of our deer camp last year and it's in a national magazine.”
True, I wrote a series of articles, and two of the publications ran the photo as a cover shot. How this guy could so quickly remember my byline photo from the publication was a mystery to me.
Before his retirement, he lived 10 miles from me. He traveled 450 miles to meet an ex-neighbor. The three hunters in this camp all worked together until retirement. Then Joe the head cheese moved to Texas, Ron to South Carolina, and Joe to Florida. These guys meet a week before the opener in Holland, pack up a utility trailer, and pull the trailer with a vintage International Scout. It was a hoot sitting around their wood stove listening to their stories.
On another ride, we spotted a buck pole that was holding perhaps 10 deer, including three trophies. I got out with my camera in tow. The other two guys stayed in the truck. They were nervous that someone would come out.
A camp member came out, and I explained my presence. He invited me inside. We drank a beer, and he showed the camp logbook. Their camp was nearing 100 bears and 500 bucks.
The camp rule was that the second buck needed to be larger than the first. They had a cast-iron skillet that covered all four burners of the stove. Incredible.
They had a walk-in cooler and a sauna that held 20 people. This particular year, 16 guys were in camp. This specific hunter uses chest-high waders to get to his deer stand.
Meeting others and sharing a camp with friends are part of what makes deer season so special. Remember to visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop. I never shot any of the five bucks that I called in, but on Nov. 3, I did shoot a 10-pointer. My best deer to date.
Urp, urp, urp, and a pause. Then another urp, urp, and urp. The deer turned, stared in the direction of the sound, and trotted in. Five different bucks responded to my soft, subtle grunt call.
Every 15 minutes or so, I will grunt softly a series as described. If I see a deer, I will do the same. Please do not call often, loudly, or for extended periods. A deer can hear a long way away, and your goal is to capture their attention.
I mentioned before that our group sits all day on the opener. We carry in snacks, water, and a ton of patience. We have zero squirrels, some birds, and a few mice to keep us entertained.
When a deer is taken, we skin and bone it in the woods. This reduces the weight to drag out. After field dressing the deer, we roll it onto a plastic tarp and skin it.
If the head will be mounted, we take along a generous amount of the hide. If not, then we cut the head off somewhere in the neck and carry only that portion out.
Our group enjoys salami and jerky. At some point in deer camp, we will clean every piece and grind the burger. Once home, we can make the salami and jerky.
Scouting is a large part of our downtime. If the tags are filled, numerous rides are in order. We search out new, clear cuttings and note where other cars are parked.
The rides provide great information for future hunts. A fresh, clear cut becomes a new food source. The absence of cars parked nearby suggests that other hunters might not have found it.
On our rides, our eyes are peeled for deer camps. On one such ride, we spotted what appeared to be a log cabin. In reality, it turned out to be a wall tent. The front of this tent was painted to look like a log cabin.
A bunch of photos were taken, and nobody was home. The following year, we drove by, wondering if this camp was back. Indeed, they were, so we stopped in.
We were barely out of the truck when an older man came out, spotted us, and said, “Stay where you are,” before he ran into the tent. We were just about ready to hop in the truck and bail out when he yelled, “You took a photo of our deer camp last year and it's in a national magazine.”
True, I wrote a series of articles, and two of the publications ran the photo as a cover shot. How this guy could so quickly remember my byline photo from the publication was a mystery to me.
Before his retirement, he lived 10 miles from me. He traveled 450 miles to meet an ex-neighbor. The three hunters in this camp all worked together until retirement. Then Joe the head cheese moved to Texas, Ron to South Carolina, and Joe to Florida. These guys meet a week before the opener in Holland, pack up a utility trailer, and pull the trailer with a vintage International Scout. It was a hoot sitting around their wood stove listening to their stories.
On another ride, we spotted a buck pole that was holding perhaps 10 deer, including three trophies. I got out with my camera in tow. The other two guys stayed in the truck. They were nervous that someone would come out.
A camp member came out, and I explained my presence. He invited me inside. We drank a beer, and he showed the camp logbook. Their camp was nearing 100 bears and 500 bucks.
The camp rule was that the second buck needed to be larger than the first. They had a cast-iron skillet that covered all four burners of the stove. Incredible.
They had a walk-in cooler and a sauna that held 20 people. This particular year, 16 guys were in camp. This specific hunter uses chest-high waders to get to his deer stand.
Meeting others and sharing a camp with friends are part of what makes deer season so special. Remember to visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop. I never shot any of the five bucks that I called in, but on Nov. 3, I did shoot a 10-pointer. My best deer to date.
Outdoor Truths
By Gary Miller
It was a cold October day. The fog wouldn’t lift until late morning. It was the opening day of Kentucky’s muzzleloader season, and I was high atop a mountain looking for a buck making his way back to his bedding area.
The day was perfect for deer movement, and it wasn’t long until the action began. As soon as daylight broke, I began to softly rattle, just enough to let the neighborhood deer know there were two bucks around. I especially wanted the boss buck to know he had two intruders.
At 9:00 I spotted antlers about 45 yards away. The buck stood at that distance for a minute or two, long enough for me to get a decent glimpse of size of his headgear. I was in big buck territory, and I had my hopes set on a wall-hanger. This buck was close to being just that.
As he looked up toward me, I quickly appraised the width of his rack. He was a good buck; not exactly what I was looking for, but nevertheless a good buck. That’s when the temptation began.
For the next 10 minutes I watched that buck through my scope. I counted eight points and no brow tines. He came as close as 25 yards. I wanted to shoot badly, but I also wanted to wait. I knew in Kentucky a hunter has only one buck tag. So, whatever I took, would end my season in that state.
In a matter of a few short minutes I argued, debated, and weighed my options. I was torn in so many directions. I could settle for what was sure and safe, or I could wait with no promise of ever seeing anything bigger the rest of the season.
I passed, but I’m glad that deer didn’t stick around much longer. After he left, I thought about what had just transpired. I was reminded that my life and yours is made of the same choice I just made.
Most people go through life settling for what is safe and sure, while God has something so much better for them. This happens because the lure of the good that is in our sight is stronger than the lure of the best that is just out of our sight.
While certainty can be good and somewhat safe, it can also hold you in a situation that keeps you from the place you are meant to be. The Bible calls all of Jesus’ followers to walk by faith. Sometimes that means forgoing what’s in front of you, for something better but not yet seen.
Are you settling for what is good because you can see the outcome? It may look good, but it may be keeping you from something better that is just around the next hill.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
It was a cold October day. The fog wouldn’t lift until late morning. It was the opening day of Kentucky’s muzzleloader season, and I was high atop a mountain looking for a buck making his way back to his bedding area.
The day was perfect for deer movement, and it wasn’t long until the action began. As soon as daylight broke, I began to softly rattle, just enough to let the neighborhood deer know there were two bucks around. I especially wanted the boss buck to know he had two intruders.
At 9:00 I spotted antlers about 45 yards away. The buck stood at that distance for a minute or two, long enough for me to get a decent glimpse of size of his headgear. I was in big buck territory, and I had my hopes set on a wall-hanger. This buck was close to being just that.
As he looked up toward me, I quickly appraised the width of his rack. He was a good buck; not exactly what I was looking for, but nevertheless a good buck. That’s when the temptation began.
For the next 10 minutes I watched that buck through my scope. I counted eight points and no brow tines. He came as close as 25 yards. I wanted to shoot badly, but I also wanted to wait. I knew in Kentucky a hunter has only one buck tag. So, whatever I took, would end my season in that state.
In a matter of a few short minutes I argued, debated, and weighed my options. I was torn in so many directions. I could settle for what was sure and safe, or I could wait with no promise of ever seeing anything bigger the rest of the season.
I passed, but I’m glad that deer didn’t stick around much longer. After he left, I thought about what had just transpired. I was reminded that my life and yours is made of the same choice I just made.
Most people go through life settling for what is safe and sure, while God has something so much better for them. This happens because the lure of the good that is in our sight is stronger than the lure of the best that is just out of our sight.
While certainty can be good and somewhat safe, it can also hold you in a situation that keeps you from the place you are meant to be. The Bible calls all of Jesus’ followers to walk by faith. Sometimes that means forgoing what’s in front of you, for something better but not yet seen.
Are you settling for what is good because you can see the outcome? It may look good, but it may be keeping you from something better that is just around the next hill.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
DNR Proposes Longer Elk Hunting Harvest Period
Michigan elk hunters would have longer harvest periods for the 2026-27 hunting cycle under draft proposals by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The proposals would lengthen both elk hunting periods in the northern Lower Peninsula, home to Michigan’s elk herd.
• Hunt Period 1 would run from the second Saturday in September through the second Sunday in October – a 30-day, continuous period. Currently, Hunt Period 1 is broken up into three, four-day hunts stretching across August and September – 12 total hunting days.
• Hunt Period 2 would run from Dec. 1 through Dec. 15 – a 15-day period. Currently, Hunt Period 2 runs from Dec. 13 through Dec. 21 – a nine-day period.
Combined, the two hunting periods would provide 45 total days of harvest time, more than double the current 21 total days of harvest time. The proposals must be approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.
In addition to making Hunt Period 1 longer and continuous, the change would move the period later in the season when the weather is generally colder and better for elk hunting.
“Shifting the period later in the year should give hunters more favorable weather conditions,” said Scott Eggeman, a Gaylord-based field operations manager for the DNR Wildlife Division.
The proposed change to Hunt Period 2 not only lengthens the period, but also moves it further away from the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. Currently, Hunt Period 2 ends Dec. 21; under the proposal, it would end Dec. 15.
In another proposed change, hunters would have 72 hours to register their elk with the DNR. Currently, elk must be registered within 24 hours of harvest.
The draft proposals do not include any recommended changes to Michigan’s elk management unit boundaries or the annual elk drawing.
Feedback on these draft proposals can also be emailed to DNR-Elk-Hunt@Michigan.gov by Jan. 23, 2026.
Final proposed elk regulations and elk license quotas for 2026-27 will be presented to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission at its March 2026 meeting. As with all regulations, the final recommendations will be available through a link to the March agenda when it is available on the NRC webpage. Additional input can be provided directly to the NRC at that time.
The final regulations will be adopted at the April 2026 NRC meeting.
The proposals would lengthen both elk hunting periods in the northern Lower Peninsula, home to Michigan’s elk herd.
• Hunt Period 1 would run from the second Saturday in September through the second Sunday in October – a 30-day, continuous period. Currently, Hunt Period 1 is broken up into three, four-day hunts stretching across August and September – 12 total hunting days.
• Hunt Period 2 would run from Dec. 1 through Dec. 15 – a 15-day period. Currently, Hunt Period 2 runs from Dec. 13 through Dec. 21 – a nine-day period.
Combined, the two hunting periods would provide 45 total days of harvest time, more than double the current 21 total days of harvest time. The proposals must be approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.
In addition to making Hunt Period 1 longer and continuous, the change would move the period later in the season when the weather is generally colder and better for elk hunting.
“Shifting the period later in the year should give hunters more favorable weather conditions,” said Scott Eggeman, a Gaylord-based field operations manager for the DNR Wildlife Division.
The proposed change to Hunt Period 2 not only lengthens the period, but also moves it further away from the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. Currently, Hunt Period 2 ends Dec. 21; under the proposal, it would end Dec. 15.
In another proposed change, hunters would have 72 hours to register their elk with the DNR. Currently, elk must be registered within 24 hours of harvest.
The draft proposals do not include any recommended changes to Michigan’s elk management unit boundaries or the annual elk drawing.
Feedback on these draft proposals can also be emailed to DNR-Elk-Hunt@Michigan.gov by Jan. 23, 2026.
Final proposed elk regulations and elk license quotas for 2026-27 will be presented to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission at its March 2026 meeting. As with all regulations, the final recommendations will be available through a link to the March agenda when it is available on the NRC webpage. Additional input can be provided directly to the NRC at that time.
The final regulations will be adopted at the April 2026 NRC meeting.
Dress Up Your Holiday Gatherings with a Few Succulents
By Melinda Myers
Create
a succulent garden centerpiece with different shapes and colors this holiday
season.
Photo courtesy MelindaMyers.com
Add a bit of life to your holiday gatherings with the help of succulents. You and your guests will enjoy the easy-care beauty of succulents. Their subtle colors and dramatic form make them great gifts and decorations now and throughout the year.
Small-scale succulents provide a multitude of opportunities for incorporating them into your holiday celebrations. Just select containers that complement, but don’t overpower their charm.
Create a succulent garden to use as a centerpiece for the table. A shallow container filled with a variety of succulents with different shapes and colors is sure to capture everyone’s attention. Set the container on a saucer to protect the table and add a complementary table runner for even greater impact.
Consider using succulents as party favors for guests to take home and enjoy for years to come. But first, use them to decorate the table by making them into place cards for your guests. Simply add a name to the decorative pot.
Or display them all together in a tray, terra cotta saucer or other shallow container to use as a centerpiece throughout the evening. When the party is over, each guest can pick their own plant to take home.
Add a unique flair to the table by placing cocktail glasses filled with succulents next to each guest’s place setting. This makes a unique table decoration and party favor for guests to take home as a reminder of your fun gathering.
Use a few planted cocktail glasses to decorate the beverage table or bar.
Grow these plants in a cacti and succulent potting mix. These fast-draining mixes help reduce the risk of overwatering. Further reduce this risk by using containers with drainage holes that are only slightly larger than the succulents' root system. Growing them in too large of a container for the plant size will retain moisture longer that can lead to root rot, decline, and even the death of your plants.
After the party continue to provide proper care so your centerpiece will be ready for your next event. Move the succulent planter to a cool, draft-free location near an unobstructed south-, west- or east-facing window. If light is limited, consider adding artificial lights.
Water thoroughly but only when the top few inches of soil are dry and just often enough to keep the plants from shriveling. These winter-growing conditions often encourage a spring display of colorful and unique flowers.
Share these directions with your guest and if possible, the name of the succulent. This helps your guest keep the plants alive to enjoy for years to come.
With a trip to your favorite garden center and your imagination you can create fun holiday décor and party favors. You and your guests will enjoy their beauty throughout the holidays and beyond.
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Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is MelindaMyers.com.
Small-scale succulents provide a multitude of opportunities for incorporating them into your holiday celebrations. Just select containers that complement, but don’t overpower their charm.
Create a succulent garden to use as a centerpiece for the table. A shallow container filled with a variety of succulents with different shapes and colors is sure to capture everyone’s attention. Set the container on a saucer to protect the table and add a complementary table runner for even greater impact.
Consider using succulents as party favors for guests to take home and enjoy for years to come. But first, use them to decorate the table by making them into place cards for your guests. Simply add a name to the decorative pot.
Or display them all together in a tray, terra cotta saucer or other shallow container to use as a centerpiece throughout the evening. When the party is over, each guest can pick their own plant to take home.
Add a unique flair to the table by placing cocktail glasses filled with succulents next to each guest’s place setting. This makes a unique table decoration and party favor for guests to take home as a reminder of your fun gathering.
Use a few planted cocktail glasses to decorate the beverage table or bar.
Grow these plants in a cacti and succulent potting mix. These fast-draining mixes help reduce the risk of overwatering. Further reduce this risk by using containers with drainage holes that are only slightly larger than the succulents' root system. Growing them in too large of a container for the plant size will retain moisture longer that can lead to root rot, decline, and even the death of your plants.
After the party continue to provide proper care so your centerpiece will be ready for your next event. Move the succulent planter to a cool, draft-free location near an unobstructed south-, west- or east-facing window. If light is limited, consider adding artificial lights.
Water thoroughly but only when the top few inches of soil are dry and just often enough to keep the plants from shriveling. These winter-growing conditions often encourage a spring display of colorful and unique flowers.
Share these directions with your guest and if possible, the name of the succulent. This helps your guest keep the plants alive to enjoy for years to come.
With a trip to your favorite garden center and your imagination you can create fun holiday décor and party favors. You and your guests will enjoy their beauty throughout the holidays and beyond.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is MelindaMyers.com.
Big Day for Spearfishers in Michigan as State Panel Expands Access
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
LANSING — Underwater spearfishing just got bigger in Michigan.
The Natural Resources Commission voted last Thursday to expand the areas where people can dive underwater, hold their breath and spear three kinds of gamefish: lake trout, northern pike and walleye.
“This is the largest expansion for freshwater game fish in the history of North America, essentially,” said Jon Durtka, the leader of the Michigan Spearfishing Association.
Underwater spearfishers have been able to go after those fish in limited areas of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron since 2022. With Thursday’s passing of an amended version of Fisheries Order 219.26, anglers will be allowed to spearfish for the three gamefish in parts of Lake Erie and Lake Superior and expanded portions of Lake Michigan starting in April.
During a Natural Resources Commission meeting in September, spearfishers said they often drive multiple hours to fish in the limited areas available to them only to find once they get there that the water isn’t clear enough for them to fish. They complained they purchase the same fishing licenses as hook-and-line anglers but aren’t allowed to fish in the same waters.
The new regulation stops short of allowing equal opportunities, but Durtka said it’s still a huge victory for the sport.
“This will open up waters to UP spearfishing anglers and more northern Traverse City-area spearfishing anglers, and then Wisconsin and Minnesota (and) Ohio anglers,” he said. “Where their states don’t allow, we’re welcoming them.”
All commissioners present voted in favor of the change.
“It’s going to have a minimal impact on the resource but provide a lot of recreational hours and kind of a unique experience,” said Natural Resources Commission Chair Becky Humphries.
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
LANSING — Underwater spearfishing just got bigger in Michigan.
The Natural Resources Commission voted last Thursday to expand the areas where people can dive underwater, hold their breath and spear three kinds of gamefish: lake trout, northern pike and walleye.
“This is the largest expansion for freshwater game fish in the history of North America, essentially,” said Jon Durtka, the leader of the Michigan Spearfishing Association.
Underwater spearfishers have been able to go after those fish in limited areas of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron since 2022. With Thursday’s passing of an amended version of Fisheries Order 219.26, anglers will be allowed to spearfish for the three gamefish in parts of Lake Erie and Lake Superior and expanded portions of Lake Michigan starting in April.
During a Natural Resources Commission meeting in September, spearfishers said they often drive multiple hours to fish in the limited areas available to them only to find once they get there that the water isn’t clear enough for them to fish. They complained they purchase the same fishing licenses as hook-and-line anglers but aren’t allowed to fish in the same waters.
The new regulation stops short of allowing equal opportunities, but Durtka said it’s still a huge victory for the sport.
“This will open up waters to UP spearfishing anglers and more northern Traverse City-area spearfishing anglers, and then Wisconsin and Minnesota (and) Ohio anglers,” he said. “Where their states don’t allow, we’re welcoming them.”
All commissioners present voted in favor of the change.
“It’s going to have a minimal impact on the resource but provide a lot of recreational hours and kind of a unique experience,” said Natural Resources Commission Chair Becky Humphries.
