Hunting License FAQ: Commonly Answered Questions About Michigan

The Great Lakes State offers numerous excellent hunting opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts willing to pursue them. Deer, elk, and bear provide excellent big game opportunities, and the state is also abundant in wild turkeys, waterfowl, and upland game birds. The only tricky part is navigating the state’s numerous regulations.

As a lifelong Michigan resident, I’m here to help. Over the years, I’ve read through Michigan’s regulations more times than I can count. We scoured the Internet to find the most asked questions about Michigan hunting licenses, and we are here to answer them.

What does a Michigan hunting license cost?

Michigan requires all hunters to first purchase a base license. This license costs $11 for residents and $151 for non-residents. Senior residents get a discount at only $5, as do youths, who pay $6 for ages 10-16. Youth hunters nine and under get the base license for free. While we don’t like the additional cost up front, it does cover small game hunting. And once you buy one base license, you won’t need another for the rest of the calendar year. The rest of Michigan’s license fees break down as follows:

• Deer Resident: $20
• Deer Non-Resident: $20
• Deer Senior Resident: $8
• Deer Resident Combo: $40
• Deer Non-Resident Combo: $190
• Senior Resident Combo: $28
• Elk (Resident Only): $100
• Turkey (Fall and Spring): $15
• Waterfowl: $12
• HIP Registration: Free, and required
• Federal Migratory Bird Stamp: $28
• Bear Resident: $25
• Bear Non-Resident: $151
• Non-Resident 3-day Small Game: $50 (Required for waterfowl)
• Non-Resident 7-day Small Game: $80 (Required for waterfowl)

Note that some of these licenses, primarily elk, bear, and in some areas, turkey, require an application for a drawing. The charge for the drawing is usually $5. However, turkey licenses are generally available over the counter or online as leftovers after the draw.

We should also note that these are the latest numbers for 2025. However, the governor has proposed a possible price increase for all hunting and fishing license fees in the 2026 budget. We’ll be keeping an eye on that to see if it passes, and if it does, we’ll update this list accordingly.

Can I shoot two bucks with a combo license in Michigan?

Yes, the combination license allows hunters to harvest two bucks in a season. Keep in mind that the buck on the “restricted” tag must have either three or four antler points on one side, depending on the deer management unit (DMU). For instance, Jackson County, DMU 038, permits the harvest of any buck with antlers at least three inches or longer. Some of the DMUs in the northwest part of the lower peninsula, including Grand Traverse, Manistee, and Kalkaska counties, have antler point restrictions on both tags. That means the buck on the regular tag must have three or more antler points on one side.

Historically, the popular combo tag was only used for antlered deer. However, the Michigan DNR made a change that permits the tagging of antlerless deer in most parts of the state. Some parts of the Upper Peninsula are still restricted to antlered deer only.

Can you buy a hunting license in Michigan without Hunter Safety?

Unless you were born before January 1, 1960, you are required to complete a hunter safety course before purchasing a hunting license. Fortunately, Michigan offers four different options for completing the course. The traditional route, which I recommend, is a traditional classroom experience. It includes approximately ten hours of instruction over two days, as well as a field day.

Michigan also offers two different online courses. These still require a four-hour, in-person field day. However, the cost of the field day is only about $10. It’s worth gaining hands-on experience by simulating different hunting scenarios.

How many deer tags can you get in Michigan?

The statewide limit for antlered deer is two per year. Those deer can only be harvested via a combo tag. When it comes to antlerless deer, the limit will vary depending on the season and the part of the state. For instance, parts of the Upper Peninsula have limited DMUs that are only open to special draws. In other parts of the state, the only limit is the number of antlerless licenses the hunter can afford. For the extended late antlerless season, which runs from January 2 to 12, the DNR specifies that hunters can harvest up to 10 antlerless deer.

Can you buy deer tags over the counter in Michigan?

Yes. Many sporting goods stores and hardware stores in Michigan sell deer licenses over the counter. Big box stores like Meijer and Walmart also sell deer tags. Michigan has made it incredibly easy to buy licenses online. I set most of my licenses on auto-renewal each year. It’s a convenient feature since my tags arrive in the mail promptly each August. No need to worry about forgetting to buy them before the season starts. I should note that the online tags are different from the store-bought ones. The store-bought ones come with a sticker backing that makes for easy tagging. Michigan’s online-bought tags are plain paper.

Can I buy a second deer tag in Michigan?

No. Many years ago it was possible to buy a second tag after filling the first one. However, the Michigan DNR eventually changed this rule. Now, it is only possible to harvest two bucks using the combination license. This license cannot be purchased after buying a single deer tag.

How many turkeys can you shoot a year in Michigan?

Michigan hunters can harvest one bearded turkey with a spring turkey hunting license. There is also a fall season that allows hunters to harvest one turkey of any sex. These two licenses are sold separately. It’s worth noting that the spring and fall turkey management areas differ from one another. Some areas that are legal to hunt in the spring are not in the fall. For instance, Wayne and Monroe counties are open to spring turkey hunting but not the fall hunt.

What are the odds of drawing an elk tag in Michigan?

Unfortunately, they are not great because Michigan’s elk herd is small and tightly managed. In 2024, the Michigan DNR reported that 54,466 people applied for the elk drawing. Only 260 were drawn. That doesn’t even consider the total number of points or “chances' that other hunters have accumulated over years of applying. In 2024, there were 367,210 chances in the drawing. Bull tags are “once in a lifetime.” Seriously, that’s the actual bag limit. It’s best to plan on buying chances for the long term if you want to harvest an elk in Michigan.

How many points do you need for a bear tag in Michigan?

This varies depending on the bear management unit. The DNR selects those with the greatest number of preference points. Some of the hot areas with lower harvest quotas require a ton of points. For instance, Drummond Island only doled out six bear permits in 2024. The area required 20-21 points in 2024. Keep in mind that there is an accumulation of one point per year, so two decades of application are required. However, some areas, like the Baraga third period, had a quota of 810 permits in 2024. The DNR awarded 793 first-choice awards to 846 applicants, so the odds are a lot better. We won’t go into full detail on bear points, but strategic hunters can utilize their accumulated points to significantly improve their odds.

What if I lost my hunting license in Michigan?