72 Hours to Register a Bear in Michigan and Other Rules for the 2026 Season
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in Michigan 2026 is wrapped up, and the next chance to hunt starts with a spring application. If you plan to apply for 2027, the rules from this past season are your best guide, because Michigan runs bear hunting through a drawing, not over-the-counter tags.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued 6,278 bear licenses for the 10 bear management units across the state in 2026. This article covers dates, units, licensing, bait, hounds, tagging and the 72-hour registration rule so you know what to expect before the next draw opens.
Always read the current DNR bear regulations summary before you apply or hunt, since quotas and dates change by year.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Michigan 2026
Michigan’s season was split into hunt periods that vary by unit. According to the 2026 DNR regulations summary, the Amasa unit ran Period 1 from Sept. 9 to Oct. 21, Period 2 from Sept. 14 to Oct. 26, and Period 3 from Sept. 25 to Oct. 26.
The Upper Peninsula opened first. The first bear hunting period of 2026 kicked off Sept. 9 in the Upper Peninsula. Bear hunting is allowed only in the U.P. and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula.
| Hunt Period | Dates (Amasa Unit Example) |
|---|---|
| Period 1 | Sept. 9 – Oct. 21 |
| Period 2 | Sept. 14 – Oct. 26 |
| Period 3 | Sept. 25 – Oct. 26 |
You can hunt only during the period and inside the unit printed on your license. Dates differ unit to unit, so the table above shows one unit, not every unit.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Michigan: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Michigan does not run separate bear seasons for each weapon in the U.P. The same hunt period applies whether you carry a bow, crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader, as long as your equipment meets the DNR’s rules.
The Lower Peninsula is different. In the Baldwin, Gladwin and Red Oak units, the hunt runs Sept. 12–22, followed by an archery-only period Oct. 2–8.
For archery, the Wildlife Conservation Order requires broadhead points not less than 7/8 of an inch wide with a minimum length of 14 inches for arrows, bolts and quarrels used on bear.
Spring Bear Season in Michigan
Michigan has no spring bear hunting season. Bear hunting here runs in the fall, and licenses come only through the spring drawing.
What does happen in spring is the application period. For 2026 it ran May 1 through June 1, with results posted June 22. Expect a similar spring window for 2027, and watch the DNR’s bear page for confirmed dates.
Outside the regular season, a separate tool exists for crop damage. Bear damage shooting permits are only valid outside the regular bear hunting season.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Michigan
Michigan manages bears through bear management units (BMUs). In 2026 there were 10 of them, and your license names one unit and one hunt period.
The Lower Peninsula has three units: Baldwin, Gladwin and Red Oak. The rest are in the Upper Peninsula, including Amasa and Drummond Island, which has a single period running Sept. 9 to Oct. 21.
Zones also matter for rules. The DNR summary notes that the quiet period for dog training on bears in Zone 2 and Zone 3 is four days.
Pro Tip: Scout your unit before you list it as a hunt choice. You can apply for only one hunt choice per application, so the unit-and-period pairing you pick is the one you are stuck with if drawn.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Michigan
You need a bear license drawn through the DNR, plus a base hunting license. The bear license is your tag, and you can harvest one bear per bear license.
An electronic option is available. An eHarvest tag option is available with the purchase of a bear license through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.
Applications go through the DNR’s licensing system. You can check results online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Michigan
Every bear license is awarded by drawing. For 2026, the application period ran May 1 – June 1, with drawing results available June 22.
Demand far exceeds supply. More than 72,500 people applied for the 6,278 licenses, which works out to roughly one license for every 11 or 12 applicants.
The draw uses preference points, so applying every year, even in years you do not hunt, builds your odds. Each applicant gets one hunt choice.
The Pure Michigan Hunt is a separate route. Winners receive an elk (resident only), bear, antlerless deer, spring turkey, fall turkey and base hunting license at no cost.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Michigan
Nonresidents can apply, but they compete for a capped share of the quota. The DNR’s quota rules limit nonresident licenses to a small percentage of the total, so most licenses go to Michigan residents.
If you live out of state, apply during the same May 1 – June 1 style window and expect long odds. Check the DNR bear page for the current nonresident cap and fee before you apply.
Nonresidents hunt under the same unit, period, bait, hound and registration rules as residents.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Michigan
The bag limit is one bear per license. Quotas are set per unit and hunt period, and the statewide total for 2026 was 6,278 licenses.
The Amasa unit shows how quotas split by period: 120 licenses for Period 1, 110 for Period 2 and 280 for Period 3, according to the DNR summary table.
You cannot take every bear you see. You cannot harvest a cub bear or a female bear accompanied by a cub bear. Edible meat from a harvested bear must be used.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Michigan
Baiting is legal for bear in Michigan, with limits on where, when and what you use. The Wildlife Conservation Order sets different baiting rules for the U.P., the northern Lower Peninsula and the rest of the state, and all bait must be removed before further hunting during certain seasons.
The DNR bans chocolate and cocoa products as bait. According to the Associated Press via CBS Detroit, the Natural Resources Commission adopted that ban because they could harm bears and other wildlife.
Elevated platforms and stands also have a timing rule. Elevated platforms can be placed on public lands 31 days prior to the open bear season in each bear management unit.
Pro Tip: Bait dates differ between the U.P. and the Lower Peninsula and by unit. Pull the exact bait window for your unit from the DNR summary before you set a site.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Michigan
Hound hunting is legal. You can use no more than eight dogs running as a pack. Dogs must be licensed, immunized and wearing identification.
Training has its own limits. In Zone 2 and Zone 3 there is a four-day quiet period for dog training on bears, and the DNR has noted complaints about overlap between the early antlerless firearm deer season and bear dog use in the northern Lower Peninsula.
Hound hunters still need a drawn bear license for the unit and period they hunt.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Michigan
Legal methods include bow, crossbow, firearm and hound hunting, each under DNR equipment rules. Broadhead specs for archery are covered above, and the DNR lists shell-capacity restrictions for hunting bear with a shotgun or rifle.
| Method | Key Rule |
|---|---|
| Archery and crossbow | Broadhead at least 7/8 inch wide, minimum 14 inches long arrow, bolt or quarrel |
| Firearm | Hunter orange required; shell capacity limits apply |
| Hounds | Up to eight dogs as a pack |
| Bait | Legal with unit-specific dates; no chocolate or cocoa |
Read the equipment section of the DNR summary for the exact shotgun and rifle capacity limits before you load up.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Michigan
Any bear that is not a cub and not a sow with a cub is legal, subject to your license. The DNR lists bear cubs and bear sows accompanied by cubs among protected wildlife.
The DNR defines a cub as any bear less than 42 inches in length measured from the tip of the nose. When in doubt about a bear’s size or whether it has a cub nearby, do not shoot.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Michigan
Michigan does not run a separate youth-only bear season. Young hunters enter the same drawing as everyone else and hunt in the same periods.
The DNR does help new hunters learn. It offers bear hunting clinics covering habitat, gear, stand placement, baiting, rules and regulations, carcass care and hide care.
The Pure Michigan Hunt is the main special opportunity, giving three winners a bear license and other tags at no cost.
Where to Hunt Bear in Michigan: Public and Private Land
You can hunt public and private land inside your assigned unit. Bear country is the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, where large blocks of state and national forest give you room to hunt.
On private land, get permission first. The DNR is blunt on this point: trespassing is unlawful and erodes support for recreational hunting.
If you hunt public land with a stand, remember the 31-day rule for elevated platforms.
Other Michigan seasons may fit around your bear plans. See our guides to turkey hunting in Michigan and rabbit hunting in Michigan.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Michigan
Early periods favor bait hunters, since bears feed heavily in September ahead of denning. Later periods, like Period 3 starting Sept. 25, can offer cooler weather and fewer bugs but give you a shorter window.
You do not pick the period freely, because the draw assigns it to you. Choose the hunt that fits your schedule and preferred method.
- Period 1 gives the longest window, Sept. 9 to Oct. 21 in the Amasa example.
- Period 3 has the largest quota in Amasa, 280 licenses, which can mean better draw odds.
- Lower Peninsula hunters get a short firearm window and an archery-only week.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Michigan
Hunting hours follow the DNR’s Zone A table for September and October. Small game hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, and bear hours follow the published table in the bear summary.
Hunter orange applies to firearm hunters. If you hunt bears with a firearm, you must wear hunter orange, while archery hunters are exempt.
The DNR summary does not restrict bear hunting to certain weekdays in the sources reviewed here, so follow the hunt period dates on your license and check the summary for any day-specific rules.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Michigan
Registration is mandatory and fast. Within 72 hours of harvesting a bear, you must take the unfrozen bear head and pelt, or the entire animal, to a bear registration station to be registered and sealed.
- Tag the bear using your paper license or eHarvest tag.
- Keep the head and pelt unfrozen.
- Reach a registration station within 72 hours.
- Have the bear sealed.
To report poaching, use RAP: call or text 800-292-7800.
Pro Tip: Find your nearest registration station before opening day so the 72-hour clock never catches you off guard.
Bear Hunting Season in Michigan 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Did Michigan Bear Season Start in 2026?
It opened Sept. 9 in the Upper Peninsula. Lower Peninsula units opened Sept. 12.
How Do You Get a Michigan Bear License?
You apply in the DNR drawing. For 2026 the window was May 1 – June 1, with results on June 22.
How Many Bears Can You Take?
One bear per bear license.
Can You Use Dogs?
Yes, up to eight dogs running as a pack.
How Long Do You Have to Register a Bear?
72 hours from harvest, at a bear registration station.
For deer seasons elsewhere, see our guides for New York and Kentucky.