Fall 2018 fur harvesting update
- 2018 regulations for hunting and trapping furbearing species are available in the NEW Michigan Fur Harvester Digest.
- Fur Harvester licenses are valid May 1, 2018 - April 30, 2019.
- All fur harvester kill tags are available May 1 through the last day of trapping season for fisher, marten and otter.
- Bobcat kill tags are available only until Nov. 30, 2018.
Residents with a fur harvester license can get their free kill tags online at eLicense. Kill tags also can be requested by visiting a license agent or a DNR Customer Service Center.
Bobcat bag limit is two per resident.
- One kill tag is valid for all lands and all units combined.
- A second kill tag is valid for Unit A ONLY, on private lands (excluding Commercial Forest lands).
Fisher/marten bag limits and season dates have changed.
- Season dates for fisher/marten are Dec. 7-16.
- New bag limit for fisher/marten is a combined bag limit of two per resident fur harvester, of which only one may be a fisher. (The fisher/marten kill tag can be used for one fisher OR one marten. The marten-only kill tag can be used for one marten.)
New foothold trapping near exposed bait restrictions.
- Foothold traps may not be used to trap furbearers within 20 feet of bait that is visible from more than 4 feet above the bait. (Completely submerged foothold traps are exempt from this restriction.)
- For more details and the definition of bait for this regulation, see the 2018 Fur Harvester Digest.
Hunting seasons
- Bobcat hunting seasons for Units A, B, C, D, E and F open Jan. 1.
- Coyote hunting season is open year-round statewide.
- Gray and red fox hunting season opened Oct. 15 statewide.
- Raccoon hunting season opened Oct. 1 statewide.
Trapping seasons
- Badger trapping season opened Oct. 15 for Zones 1 and 2, and on Nov. 1 for Zone 3. *See the Fur Harvester Digest for Zone 1 counties open to badger trapping.
- Bobcat trapping season opens Dec. 1 for Units A and B, and Dec. 10 for Units C, D, E and F.
- Coyote, gray and red fox trapping seasons opened Oct. 15 statewide.
- Fisher/marten trapping season opens Dec. 7 in Zone 1, excluding Drummond Island.
- Muskrat and mink trapping season opened Oct. 25 in Zone 1 and Nov. 1 in Zone 2, and will open Nov. 10 in Zone 3.
- Raccoon trapping season opened Oct. 15 statewide.
- Beaver and otter trapping seasons vary based on unit and your residency status. See page 30 of the Fur Harvester Digest.
Opossum, weasels and skunks can be taken year-round with a valid license.
See the Fur Harvester Digest for bag limits and additional regulations for fur harvesting in Michigan. Can’t find your copy? Digests are always available online at michigan.gov/dnrdigests.
Questions? Call 517-284-WILD (9453)
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