Winter fur harvesting opportunities in Michigan

Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 12/22/2022 11:30 AM EST

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A coyote stands in a grassy field with snow on the ground and animated grass and leaves moving in the foreground.

Winter fur harvesting opportunities in Michigan

Michigan's winter fur harvesting opportunities are abundant! Grab your gear and enjoy all that winter has to offer.

2022 Fur Harvester Digest

Fur harvesting season dates, bag limits and regulations are available in the 2022 Fur Harvester Digest at Michigan.gov/Trapping.

Use the DNR Hunt Fish app to download the DNR digests right to your phone and have them whenever you need them. 

Hunting seasons

  • Bobcat hunting:
    • Bag limit: two per resident fur harvester. One kill tag is valid for all lands and for all units combined. A second kill tag is valid for Unit A only, on private lands (excluding Commercial Forest lands).
    • Units A, B and C: Jan. 1 - March 1, 2023.
    • Unit D: Jan. 1 - Feb. 1, 2023.
    • Unit G: Jan. 1-20, 2023.
    • Unit H: Jan. 1-11, 2023.
  • Coyote hunting: year-round, statewide.
  • Fox (gray and red) hunting: Oct. 15 - March 1, 2023, statewide.
  • Raccoon hunting: Oct. 1 - March 31, 2023, statewide. 

Trapping seasons

Badger trapping:

  • Bag limit: one per resident fur harvester.
  • Zone 3: Nov. 1 - March 1, 2023.

Beaver trapping (Michigan residents):

  • Unit A: Oct. 25 - April 30, 2023.
  • Unit B: Nov. 1 - April 28, 2023.
  • Unit C: Nov. 10 - April 28, 2023.

Beaver trapping (nonresidents):

  • Unit A: Nov. 15 - April 30, 2023.
  • Unit B: Nov. 24 - April 28, 2023.
  • Unit C: Dec. 15 - April 28, 2023.

Bobcat trapping:

  • Bag limit: two per resident fur harvester. One kill tag is valid for all lands and for all units combined. A second kill tag is valid for Unit A only, on private lands (excluding Commercial Forest lands).
  • Units A and B: Oct. 25 - Dec. 26.
  • Units C, D and G: Dec. 10-29.
  • Unit H: Dec. 10-20.

Coyote and fox (gray and red) trapping:

  • Statewide: Oct. 15 - March 1, 2023.

Muskrat and mink trapping:

  • Zone 1: Oct. 25 - March 1, 2023.
  • Zone 2: Nov. 1 - March 1, 2023.
  • Zone 3: Nov. 10 - March 1, 2023.

Otter trapping:

  • Bag limits: four per resident fur harvester; only three may be taken from Unit B and only two from Unit C.
  • Unit A:  Oct. 25 - March 31, 2023.
  • Unit B: Nov. 1 - March 31, 2023.
  • Unit C: Nov. 10 - March 31, 2023.

Raccoon trapping:

  • Statewide: Oct. 1 - March 31, 2023.

Licenses, kill tags and registration

A fur harvester license is needed to hunt and trap furbearers in Michigan. A valid base license is needed to purchase a fur harvester license. Your 2022 fur harvester license is valid through April 30, 2023.

To harvest bobcat, fisher, marten or otter, you will need a free kill tag(s) for these species. You can request free kill tags online, or wherever DNR licenses are sold, when purchasing your fur harvester license. Kill tags purchased online will be mailed to you within seven to 10 business days.

Kill tags for fisher, marten and otter are available through the last day of the trapping season. Bobcat kill tags were only available through Oct. 24.

If you harvest bobcat, fisher, marten or otter, you must bring the animal's pelt and skull to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources registration station for registration and an official DNR seal. Animals should be skinned prior to registration. The skull will be retained and will not be returned.

Furbearer registration ►

Questions? Contact us

Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-WILD (9453).