Michigan

In southern Michigan (Zone 3 Limited Firearm Deer Zone), rifles must fire straight-walled cartridges (.35 caliber or larger, case length 1.16 to 1.80 inches, e.g., .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, .45-70). In northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula (Zones 1 & 2), all bottleneck centerfire rifles (.243, .30-06, .270) are fully legal.

10, 12, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns firing slugs or sabots are legal statewide for deer. Holding capacity plugged to 3 shells maximum. Buckshot is illegal for deer hunting in the Limited Firearm Zone. Shotguns with non-toxic shot required for waterfowl on Great Lakes coastal marshes.

Minimum .44 caliber single-barrel muzzleloaders. Modern in-line muzzleloaders with 209 primers, sabots, and magnifying scopes are legal in all three zones during regular firearm and dedicated December muzzleloader seasons. Black powder or commercial substitutes only.

Compound, recurve, and longbows with minimum 30 lb draw weight. Broadheads must have minimum 7/8-inch cutting width. Mechanical broadheads legal. Arrows must be at least 14 inches long. Archery season runs October 1 through January 1 (split by November firearm season).

Fully legal for ALL hunters during the entire archery deer season in both the Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula without requiring a disability permit. Minimum 100 lb draw weight with functioning safety and broadheads meeting big game standards.

Centerfire handguns are legal for deer hunting. In Zone 3, handguns must fire straight-walled cartridges .35 caliber or larger. In Zones 1 and 2, any centerfire handgun .24 caliber or larger with expanding bullets is legal. 10mm Auto and .44 Magnum popular across Upper Peninsula wolf and bear woods.