Yes, you can bow hunt in Michigan during gun season. The DNR does allow hunters to take deer with a bow during rifle seasons. There are some restrictions, however.
Bowhunting is allowed on private land, but not on public land or federal land. You must also have a valid license and tag for the area you’re hunting in. The season dates for archery deer hunting vary between counties in Michigan and are listed here:
You cannot use a bow during gun/muzzleloader/other shotgun seasons except for counties where the DNR has issued special firearm season permits allowing bowhunting during those seasons.
You can bow hunt in Michigan during gun season.
Michigan bow hunting season runs from October 1 through December 31. During this time, you can use your bow to hunt deer and bear. You can also hunt other species, such as wild turkeys, ducks, foxes and coyotes.
The state’s archery season runs concurrently with the firearms season. This means that you can shoot a bow during the same time period that other hunters are firing their guns at game. The only exception is on opening day of firearm deer season — in which case, you must have your own separate permit to use archery equipment on public land or private land where permission has been granted by landowners.
You will need a license from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to take part in bow hunting in Michigan.
Archery season in Michigan comes before firearm season.
The archery season opens on September 15th and runs through October 31st. It is a great time to get out into the woods and enjoy some peace and quiet.
The archery season will open with doe tags in most counties. These are valid for one doe per hunter, so if you want to shoot more than one doe, you’ll need additional tags.
There are also some counties that allow hunters to harvest both buck and doe during the same trip. This is a great way for an experienced hunter who knows their land well to take advantage of the early season hunting opportunities.
During archery season, you can’t carry a firearm while hunting.
In most states, the archery season is open before the firearm season. During archery season, you can’t carry a firearm while hunting. Here’s why:
Archery hunting requires much less noise than gun hunting. If you’re carrying a rifle or shotgun while on the prowl for deer, you’re likely to scare off your prey before it gets close enough for a shot.
In many states, it’s illegal to use any type of weapon other than a bow during archery season. This means that if you have a rifle in your truck during archery season, you could be charged with a crime even if you don’t use it.
The cost and complexity of getting an archery license are often lower than those associated with getting a rifle license — especially in states where nonresidents must pay extra fees.
Crossbows are considered firearms under Michigan law and cannot be carried during archery season, except by hunters with disabilities.
There are several laws governing crossbow use in the state of Michigan. It’s important to note that while a crossbow is considered a firearm under Michigan law, it is not considered a bow and arrow.
Crossbows are allowed during archery season, but they must be carried openly. Hunters may also carry crossbows on their person while traveling to or from a hunting location. However, if you’re hunting with a crossbow and you hear shots fired, you must immediately stop and make yourself visible to other hunters in the area.
Crossbows may not be used during gun deer seasons (including the muzzleloader-only season), except by hunters with disabilities who have been issued disabled hunter permits by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
During firearm season, you cannot use a bow to hunt deer or elk.
There are several reasons why you can’t use your bow during firearm season.
First, bowhunting is a different method than firearms. It’s legal to hunt deer with a bow in the fall and winter, but not during the general firearms seasons.
Second, firearms are more efficient at killing animals than bows are. A single shot from a rifle or shotgun will kill an animal much more quickly than arrows. When you shoot an animal with a bow, it may run away before dying or suffer for hours before expiring.
Third, using a bow during firearm season is considered unethical and unsportsmanlike because it allows you to circumvent laws that were designed to protect wildlife populations by limiting hunting pressure.
You need to be careful not to break the law when hunting during archery and firearm seasons.
If you’re hunting deer in an area that has firearm season and archery season, you need to be careful not to break the law.
For example, if you are hunting with a bow during archery season, but then switch over to a gun for firearm season, you could be in violation of state regulations. In Michigan, for example, it’s illegal to use one weapon type for both seasons. So if you were using a bow during archery season and then switched over to fire a gun during firearm season, you’d be breaking the law.
In some states like Michigan and Wisconsin, there are rules about how close hunters can be in proximity to each other while in the woods looking for game. In Michigan, it’s illegal for more than two people from different parties to hunt within 300 yards of each other at any time during deer hunting season (from October 15 through December 31). In Wisconsin, there are no specified distance requirements but it’s generally assumed that hunters should stay at least 200 yards away from one another while out in the field looking for game.
As with much of the U.S., bow hunting is legal in Michigan seasonally from September 1st through January 31st. To be sure, there are plenty of details to consider when bow hunting in Michigan during firearm season. Be sure to give yourself ample time to familiarize yourself with all of the state’s relevant laws and regulations before heading into the woods for your first bow hunt.