Michigan Cuts December Deer Season to 3 Days

The state has shortened its December firearm deer season from 10 days to 3, now running December 4 through December 6.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hunting

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a single deer at the edge of a birch and maple forest clearing in quiet winter light. — Michigan has cut its December firearm deer season from 10 days to three, with hunters now limited to December 4 through December 6. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Michigan has reduced its December Firearm Deer Season from 10 days to 3 days, with the season beginning December 4 and ending December 6. The state also renamed its muzzleloader season to the December Firearm Deer Season.

Why it matters

The shorter window directly changes when Michigan hunters can pursue deer with firearms in December and reshapes planning for the state's hunting community.

The December Firearm Deer Season was cut from 10 days to 3 days, running December 4 through December 6. Michigan had an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 hunters in 2024, but the source does not say how many will be affected by the shorter season.

The details

Michigan changed the name of its muzzleloader season to the December Firearm Deer Season and reduced its length from 10 days to 3. Hunters must obtain a proper license before hunting in the state, and those who violate permit laws can be fined up to $500.

December 4: December Firearm Deer Season begins.
December 6: December Firearm Deer Season ends.

Roadmap

The shift from a 10-day to a 3-day December firearm season marks a clear departure from Michigan's established deer hunting calendar. It also consolidates the former muzzleloader season under the December Firearm Deer Season name.

Michigan hunters planning a December firearm deer hunt have only three days to hunt instead of ten. Anyone hunting in the state still needs a proper license, and the DNR mobile app offers a way to obtain one.

The takeaway

Hunters in Michigan should plan around the shorter December firearm window and confirm licensing requirements before heading out. Permit violations can carry fines of up to $500.