Post by ridge on Sept 9, 2021 20:05:08 GMT -5
For more than 7,000 hunters, bear season is now underway. Here’s what you need to know before heading into the field:
Season dates
New this season
Bear registration - by appointment only
Bear Hunting Digest
Bear cooperator patch
Questions? Contact us
Season dates
Bear season opener for Bergland, Baraga, Amasa, Carney, Gwinn, Newberry and Drummond Island bear management units:
Hunt period 1 begins Sept. 8.
Hunt period 2 begins Sept. 13.
Hunt period 3 begins Sept. 25.
The season opener for Red Oak, Baldwin and Gladwin units is Sept. 12.
New this season
Archery-only season expanded in northern Lower Peninsula
In addition to the Red Oak BMU, Gladwin and Baldwin BMUs will also have an archery-only season this year. The archery-only season dates for all three units will be Oct. 8-14.
Bait barrels no longer allowed on DNR-managed lands
The use of bait barrels will no longer be allowed on DNR-managed lands. Bear bait barrels were allowed on DNR-managed lands for a two-year trial period during the 2019-2020 bear seasons. Bait barrels with a maximum hole diameter of 1 inch are still allowed on private land. The regulations and license quotas decided in 2021 will remain in effect for two years.
Bear registration - by appointment only
Within 72 hours of harvesting a bear, hunters must contact a bear registration station to schedule an appointment to have the animal registered and sealed. Calling ahead to schedule a date and time is mandatory. Locations and contact information for bear registration stations can be found online.
When arriving to the registration stations, please be respectful of those sealing animals: wear a mask, remain 6 feet away from those not in your party, and come prepared to provide information about the town, range and section where you harvested the bear. Registration at DNR offices will occur in the parking lot. These precautions will make sure animals are sealed as quickly and safely as possible.
Bear registration protocols may change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please call the bear registration station prior to visiting to learn of any protocol changes.
If you need assistance finding harvest location information, consider using the MiHunt interactive map. This free mapping tool can provide the town, range and section information for any location in Michigan.
Bear Hunting Digest
Don’t have a copy of the Bear Digest? Download it to your phone.
To save on paper, consider downloading the DNR hunting and fishing digests to your phone. The digests are available for download on Android and Apple products. Find the current digests and downloading instructions at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests. If you would like to be mailed a printed digest, please contact us.
Season dates
New this season
Bear registration - by appointment only
Bear Hunting Digest
Bear cooperator patch
Questions? Contact us
Season dates
Bear season opener for Bergland, Baraga, Amasa, Carney, Gwinn, Newberry and Drummond Island bear management units:
Hunt period 1 begins Sept. 8.
Hunt period 2 begins Sept. 13.
Hunt period 3 begins Sept. 25.
The season opener for Red Oak, Baldwin and Gladwin units is Sept. 12.
New this season
Archery-only season expanded in northern Lower Peninsula
In addition to the Red Oak BMU, Gladwin and Baldwin BMUs will also have an archery-only season this year. The archery-only season dates for all three units will be Oct. 8-14.
Bait barrels no longer allowed on DNR-managed lands
The use of bait barrels will no longer be allowed on DNR-managed lands. Bear bait barrels were allowed on DNR-managed lands for a two-year trial period during the 2019-2020 bear seasons. Bait barrels with a maximum hole diameter of 1 inch are still allowed on private land. The regulations and license quotas decided in 2021 will remain in effect for two years.
Bear registration - by appointment only
Within 72 hours of harvesting a bear, hunters must contact a bear registration station to schedule an appointment to have the animal registered and sealed. Calling ahead to schedule a date and time is mandatory. Locations and contact information for bear registration stations can be found online.
When arriving to the registration stations, please be respectful of those sealing animals: wear a mask, remain 6 feet away from those not in your party, and come prepared to provide information about the town, range and section where you harvested the bear. Registration at DNR offices will occur in the parking lot. These precautions will make sure animals are sealed as quickly and safely as possible.
Bear registration protocols may change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please call the bear registration station prior to visiting to learn of any protocol changes.
If you need assistance finding harvest location information, consider using the MiHunt interactive map. This free mapping tool can provide the town, range and section information for any location in Michigan.
Bear Hunting Digest
Don’t have a copy of the Bear Digest? Download it to your phone.
To save on paper, consider downloading the DNR hunting and fishing digests to your phone. The digests are available for download on Android and Apple products. Find the current digests and downloading instructions at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests. If you would like to be mailed a printed digest, please contact us.