8 Animals You Can Hunt in Michigan All Year Long

Here's something you may not know—hunting in Michigan isn't just a seasonal hobby. In fact, there are species you can legally hunt every single day of the year. No "opening days," no frantically checking the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website to see if you're a week early.

RELATED: Michigan Judge Clears Ted Nugent After Undercover DNR Hog Sting

Of course, this isn't some free-for-all "wilderness purge." Michigan's year-round hunting opportunities are structured to manage wildlife populations, protect property, and yes, keep your garden from being an all-you-can-eat nature salad bar.

Michigan’s Rules for Year-Round Hunting

Whether it's a critter that's nibbling on your apple trees, burrowing under your property, or turning your attic into a rodent Airbnb, Michigan's got rules for what time, how, and where you can take action.

Get our free mobile app

When You Don’t Need a License

Here's where it gets interesting—some of these animals are fair game statewide with nothing more than your base hunting license. Others? You can take them on your own property without a license if they're causing (or are about to cause) damage. In this case, ‘damage’ doesn’t just mean a chewed fence post—it can also include harm to crops, livestock, buildings, or roads.

So, while most hunters are counting down the days to deer season, a few savvy Michiganders are out year-round, managing pests, protecting property, and maybe even putting a little extra something on the dinner table.

RELATED: DNR: Michigan's 2024 Deer Harvest Underreported by Nearly 100,000

The Species You Can Hunt 365 Days a Year

Ready to see which species make the year-round list in 2025? Keep scrolling for the 8 Michigan animals you can legally hunt 365 days a year.