Turkey season in Michigan runs from mid-April through early June. Spring turkey hunting offers a great chance to not only pursue turkeys, but to see Michigan green-up and enjoy the warming weather.
For many hunters in Michigan, spring turkey hunting is a beloved tradition It offers the chance to be out in the warming spring woods pursuing these wary gamebirds If you’re new to turkey hunting or need a refresher, here’s a look at when the spring season ends in Michigan and how it works.
Overview of Michigan Turkey Seasons
Michigan has both a spring and fall turkey hunting season.
The spring season is most popular, with high hunter participation. It runs from mid-April through early June.
The fall season sees fewer hunters but can still offer good opportunities on public land It runs from mid-September through November.
Within both seasons, there are different start and end dates for different hunting zones or management units. This helps maintain robust turkey populations across the state.
When Does Spring Turkey Season End?
In 2025, Michigan’s spring turkey season is open from April 19 to June 7. However, the closing date depends on which hunting unit you are in:
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Hunt Unit ZZ (most of the Upper Peninsula and parts of northern Lower Peninsula) closes May 31.
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Hunt Unit Z (southern Lower Peninsula) and MMF (special hunt on military bases) close June 7.
So for most of the state, the last day of spring turkey hunting in 2025 is June 7. But in parts of the UP and northern Lower Peninsula, it ends a week earlier on May 31.
Spring Turkey Hunting Unit Map
The DNR provides detailed maps of the spring turkey hunting units and season dates on their website. You can enter your address or zoom in on the interactive map to see exactly which unit you will be hunting in.
Being aware of the boundaries and season end dates for your unit is critical to stay legal. The DNR lists the unit dates in the annual Hunting Digest but the online map is the most up-to-date reference.
Why Do Units Have Different Closing Dates?
Turkey populations are robust in southern Michigan but smaller and more scattered in parts of the UP and northern LP.
To protect the birds and hunting opportunities, the DNR ends the season earlier up north. This limits hunting pressure on the more vulnerable flocks.
They also adjust unit boundaries and season dates annually based on the latest population data. This flexible approach helps ensure healthy turkey numbers into the future.
Fall Turkey Season Dates
While the spring season gets more hunters out, don’t overlook fall turkey hunting. The weather is cooler, insects are gone, and big gobblers are more visible as they flock up.
Here are the fall 2024 turkey hunting dates for Michigan:
- Unit ZZ (UP and northern LP): Sept 13 – Nov 14
- Unit Z (southern LP): Oct 8 – Nov 14
Again, season end dates vary by unit to manage the birds. The DNR provides unit maps for the fall hunt as well.
Apply for a Spring Turkey Permit
To hunt turkeys in Michigan, you need a spring or fall turkey hunting permit for the appropriate season. Spring permits are issued through a pre-application lottery, while fall permits can be bought over the counter.
The 2025 spring turkey application period runs from January 1 – February 1. Hunters are notified if they received a permit by early March. Apply through the DNR eLicense system at michigan.gov/dnr.
Be sure to apply during the January-February window, as you can’t get a leftover permit after the drawing. Know your turkey hunting unit and have your hunter safety certificate number handy when applying.
Get Ready for the Season
Once you receive your spring turkey tag, it’s time to prep! Scouting, patterning birds, getting gear tuned up and practicing your calling skills will help ensure success.
Michigan offers excellent turkey hunting opportunities in both spring and fall. Know the season dates and hunting unit for your area to stay legal. Apply early for your spring permit and hunt safely. With preparation and persistence, you’ll have a great season experience.
Apply for a Spring Turkey License
Turkeys can be found in every county in Michigan and anyone who wants to hunt a turkey can get a license. Michigan has several turkey seasons for you to choose from. Some you do have to apply for in advance because there are more hunters than turkey licenses available. Anyone can hunt turkeys for most of the month of May, in what’s called Hunt 234. Hunt 234 is a great, flexible option for hunters who may want to hunt in many different places and who want more than 7 days to find those turkeys. The early seasons, that have a limited number of licenses, are open for a short time, making weather and work schedules a real consideration. Mi-Hunt is a great mapping program that you can use to look for public land in Michigan that is open to hunting. With over 4 million acres of public land available, Mi-Hunt allows you to build your adventure at home from your computer!
The turkey story in Michigan is truly amazing – our state has made huge strides in wildlife management. Like most states, there was a time when today’s common animals were either gone completely or very hard to find. Wild turkeys were once a rarity in Michigan. It’s hard to imagine, but wildlife didn’t have any protections for a long time. In the late 1800’s grocery stores weren’t on the corner, families were clearing land for settlements and hunting regulations were unheard of. Now, everything has changed. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (aka the Pittman-Roberson Act of 1937) was enacted. A national coalition of conservationists, backed by the sporting arms and ammunition industry, persuaded Congress to direct an excise tax on those items to a special fund for wildlife restoration. With a lot of hard work and dedication in the 1950s, the turkey population was reestablished.
Be Patient and Have Fun!
If youve ever thought about giving turkey hunting a try, this is your year! Turkey hunting provides good healthy local protein that you can harvest yourself in a very interactive hunt. You can use a call to sound like a turkey and get one to answer you back! So when you are crawling on your belly, trying to sneak up on some gobbling toms remember: Only a few decades ago, turkeys were hard to find and only a few people were able to hunt them. Today, everyone has a chance.
Pure Michigan Hunt: Spring Turkey Success!
FAQ
How long is turkey season in Michigan?
Michigan Offers both a Spring and Fall season to ticketed hunters. The Spring turkey season runs from April 20 – June 7.
What is the last day of turkey season?
California. SEASON DATES: General Season: March 30 – May 5, 2024. Archery Season: March 30 – May 19, 2024.
What are the dates for hunting in Michigan?
- Liberty Hunt: September 14 – 15 (for youth and hunters with a disability)
- Early Antlerless (Firearm): September 21 – 22.
- Independence Hunt: October 17 – 20 (Veteran hunt)
- Archery: October 1 – November 14 and December 1 – January 1.
- Regular Firearm: November 15 – 30.
Where do Michigan turkeys go in the winter?
As year-round residents of Michigan, wild turkeys move from grasslands and forest clearings that have lots of high protein insects for their young in the summer to more covered areas such as stands of mast (acorns, berries, apples, etc.) producing trees in the winter.
Where can I find Turkey season dates & regulations?
TurkeySeason.com provides state by state turkey season dates and regulations through an interactive map of the United States. It is a one-stop source for every state’s turkey season information.
When can I get a turkey hunt license in Michigan?
In Michigan, the spring schedule shall last from April 20 to June 7. When can I apply for a limited-quota license for a specific spring turkey hunt unit? A single limited-quota license may be requested between January 1 and February 1 for a particular spring turkey game area. To register, you must be at least ten years old.
When do turkeys mate in Michigan?
Mating: As a northern state, turkey breeding in Michigan begins in late March and runs until early April to match the increasing daylight hours. Male turkeys (what we know as toms) will attract females by fanning their tails and puffing feathers.
Where can you hunt turkeys in Michigan?
Mid-central Michigan has proven to be a haven for patient hunters, consistently providing successful turkey hunting experiences. Regarding zoning, public hunting can take place on the forest land of both the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula, as well as private land opportunities.
What kind of turkeys live in Michigan?
The primary species in Michigan is the Eastern turkey, which is known for its cautious nature. It is the most widely distributed turkey subspecies in the US. Here are some additional facts about the Eastern turkey in Michigan to help you prepare for your hunt as the season arrives:
Can you hunt a bearded Turkey in Michigan?
Hunting permits can be purchased online, at any license dealer, or through the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app by hunters interested in participating in the game. One bearded turkey per license is the bag limit for spring hunt. It must have a beard to be killed, and another person cannot use its tag.