Every year I hear hunters lamenting the end of deer season.  The great thing about living in Michigan is that this state readily supports the year-round hunter and fisherman.  The key to staying busy in the woods and on the waters is diversifying the game you pursue.  I’m going to give you a blueprint of how you can fill your calendar with species to target.  The best part is that the basic hunting gear will support each of these seasons with the simple addition of a few decoys here and there and some new calls.  Let’s start with the current season and go from there.

April

• Spring turkey season is in effect.
• April 25^th salmon, trout, walleye, and pike opens on nearly all Michigan waters.

May

• May 23^rd Possession season opens for small and largemouth bass on all waters

June

• Turkey season has ended: Spend the month fishing trout and bass while mixing in some catfish as well.

July

• July 16^th sturgeon opens on the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, Otsego Lake, St. Mary’s River, and Portage and Torch Lakes.

August

• Great time to enjoy the warm weather (and waters): Spend time fishing, hunt some coyotes, and begin scouting for deer and waterfowl season.

September

• Mid-September: Fall turkey season is here, so go chase a hen or tom. It’s also goose season, and some early waterfowl opens up.
• First and second tag seasons open for black bear.
• Small game starts again.

October

• The month you’ve waited for: Duck season and deer season are here.
• Take some archery deer hunts in and make sure and chase the ducks now so that when the rut starts you are ready to go all in.

November

• The rut is here. Get out and chase those bucks now before firearm season start.
• Mid-November: Polish up your rifles and shotguns and head to deer camp for the start of firearm season.

December

• Connect with our ancestors by participating in muzzleloader season, or keep chasing late-season deer with your archery equipment.

January

• Late-season archery-only deer goes until the end of January. Bundle up and keep chasing deer in Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland county.  There are some great public land spots out there.

February

• Spend the month chasing small game, fur trapping, or chasing coyotes.
• Get after some of the best Michigan steelhead fishing in.

March

• Enjoy the last week or so of ice fishing before the spring melt starts.
• Also, spend the first week or so enjoying the end of small game season.
• As the snow melts get out in the woods to search for deer antler sheds and to spot those bedding areas and travel corridors you missed during deer season.