Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Hunting and fishing are allowed with the appropriate state licenses.
Lake and Pond Fishing
The forest adheres to State licensing regulations, including size and quantity limits. Maps of some lakes are available on the Michigan DNR website.
Ice Fishing
Walk-on ice fishing is permitted on national forest lands. No vehicles may be driven onto the ice of any lake, pond, stream or river on the national forest. Ice fishing is done at the fishermans own risk. The forest adheres to State licensing regulations, including size and quantity limits.
River and Stream Fishing
The forest adheres to State licensing regulations, including size and quantity limits. Maps of some lakes are available on the Michigan DNR website. All of the rivers that run through the Huron-Manistee are, what used to be, "Blue Ribbon" Trout streams.
Hunting
Hunting is allowed on National Forest lands with appropriate state hunting licenses. Seasons and bag limits are determined by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), please visit their website for more information.
Make sure to have a current map and be aware of where you are while hunting. Call the nearest District office if you have questions on closures or specific area restrictions.
General Safety
- During deer firearm season ALL hunters must wear hunter orange and be visible from all sides.
- Always tell someone of your travel plans, including where you are hunting, with whom you are hunting and what time you will return.
- Check the weather forecast before you go. Prepare for the unexpected by packing a small backpack full of emergency items.
- Carry a whistle and a compass or Global Positioning System (GPS) and know how to use them.
- Dress in layers and carry a jacket.
- If you become disoriented and turned around in the woods, stay in one place and use your whistle if you hear people.
General Information -
- Baiting is Banned in the Lower Peninsula.
- During the Liberty and Independence hunts only, hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements may use bait in areas where baiting is banned.
- No discharging a firearm in, or within, 150 yards (450 feet) of a developed recreation area, building or occupied area.
- No discharging a firearm across or on a forest road, body of water contiguous to a road or where any person or property is exposed to injury or damage.
- You must have a valid Michigan hunting license. Michigan hunting licenses are available online through the DNR.
- Hunting hours, per the DNR, are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- All state hunting regulations must be followed, please visit DNR
ORV Use
For information on operating an OHV or motorized vehicle on the Huron-Manistee visit the OHV page or the MVUM page.
- All wheeled motor vehicles, including off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are only allowed on National Forest roads and trails shown open on the Forest’s current year Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). This map is available free of charge online or at one of our offices.
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are only permitted on designated trails and roads and may not be used for cross-country game retrieval. Cross-country travel is strictly prohibited on National Forest Service lands.
- OHV/ORV regulations can be found at MI-DNR Handbook of Michigan Off-Road Vehicle Laws and Riding Basics.
- During the regular November firearm season, from Nov. 15 through Nov. 30, ORV operation is prohibited in public hunting areas from 7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
- Please operate your vehicle responsibly. Respect the road/trail and fellow operators.
Camping –
Several campgrounds are traditionally open until Nov 30th, annually. Dispersed camping is open year-round. Forest visitors looking to disperse camp during hunting season are asked to pack out what they packed in to minimize the impact on natural resources.
Campground stays are limited to 14 consecutive days while dispersed camping is permitted for 16 days within a 30-day period. Leaving camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours is prohibited.
Visitors should obtain a free Motor Vehicle Use Map to determine what roads and trails are open to a particular use and determine vehicle access to dispersed camping areas.
Specific Information
Game Cameras
Trail cameras are not prohibited on public lands, installation of cameras on public land is at the owners risk. Cameras should be labeled with their address and phone number.
Hunting Blinds and Stands-
[DB1] As per the DNR’s Deer Hunting Regulations Summary, in legible English, if you place an elevated platform or Type 3 ground blind on public land you must permanently affix your
- name and address or
- Michigan driver’s license number or
- DNR Sportcard number
Raised Platforms and Stands:
Raised platforms can be placed on public lands beginning September 1 and must be removed from public lands by March 1.
Raised platforms on the Huron-Manistee National Forests cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts. However, a “T” bolt or similar device supplied by a tree stand manufacturer can be used.
It is unlawful to use on public lands any item that penetrates through the bark of a tree in the construction or affixing of any device to assist in climbing a tree such as screw-in tree steps.
Ground Blinds:
Ground blinds can be placed on the Forest Service System lands from September 1 to the end of the annual deer season. In addition to being subject to criminal penalties, any constructed blind found on public land prior to Sept. 1 or after the end of the annual deer season will be considered abandoned.
Type 1 Portable ground blinds
- must be clearly portable
- removed at the end of each day’s hunt.
- Fasteners, if used to anchor the blind, cannot penetrate the cambium of a tree and must be removed daily.
Type 2 Dead natural materials ground blinds
- must be assembled exclusively of dead and natural materials found on the ground in the vicinity the blind, e
- a hunter may add netting, cloth, plastic or other materials for concealment or protection from the weather and are removed at the end of each day’s hunt.
- You may not use staples, nails, glue, screws or fasteners in the assembling of the temporary blind.
Type 3 (constructed ground blind):
- This includes all other blinds not meeting the requirements of either Type 1 or Type 2, including portable ground blinds, if not removed daily.
- Identification is required.
- Fasteners, if used to anchor or attach the blind, cannot penetrate the cambium of a tree and must be removed with the blind.
Recreational and Target Shooting
Target practice with a rifle, handgun or bow and arrow is permitted provided you abide by all state and federal regulations. A hunting license is not required when shooting at identifiable, artificially constructed targets and/or when no attempt is made to take game. However, target shooting with a rifle, handgun or shotgun 5 days prior to deer rifle season is prohibited in Michigan.
Use approved targets along with a safe, “bullet-proof” backstop.
- Do not to attach your targets to vegetation or structures, such as: trees, log decks, slash piles, fences, or water tanks.
- Exploding targets are not recommended due to safety and wildfire concerns.
- All trash must be packed out, including shell casings and targets.
When target shooting on the HMNFs, be aware of the following prohibitions:
- In or within 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area.
- Across or on a national forest or grassland road or body of water.
- In any manner or place where any person or property is exposed to injury or damage because of such discharge.
- Firing tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
- Disturbing, injuring, destroying, or in any way damaging any prehistoric, historic, or archaeological resource, structure, site, artifact, property.
- Abandoning any personal property or failing to dispose of all garbage, including targets, paper, cans, bottles, glass or appliances.
- Destroying natural features.
Looking for a designated shooting range? The DNR offers a map of shooting ranges.
Search for Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Opportunities
Benton Lake Campground
Blacksmith Bayou Access Site
Bowman Bridge Campground and River Access
Bowman Lake Area
Bowman Lake Campground
Brush Lake Campground
Buttercup Campground
Chimney Loop Campground
Claybanks Campground
Condon Lakes West