Upper Peninsula deer hunters face a substantially revamped 2026 season after the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced several regulation changes Wednesday, Aug. 19, including the elimination of the UP antlerless access permit drawing and the introduction of optional digital kill tags.
The changes, approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission on May 15 following extensive public input, affect where hunters can take antlerless deer, how long the muzzleloader season lasts and how hunters can tag their harvest.
Antlerless rules overhauled
The biggest shift for UP hunters: the antlerless access permit drawing is gone. In its place, universal antlerless deer license use limits are set by deer management unit across the peninsula.
Only six southernmost DMUs remain open to antlerless harvest with a universal antlerless license: 022, 055, 121, 122, 155 and 255, per the DNR's 2026 regulations summary. Seventeen other UP units are closed to antlerless harvest with that license. Hunters planning to take antlerless deer need to check their specific DMU before purchasing tags.
The UP is also closed entirely to both the early antlerless firearm season (Sept. 12–13) and the late antlerless firearm season (Dec. 7–Jan. 1, 2027), which apply only to Lower Peninsula units.
Two deer management units, 351 and 352, have been rescinded.
Shorter muzzleloader season, eliminated extensions
The UP muzzleloader season has been compressed to three days: Dec. 4–6, running the first Friday through Sunday in December. Equipment restrictions apply.
Two extended seasons are also gone for 2026: there is no extended late antlerless deer season and no January archery season in 2027.
The regular firearm season remains unchanged, running Nov. 15–30 statewide. Early archery opens Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 14; late archery runs Dec. 1 through Jan. 1, 2027.
Digital kill tags debut
For the first time, hunters can use digital kill tags, called eHarvest tags, through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. The tags are completely optional. Hunters who prefer paper can continue using traditional tags.
Digital tags can be purchased and accessed immediately through the app, used to tag a harvested deer on a mobile device even without cellular service, and used to complete harvest reporting. Whether using paper or digital, hunters must report each harvested deer within 72 hours or before transferring possession, whichever comes first.
Senior crossbow expansion
Starting with the 2026 season, resident senior hunters with a valid senior deer license, senior deer combo license or senior universal antlerless deer license may use a crossbow during the late archery season (Dec. 1–Jan. 1, 2027) in the UP.
Habitat investment doubles
Separately, the DNR announced in July that it is funding 14 deer habitat improvement projects across nine UP counties in 2026, totaling $199,711 through the Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative. That doubles the per-year funding from past years.
Projects span Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, Mackinac and Marquette counties. Work includes mass plantings of trees and grasses favored by deer, converting abandoned logging roads into hunter walking trails, and projects involving public school students. The program is funded by $1.50 from every deer hunting license sold statewide.
The DNR urged all hunters, including experienced ones, to review the full 2026 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Deer, through the Hunt Fish app or in printed copies at retail locations and DNR customer service centers.
Isle Royale remains closed to deer hunting. Resident deer combo licenses (two kill tags) cost $40 for ages 17–64 and $28 for seniors 65 and older; single deer licenses cost $20 and $8, respectively. Universal antlerless licenses cost $20.
Upcoming 2026 deer season dates (UP):
- Early archery: Oct. 1–Nov. 14
- Regular firearm: Nov. 15–30
- Late archery: Dec. 1–Jan. 1, 2027
- Muzzleloader: Dec. 4–6
