LANSING — Michigan’s spring turkey hunting season application period is open now through Sunday, Feb. 1, with applications costing $5 each, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Per a Jan. 8 news release, applications can be purchased at any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said hunters should note several changes for the 2026 season, including updates to license options, turkey management units and mandatory harvest reporting.
Adam Bump, the department’s upland game bird specialist, said the regulation changes are intended to maximize hunter opportunity while maintaining satisfactory hunting experiences statewide.
Beginning in 2026, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the number of spring turkey management units will be reduced from 14 to three: Unit M for the Upper Peninsula, Unit NN for the Northern Lower Peninsula and Unit ZZ for the Southern Lower Peninsula.
The department encouraged hunters to review the official turkey management unit maps in the 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary before buying a license.
Through the drawing, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the following license options will be valid on public and private land within the three turkey management units. Applicants must select a first-choice hunt and may also choose an optional second choice. License quotas limit the number of permits available for each unit and season, the department said.
Unit M (Hunt 0110) runs April 18 through May 31 with a license quota of 6,000. Unit NN (Hunt 0134) runs April 18 through May 1 with a license quota of 18,000. Unit ZZ (Hunt 0302) runs April 18 through May 1 with a license quota of 8,000, and Unit ZZ (Hunt 0303) runs May 2 through May 31 with a license quota of 8,000, the department said.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said guaranteed licenses that do not require entering the drawing can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, March 16.
A statewide license (Hunt 0234) runs April 25 through May 31, has an unlimited quota and is valid on public and private lands statewide except for public lands in Unit ZZ, the department said.
A Unit ZZ license (Hunt 0301) is private land only, runs April 18 through May 31, has an unlimited quota and is valid on private lands in Unit ZZ, the department said. Bump said the changes will give hunters longer seasons and bigger units to hunt in.
Drawing results will be available Monday, March 2, and hunters are responsible for checking their own results online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, the department said.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said hunters who are unsuccessful in the drawing may purchase a leftover license for a hunt with a remaining quota beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, March 9.
Hunters who did not apply for the drawing may purchase leftover licenses beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, March 16. The department said leftover licenses may or may not be available in desired units depending on demand.
For eligibility, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said hunters ages 17 and older during the hunt period who have a hunter education certificate, or those with an apprentice license, are eligible to apply during the application period. Hunters ages 10 to 16 may purchase a spring turkey youth license and do not need to apply, the department said. Hunters ages 9 and younger may participate through the mentored hunting program and receive a spring turkey license, the department said.
The department said both the youth hunter and mentored youth spring turkey licenses are valid for all spring turkey management units and season dates, with details available in the spring turkey regulations summary.
All successful spring turkey hunters must report harvests within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the birds, whichever comes first, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.
Harvests can be reported online on the department’s report a harvest website or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, the department said, adding the reporting system provides near real-time harvest information throughout the season.
Season dates, license quotas, maps and additional seasonal information are available in the 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary, the department said.