Anyone have any recommendations for a bear guide in the Bergland unit?

Looking for a guide for Newberry hunt 2. I successfully drew this year for the first time.

With the limited firearm zone gone now in 2026 I know most cartridges are allowed but I was wondering if 223/5.56 were allowed because I have seen some sites say no but other sites say almost every cartridge?

How is the non-resident hunting in Michigan? Specifically for deer, bear, and duck?

I bought a 350 legend to hunt here in Michigan. I know the law is changing soon but whatever. My question is what do u recommend for grain weight. Id probably shoot fmj for practice and obviously deer rounds for hunting. Should those be the same grain?

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Advice please......

I’m 18 I just drew a bear tag first year of trying for Bergland. Where do I even start. I think a guide is the way to go, any recommendations?

I happily took in a free fridge this year, now I have two garage fridges. One of them will be turned into an aging fridge for various game, mainly deer. I have always done my own deer from field to freezer to plate, no one touches it but me.

My question is. I am turning one of the fridges to an aging fridge. I intend to hang the venison and let it age in the fridge at a controlled temperature. What is your opinion on aging deboned venison vs aging bone in venison?

Hello, I have a good friend who has a cabin up in MiO, invited me to come stay with him during fishing seasons and the spring. Was wondering how the turkey hunting is up there? May start scouting and bring my turkey gear up there with me next spring

I know it’s a dumb question, no one wants to spot burn and I doubt any farmers are either on Reddit or willing to volunteer land, but I’m an out-of-stater (Texas) but my niece and nephew live with their mom in Lake Orion area, their deadbeat dad always said he’d take them hunting but never has and now avoids the topic when it’s brought up. I’m planning on going up there this season and take them out one at a time. Im fine with public land, but I’m not sure of places that are just devoid of deer. I’m not looking for big bucks, or even any bucks, just a doe would be great or even the opportunity to see deer while out with them would make memories. I’ll be butchering the meat and leaving it for them and mom. Also if anyone can give me tips on best time of year to be up there, information on how to hunt those northern deer (doubt your deer are ever worried about where a water source is like mine), and maybe tell me what temperature I should expect so I can bring enough warm boy layers lol.
Thanks in advance for anyone who’s going to be helpful, and if you don’t want to spot burn or advertise your tips, just message me.

Full hunt video below 👇

https://youtu.be/EGGjeWxJD3c

Looking to hunt in lower peninsula for deer what is the best caliber to get with the removal of caliber restrictions In the lower peninsula for us trolls? Looking to get a lever gun.

Im having the hardest time hunting turkeys this spring, and with not a lot of time left I need any advice I can get. I have a private land tag, and im very limited. I hunt about 5 acres surrounded by neighbors private land i have no permission to go on. So I have to hunt them in an odd way, a ground blind that I can only move to limited areas with calls and decoys. I cant go to them. The past 3 years ive managed to call in Tom's and shoot them no issue, heck last year I called one to me day one within the hour. This year im having no luck, the Tom's and Jake's come around about every other day and gobble like mad, but it's like they circle the property im on and dont come into it, they respond to my calls but never come on the property. I swear they know the property lines. I hunt most mornings before work (legal hour to about 8am then leave for work) and on weekends im out legal hour till about 1 or 2 pm. I dont bother coming in evenings because I know they dont pass through the property to their roost, and early season when i did i never heard them gobble or ne around either. Ive never had to hunt this late into the season, what sort of calls and decoy setup can I deploy to entice them to me. I have a box call, slate call, and mouth call. Im using my slate call the most as I got my wisdom tooth removed and cant use my mouth call. Again, I get responses, I even get hens coming in heated up. But the toms....it's like they cant trespass onto my area lmao

I know a lot of guys are fired up about the NRC voting to change the deer regs, but honestly, I think some people are missing the bigger picture.

Starting in 2027, Lower Peninsula hunters are looking at being limited to one buck per year. The reason behind it is pretty simple: Michigan has too many does in a lot of areas, and not enough antlerless deer are being taken. If the goal is to actually manage the herd, then hunters need to be part of that solution, even when the rule change is frustrating.

I get why people are annoyed. Nobody likes feeling like something was taken away, especially when it comes to hunting opportunity. Even if most hunters weren’t shooting two bucks every year, they still liked having the option. Losing that second buck tag feels like a loss, and I understand why that rubs people the wrong way.

There’s also the trust issue. A lot of hunters don’t trust the DNR, and I get that too. Some people feel like the state makes broad decisions without understanding what’s happening on the ground where they hunt. Deer numbers are not the same everywhere. Some guys are covered up in does, while others sit for days without seeing much. So when people hear “Michigan has too many deer,” they think, “Maybe where you are, but not where I hunt.”

Those are fair concerns. There are real questions here. Will this actually make more people shoot does? Will some guys just shoot one buck and quit for the year? Should the rules be more local instead of one broad Lower Peninsula change? I think those are all fair things to ask.

But at the same time, we have to be honest about what the current system has produced. In a lot of areas, we have too many does, too many young bucks getting shot, and not enough people taking antlerless harvest seriously. If the herd is out of balance, something has to change.

And that’s where the culture part comes in.

In Michigan, shooting a buck has always been treated like the big prize. For a lot of hunters, deer season feels like a failure if they don’t punch a buck tag. It doesn’t always matter if it’s a spike, fork horn, or little basket rack — if it has antlers, it gets treated like success. Meanwhile, shooting a doe often gets treated like a backup plan instead of an important part of managing the herd.

Nobody wants to say it, but there’s some ego involved too. A buck gets bragging rights. A doe doesn’t get the same reaction at camp or on Facebook. You don’t see many people posting a doe with the same excitement as a buck. So when the rules start nudging people toward shooting does, some hunters act like it’s beneath them.

That’s the part that bothers me. A lot of people call themselves conservationists, but the second conservation means changing how they hunt, they get mad. Managing the herd means more than buying a license and wearing camo. Sometimes it means passing a young buck, shooting a doe, and doing what actually helps the deer herd.

The blunt version? Some of the guys crying online want to call themselves conservationists, but they don’t want to do the unglamorous part of conservation.

I’m not saying the rule is perfect. It probably won’t fix everything on its own. But acting like this is the end of deer hunting in Michigan is ridiculous. If anything, this is a push for hunters to be more intentional. Shoot a good buck if you get the chance. Take does where the herd needs it. Stop acting like every spike and fork horn is a trophy just because it has antlers.

At the end of the day, if we want healthier deer herds and better hunting in the future, Michigan hunters are going to have to get past the “brown it’s down, but only if it has horns” mindset.

After an unsuccessful first weekend, I got him on camera giving me a look.

My public land bird from last Saturday. The hunting was great and the birds were much more responsive than the previous weekend.

Is it generally considered more desirable to win the early season or late season elk tag lottery.

I see they knocked the number of tags back this year to 200 from 260.

Hey guys me and 3 buddies have been trying to find a lease for this upcoming deer season. Zone 2 above the rifle line. We have looked on HLRBO and a couple other sites and wanted to see if anyone here had any advice or leads or any useful information. Perfect scenario is private land with a cabin to stay in but we are pretty much open to anything at this point.

Thanks!

Just poking around Reddit in hopes of getting a report of how bad the flooding is in & around Tomahawk Creek Flooding area (east of Canada Creek Ranch other side of M33). I have a couple trail cams up in that general area, wondering if I'd be able to get back in there any time soon. Tomahawk Lake Highway & Co Rd 634 specifically. Any info of that area & the water situation is welcomed. Thank you all 🙏

Does anyone know of livestock owners that are looking for predator hunters? Coyote is officially in it's management season since March 1st and will run till October, with a 24/7 and I believe no bag limit, just need a base license. Hunting is allowed on public and private land while trapping is allowed on public land with a license and without a license on private land.

Just looking to up my trophy wall with some coyote tails and help out fellow farmers with some predator management

Very curious to know people’s thoughts on this. Would a 1 buck limit and removing the bait ban help or hurt the herd?

How is everyone feeling?

The spot I went to last year and got my first bird is decently flooded. I am still hopeful, but with only three days and no scouting I can't say I am a bit nervous...

Hey guys, I’m 17 and looking to get into hunting. My parents immigrated to Michigan so I’d be the first hunter in my family. I’ve always loved being outdoors (I hike and trek a lot), but I grew up mostly in the suburbs and don’t know anyone who hunts.

I’ve done a little research but I’m still very new. I’m thinking about starting with archery and trying to decide between a compound bow or a crossbow. Curious what you guys would suggest for someone starting from zero.

My plan right now is to hopefully get one sometime this month and just spend the summer practicing and learning. I was thinking about starting with small game when it opens in September and just going out every couple weeks to learn, then maybe trying deer later once I have more experience.

Since I don’t know anyone personally who hunts, I’d really appreciate any advice. Especially just how you got started, things beginners usually mess up, and anything you wish you knew when you first started. Also if anyone knows good ways to learn around southeast Michigan or how to find mentors, I’d really appreciate it. If anyone is around the oakland county and doesn’t mind giving some advice to someone trying to learn the right way, that would be awesome too.

Thanks!