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2026-27 · deer Zone 1
Marquette County Hunting
Reported deer since 2022, CWD testing by year, bear and turkey numbers, state game areas and forest acres, and the dates that reach Marquette County from September through March.
Photo: Woody H1 (CC BY 2.0)
Marquette County stretches over 1,809 square miles in the Upper Peninsula, run from Marquette. Its Vintage 2024 Census estimate is 67,979 residents (+2.2% since 2020). Zone 1 applies county-wide, split into 6 management units. The closest DNR counter is the Marquette customer service center. Enforcement here belongs to DNR District 1. Marquette County touches 2 floodings and 3 other public properties.
Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates (population), DNR region from the DNR wildlife region layer, deer zones from the DNR zone layer, law enforcement districts from the DNR district layer, customer service centers from the DNR contact page. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Marquette County
Every hunt that reaches Marquette County
For Marquette County, 47 segments cover deer, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Liberty Hunt | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, early | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Independence Hunt | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular firearm | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, late | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Upper Peninsula | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 | Amasa BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 | Baraga BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 | Carney BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 | Gwinn BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Amasa BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Baraga BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Carney BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Gwinn BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Amasa BMU | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Baraga BMU | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Carney BMU | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Gwinn BMU | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall unit M | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Fall first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Fall second part | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Fall | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Fall | Pheasant Zone 1 unit | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Fox and gray squirrel | Private-land season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | |
| Fox and gray squirrel | Regular | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Private-land season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Crow | Summer | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Crow | Late winter | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | North Zone | Nov 28, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Veterans days | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth weekend | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 1 | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 1 | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Management season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Mar 1, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Management season | Statewide | Mar 2, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Coyote | Regular hunting | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Mar 1, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Bobcat Unit A | Jan 1, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 | |
| Feral swine | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Opossum | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Skunk | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Woodchuck | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 hunting regulation summaries (deer, bear, elk, turkey, small game, waterfowl and furbearer editions), checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County deer units, dates and baiting
Only the southern UP units allow universal antlerless use; in Marquette County that means DMU 155 (2) and DMU 255 (2). DMU 007, DMU 036, DMU 152 and DMU 252: zero universal antlerless licenses usable. No UP unit holds the early or late antlerless firearm hunt. UP firearm hunters with a single license may take only antlered deer; the combo regular tag needs 3 points on a side.
| DMU | Unit name | Kind | Universal antlerless limit | Point rule | 2025 harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 007 | Big Bay unit | UP unit | Closed | UP rules | 1,188 |
| DMU 036 | Amasa-Michigamme unit | UP unit | Closed | UP rules | 498 |
| DMU 152 | Gwinn unit | UP unit | Closed | UP rules | 423 |
| DMU 155 | Gladstone unit | UP unit | 2 | UP rules | 1,193 |
| DMU 252 | Rock unit | UP unit | Closed | UP rules | 319 |
| DMU 255 | LaBranche unit | UP unit | 2 | UP rules | 1,193 |
Rifle season
Nov 15 to Nov 30, 2026 is the firearm season; muzzleloaders follow Dec 4 to Dec 6, 2026.
Archery dates
Archery opens Oct 1, pauses for firearm, resumes Dec 1.
Liberty and Independence
Two special hunts come early: Sep 12 to Sep 13, 2026 and Oct 15 to Oct 18, 2026.
Baiting rule
Baiting window here: Sept. 15-Jan. 1, 2 gallons scattered.
Every Michigan deer unit · Universal antlerless licenses
Units from the Wildlife Conservation Order chapter XII and the county-to-unit list, use limits from the 2026 deer summary, early and late antlerless counties from the WCO list, antler rules from WCO 3.101l, baiting from the deer summary, reported harvest by unit from the DNR harvest report summary. Checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County: state and federal land
The map drops a pin on each of the 5 Marquette County properties and on 4 close neighbours outside it. Marquette County holds 257,554 acres of state forest, split among Baraga Forest Management Unit and Gwinn Forest Management Unit. Add 18,027 national forest acres to the public total. Private timber land in the Commercial Forest program adds 311,368 walk-in acres.
- State parks in the county (2)Craig Lake State Park (10,802 acres*), Van Riper State Park (1,018 acres)
- Grouse sites (GEMS) in the county (1)Bill Rollo Memorial Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) (6,874 acres)
- Floodings (SWMAs), 2 hereSand River / Jeske Flooding Wildlife Management Area (850 acres), Lake LaVasseur Flooding Wildlife Management Area (403 acres)
- State forest, by FMUBaraga Forest Management Unit (1,280 acres in county), Gwinn Forest Management Unit (256,274 acres in county)
- Federal forest landHiawatha National Forest (5,923 acres in county), Ottawa National Forest (12,104 acres in county), Munising Ranger District (Hiawatha National Forest), Kenton Ranger District (Ottawa National Forest)
Short drives past the line: Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park 970 acres, 31 miles out; Nestoria Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area 124 acres, 32 miles out; Lake-36 State Wildlife Management Area 968 acres, 34 miles out; Ralph Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) 5,290 acres, 38 miles out.
Closed to hunting and trapping in Marquette County: Huron National Wildlife Refuge.
Michigan land index · About state forests · National forests · About Commercial Forest
Public land from the DNR wildlife property, park hunting-land and managed-lands layers and federal records; state forest acres from the DNR state forest lands (LOTS parcels); national forest acres from USFS land statistics; Commercial Forest acres from the DNR Commercial Forest program; HAP from the DNR HAP property list. Acres within 10 miles of the county seat are a GIS measure. Checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County reported deer by year
Hunters reported 1,502 deer from Marquette County in 2025: 1,241 antlered and 261 antlerless. That is 28% below the 2022 count of 2,087; the high year in the series is 2022 at 2,087. So far in 2026, with the firearm season still ahead, 223 deer have been reported.
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (season open) | 175 | 48 | 223 |
| 2025 | 1,241 | 261 | 1,502 |
| 2024 | 1,512 | 154 | 1,666 |
| 2023 | 1,126 | 122 | 1,248 |
| 2022 | 1,836 | 251 | 2,087 |
DNR Harvest Report Summary (reported deer by county, all seasons, read October 22, 2026; 2026 is in progress). Checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County CWD testing and TB rules
CWD has not been confirmed in wild deer from Marquette County. Marquette County was outside the surveillance lists from 2022 to 2026. Hunters Feeding Michigan takes deer from here without a test.
Michigan CWD and TB page · Why the LP bans bait
CWD areas and county lists from the 2026 deer summary and the WCO; tests by county from the DNR CWD testing data (results current to 10/16/2026 for 2026); TB from the deer summary; donation testing from the Hunters Feeding Michigan county lists. Checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County bear quotas and turkey hunts
Bear units and quotas
The DNR bear map puts Marquette County in Gwinn, Baraga, Amasa and Carney. The 2025 preliminary bear tally across Gwinn, Baraga, Amasa and Carney is 939.
| BMU | Hunt period | Open | Licenses | Nonresident cap | Applicants | 2025 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwinn | 1 | Sept. 9–Oct. 21 | 140 | 7 | 869 | 6–7 |
| Gwinn | 2 | Sept. 14–Oct. 26 | 155 | 7 | 627 | 2–3 |
| Gwinn | 3 | Sept. 25–Oct. 26 | 440 | 22 | 822 | 0–1 |
| Baraga | 1 | Sept. 9–Oct. 21 | 305 | 15 | 1,147 | 3–4 |
| Baraga | 2 | Sept. 14–Oct. 26 | 435 | 21 | 884 | 1–2 |
| Baraga | 3 | Sept. 25–Oct. 26 | 830 | 41 | 1,049 | 0–1 |
| Amasa | 1 | Sept. 9–Oct. 21 | 120 | 6 | 464 | 5–6 |
| Amasa | 2 | Sept. 14–Oct. 26 | 110 | 5 | 390 | 3–4 |
| Amasa | 3 | Sept. 25–Oct. 26 | 280 | 14 | 641 | 1–2 |
| Carney | 1 | Sept. 9–Oct. 21 | 90 | 4 | 699 | 7–8 |
| Carney | 2 | Sept. 14–Oct. 26 | 155 | 7 | 623 | 3–4 |
| Carney | 3 | Sept. 25–Oct. 26 | 320 | 16 | 989 | 1–2 |
| Unit | 2024 bears | 2025 bears, preliminary | 2024 success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwinn | 211 | 220 | 36% |
| Baraga | 352 | 349 | 33% |
| Amasa | 179 | 205 | 44% |
| Carney | 157 | 165 | 44% |
Gobblers
Spring 2026 hunt numbers for unit M are listed below; 2027 is not yet set. The fall hunt for Marquette County is unit M, Sep 15 to Nov 14, 2026. Mandatory reporting, new in 2026, shows 92 spring turkeys from Marquette County and 22 so far this fall. An estimated 46 fall turkeys came from Marquette County in 2025.
| Spring 2026 unit | Dates | Quota | Hunt |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | April 18–May 31 | 6,000 | 0110 |
| Statewide | May 2–May 31 | Unlimited | 0234 |
Ducks, pheasants, quail, bobcat
Bear quotas by unit · Turkey units M, NN and ZZ
Bear units from the DNR bear unit layer; quotas, applicants and points from the 2026 bear summary; registrations from the same summary (2025 preliminary) and survey success from the DNR bear harvest reports; turkey hunts from the spring 2026 and fall 2026 summaries, reported turkeys from the turkey harvest report summary, fall 2025 survey from the DNR turkey report; elk from the elk summary and DNR elk report; bird units from the small game, waterfowl and furbearer summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County legal hunting light
Michigan deer hours run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. The DNR prints one Zone A table and adds 6, 12 or 18 minutes for Zones B, C and D.
| Date | Season point | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:59 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Independence Hunt | 7:15 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Firearm opener | 6:53 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Firearm close | 7:11 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | December hunts | 7:16 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late archery close | 7:31 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
Zone A times from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources deer hunting hours table, zone offsets from the DNR hunting hours map legend, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours for every zone.
Marquette County base towns and next-door counties
Head counts are Vintage 2024 Census figures; Census-designated places carry none.
- Marquettecounty seat · 21,845 residents · 7,381 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Gwinn84,306 acres of public land in 10 miles
- K. I. Sawyer50,712 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Michigamme28,253 acres of public land in 10 miles
- West Ishpeming17,139 acres of public land in 10 miles
The Census adjacency file pairs Marquette County with 8 Michigan counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Marquette County help once the deer is down
Mileage runs from the county centre point, not by road; phone ahead before a trip to Marquette County.
DNR doors closest to Marquette County
Call ahead at any DNR office; hours change through the season.
Getting a deer processed
For a mount
Guides and preserves
Gear shops
DNR customer service centers and field offices from the DNR contact page; processors from the Hunters Feeding Michigan list, DNR disease sample sites and directory listings; preserves from the DNR game bird preserve directory; shops from the DNR license agent map (license-only counters removed) and directories. Checked October 22, 2026; call ahead. All Michigan hunting services.
Marquette County burn ban and campfire rules
Marquette County status today: open the Michigan county list.
- When a permit is needed: Any time the ground is not snow-covered.
- Counties where DNR burn permits are not issued electronically (southern Lower Peninsula; local fire dept/government issues permits): Marquette County is not on this list.
- Ban orders: (1) The DNR sets daily burn permit status by county and township ('No' = no open debris burning allowed).
- Campfires while hunting: Campfires for cooking or recreation need no DNR permit.
Zeroing a rifle in Marquette County
7 ranges sit within Marquette County; Skoglund-Erickson Shooting Range is on DNR land.
Offers handgun, rifle, shotgun, archery
Offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle, shotgun
Offers sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
Offers rifle, handgun, trap, shotgun
Offers rifle
| Club or range | Where | What it takes | Access rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Up Shooters Inc (outdoor range) | Ishpeming | trap/skeet/sporting clays/archery/air gun/handgun/action pistol/silhouette/muzzleloader/smallbore rimfire/shotgun | Access not stated |
Ranges from the DNR shooting page, the DNR range list and directory listings, checked October 22, 2026.
Banquets, classes and trials in Marquette County
On file for this county: 2 upcoming events (BOW workshop and hunter education field day).
Coming up
| Date | Event | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2026 | Hunter Education – Field Day – West Branch Sportsmen's Club / Hunter education field day | West Branch Sportsmen's Club in Skandia (Marquette Co.) | Register | Source |
| Feb 19–21, 2027 | Becoming an Outdoors Woman Winter Workshop 2027 / BOW workshop | Bay Cliff Health Camp (near Marquette) (Marquette Co.) | Event details | Source |
Marquette County FAQ
Do I have to report a turkey from Marquette County?
Yes. Since 2026 turkeys must be reported within 72 hours, online or in the app.
How many people applied for Gwinn bear?
869 first-choice applicants for period 1 in 2025.
Can I report a deer in the app in Marquette County?
Yes, through the DNR Hunt Fish app within 72 hours.
What public hunting land does Marquette County offer?
5 listed properties, 257,554 state forest acres and 18,027 national forest acres.
Can I carry a rifle before the Marquette County opener?
Not Nov. 10-14, the quiet period, except when transported to camp or a range.
Do turkey hunters wear orange in Marquette County?
No. Turkey hunters are exempt.
Is Marquette County deer Zone 1, 2 or 3?
Zone 1, in the Upper Peninsula, with 6 DMUs on top: DMU 007, DMU 036, DMU 152, DMU 155, DMU 252 and DMU 255.
Who cuts venison for Marquette County hunters?
Our closest listings are Soderman's Processing, Buried Stone Farms and Christnsen Dnald Cstm Btchring; ring before you drop off a deer.
What share of Marquette County deer were antlerless in 2025?
17%: 261 of 1,502.
Can I use a universal antlerless license in Marquette County?
Only in DMU 155 (2) and DMU 255 (2).
Answers from the DNR 2026 regulation summaries, harvest reporting rules, MCL 324.40116, DNR harvest and CWD data and the sources cited above. Checked October 22, 2026.
Marquette County: before the opener
Buy licenses on DNR eLicense or the Hunt Fish app and carry them afield.
Sources: DNR 2026 hunting regulation summaries, Wildlife Conservation Order, township restrictions list, Michigan DNR hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Christian Collins (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); bgreenlee (CC BY 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Photommo! (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0).