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Lower Peninsula county guide
Montcalm County Hunting
Hunting Montcalm County in 2026-27: the Lower Peninsula deer rules, every DMU that crosses the county line, antlerless license limits, disease rules, public land, towns, services and legal light.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Some 705 square miles of land lie inside Montcalm County, and Stanton is the seat. Roughly 69,314 residents in 2024 means close to 98 people per square mile. All of it lies in deer Zone 3, covered by 4 deer management units. Walk-in DNR help is at Lansing, 54 miles from the middle of the county. The county is part of DNR Law Enforcement District 6. Hunters can pick among 5 public properties here, the biggest being Flat River State Game Area.
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 Montcalm County
Montcalm County dates from September to March
Montcalm County is in Lower Peninsula Zone 3. The 47 rows below are the dated hunts the DNR summaries put there.
| Game | Season | Where | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless firearm | Listed antlerless county | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| 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 | December firearm | Lower Peninsula | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late antlerless firearm | Listed antlerless county | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 (firearm/bait/dogs) | Baldwin BMU | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 (archery only) | Baldwin BMU | Oct 2, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall unit I | 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 | Zone 3 | Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | December | Zone 3 | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Fall | Open quail county | Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 14, 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 | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | South Zone | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 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 | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 2 | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 3 | South Zone | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 4 | South Zone | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 1 | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 2 | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 3 | South Zone | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 4 | South Zone | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| 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 H | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 11, 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.
Montcalm County deer units and antlerless limits
Montcalm County carries a universal antlerless use limit of 10, set by county across the Lower Peninsula for 2026. The early antlerless weekend (Sep 12 to Sep 13, 2026) and the late antlerless hunt (Dec 7, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027) both reach Montcalm County. No unit in Montcalm County carries the Lower Peninsula 3-point rule; one antler of 3 inches makes a legal buck on a single license.
| Deer unit | Name | Unit type | Licenses usable | Antler points | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 059 | Montcalm county | County unit | 10 | Statewide only | 7,389 |
| DMU 354 | Lakeview unit; Mecosta – Montcalm | Overlay unit | 10 | Statewide only | — |
| DMU 359 | Core CWD area | Overlay unit | 10 | Statewide only | — |
| DMU 486 | Southern Lower Peninsula multi-county | Overlay unit | 10 | Statewide only | — |
November firearm
Firearm deer opens Nov. 15 and closes Nov 30, 2026; December firearm Dec 4 to Dec 6, 2026.
Two archery segments
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 14, 2026 and again Dec 1, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Special hunts
The Liberty Hunt for youth and hunters with disabilities is Sep 12 to Sep 13, 2026; the Independence Hunt is Oct 15 to Oct 18, 2026.
Deer bait
Montcalm County follows the peninsula-wide rule: no deer bait and no feeding, on any land, public or private.
All DMU pages · Antlerless limits by county
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.
Montcalm County acres open to hunters
5 listed properties reach into Montcalm County; acres for properties that cross a county line are for the whole property. Huron-Manistee National Forest adds 1,775 acres of federal land.
- State game areas in the county (5)Flat River State Game Area (11,822 ac*), Stanton State Game Area (4,921 ac), Edmore State Game Area (3,809 ac*), Langston State Game Area (3,257 ac), Vestaburg State Game Area (2,970 ac)
- USDA Forest Service landHuron-Manistee National Forest (1,775 ac in county), White Cloud Ranger District (Huron-Manistee National Forest)
Worth the drive next door: Grand River State Game Area 1,023 ac, 24 miles out; Saranac-Lowell State Game Area 2,152 ac, 25 miles out; Ionia Recreation Area 4,230 ac, 25 miles out; Cannonsburg State Game Area 1,361 ac, 26 miles out; Martiny Lake State Game Area 7,783 ac, 26 miles out.
Skip Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park; the DNR lists no hunting there.
Land by DNR type · State game areas · Federal land
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.
Montcalm County deer, year by year
Montcalm County produced 7,412 reported deer in 2025, 3rd among Michigan's 83 counties. Reporting began in 2022, when the county logged 8,103 (-9% since). The 2026 license year is under way: 1,595 reports as of Oct. 22.
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | 718 | 877 | 1,595 |
| 2025 | 3,814 | 3,598 | 7,412 |
| 2024 | 3,634 | 3,287 | 6,921 |
| 2023 | 3,913 | 2,981 | 6,894 |
| 2022 | 4,797 | 3,306 | 8,103 |
DNR Harvest Report Summary (reported deer by county, all seasons, read October 22, 2026; 2026 is in progress). Checked October 22, 2026.
Deer disease rules, Montcalm County
Montcalm County is one of five counties in the core CWD area. Wild deer from Montcalm County have tested positive for CWD. Results for Montcalm County: 45 tested and 8 positive in 2026. Some Montcalm County townships fall in the carcass movement area. Plan a CWD test if you donate a deer from Montcalm County.
| Year | Tests | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 45 | 8 |
CWD core area and zone · Bait and feeding by peninsula
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.
Montcalm County bear, turkey and upland units
Bear numbers
Baldwin sets the bear quotas for Montcalm County. Registered bears for these units in 2025: 114 (preliminary).
| Unit | Period | 2026 season | Quota | Nonres. | 2025 first choice | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | 1 | Sept. 12–22 and Oct. 2–8 | 395 | 19 | 2,762 | 7–8 |
| BMU | Bears 2024 | Bears 2025* | Survey success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | 150 | 114 | 42% |
Turkeys in Montcalm County
Unit ZZ sets the spring hunts in Montcalm County; 2027 dates are pending. Unit I covers fall turkey, Sep 15 to Nov 14, 2026. 480 gobblers were reported from Montcalm County in spring 2026. In fall 2025, 365 hunters tried Montcalm County (14% success by survey).
| Unit | Spring 2026 | Licenses | Hunt no. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | May 2–May 31 | Unlimited | 0234 |
| ZZ* | April 18–May 31 | Unlimited | 0301 |
| ZZ | April 18–May 1 | 8,000 | 0302 |
| ZZ | May 2–31 | 8,000 | 0303 |
Units for birds and furbearers
Montcalm County has 1 pheasant release site (Stanton).
Compare bear units · All turkey units
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.
Montcalm County legal hunting light
The DNR hunting-time map splits the state into Zones A to D from east to west. Each step west adds 6 minutes to the Zone A times below.
| Date | Moment | Zone A hours | Zone B hours | Zone C hours | Zone D hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Montcalm County towns, plus bordering counties
Start from a Montcalm County town: its page lists land in reach and the closest processors.
- Stantonseat of county · 1,393 people · 10,532 mapped public acres nearby
- Crystal7,764 mapped public acres nearby
- Edmore1,277 people · 9,325 mapped public acres nearby
- Greenville9,110 people · 14,891 mapped public acres nearby
- Lakeview1,053 people · 4,426 mapped public acres nearby
- Sheridan722 people · 15,171 mapped public acres nearby
- Trufant3,189 mapped public acres nearby
Montcalm County touches 7 other Michigan counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Montcalm County DNR offices and hunting businesses
Gas stations and grocery counters that only sell licenses are left out; these are hunting shops.
DNR doors closest to Montcalm County
Customer service centers sell licenses and answer questions on weekdays; call ahead, since hours vary.
Butchering and processing
Taxidermists
Game bird preserves and guides
Hunting shops nearby
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.
Before you burn in Montcalm County
Today's Montcalm County status is on the Michigan burn ban list.
- Permit season: 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): Montcalm County is on this list.
- Burn bans come from: (1) The DNR sets daily burn permit status by county and township ('No' = no open debris burning allowed).
- Public land fires: Campfires for cooking or recreation need no DNR permit.
Where Montcalm County hunters sight in
Montcalm County: 4 ranges, covering clubs, indoor bays and archery as listed.
Disciplines: rifle, archery, 3D archery
Disciplines: trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle
About 47 miles away, Barry County Shooting Range is the closest range on DNR land.
Montcalm County shoot dates
| Date and match | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22-24, 2027 ▸ Howard City’s Quickly Growing! New Era Gun and Knife Expo | Gun show | Event details |
| Feb 27, 2027 ▸ Edmore Gun & Knife Show | Gun show | Event details |
Ranges from the DNR shooting page, the DNR range list and directory listings, checked October 22, 2026.
Montcalm County, dinners, classes and hunts
On file for this county: 1 upcoming event (NWTF banquet).
Dates ahead
| When | Event | Location | Tickets or entry | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2027 | Newaygo Valley NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | Howard City (Montcalm Co.) | Buy tickets | Source |
Montcalm County: short answers
May hunters bait deer in Montcalm County?
No. Baiting and feeding are banned in the whole Lower Peninsula.
How do I register a bear from Montcalm County?
Present the unfrozen head and hide at a DNR registration station within 72 hours.
Does hunter orange apply to turkey hunters in Montcalm County?
No. Turkey hunters are exempt from the orange rule.
Which Montcalm County property has the most acres?
Flat River State Game Area, at 11,822 acres on our list.
Do I still take deer to a check station in Montcalm County?
No; reporting is online or in the app. Heads for testing are taken only after reporting.
Do I need hunter orange in Montcalm County?
Yes, from Aug. 15 through April 30 while taking game, with listed exceptions.
Is there a limited firearms zone in Montcalm County?
No. The zone was eliminated for 2026; all legal firearms may be used.
Does the late antlerless season reach Montcalm County?
Yes; the late antlerless firearm hunt runs Dec 7, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 there.
Is there a deer processor in or next to Montcalm County?
Sage's Meat Processing & Catering, Mac’s Rustic Sport Shop and Carson Village Market sit nearest on the Michigan list we keep.
Which DMU numbers apply in Montcalm County?
DMU 059, DMU 354, DMU 359 and DMU 486, from the county-to-unit list in the deer summary.
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.
Montcalm County checks before the drive
Where this page and the DNR summaries differ, follow the summaries and the WCO.
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: Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); GlacierNPS (Public domain); FolioRoad (CC BY 2.0); fidelis_o (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0); NWCouncil (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).