Home › Michigan › Species › Bobcat
DNR summaries 2026-27
Bobcat Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Bobcat hunting opens Jan. 1, 2027 in Units A to H and closes from Jan 11 in Unit H to Mar 1, 2027 in Units A to C; trapping runs between Nov 1 and Jan 18, 2027 by unit. The whole 2026-27 bobcat year, opener to close, from the DNR tables.
Photo: San Bernardino Nat'l Forest (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Bobcat is a resident-only season: each resident fur harvester may take two, one on a kill tag good in every unit and the second only in Unit A (the Upper Peninsula except Drummond Island). Free bobcat kill tags are issued May 1 to Oct. 31, and every bobcat is presented for registration and sealing by the unit deadline. Unit X, the rest of the Lower Peninsula outside Units C, D, G and H, has no bobcat season.
How the regulations sum up bobcats
- Season shape: Units A-H hunting Jan. 1 to Jan. 11-March 1, 2027; trapping Nov.-Jan. by unit.
- Take: 2 per resident (second tag Unit A only); residents only.
- Notes: Free kill tags May 1-Oct. 31; registration deadlines.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Michigan bobcat dates for 2026-27
The 2026-27 bobcat calendar, 14 rows in all, read straight from the DNR season tables.
| Season | Where | Method | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit A | Trapping | Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | 14 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit B | Trapping | Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | 14 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit A | Trapping | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 49 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit B | Trapping | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 49 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit C | Trapping | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | 20 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit D | Trapping | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | 20 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit G | Trapping | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | 20 | |
| Trapping | Bobcat Unit H | Trapping | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | 11 | |
| Hunting | Bobcat Unit A | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Jan 1, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 | 60 | |
| Hunting | Bobcat Unit B | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Jan 1, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 | 60 | |
| Hunting | Bobcat Unit C | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Jan 1, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 | 60 | |
| Hunting | Bobcat Unit D | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Jan 1, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 | 32 | |
| Hunting | Bobcat Unit G | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 20, 2027 | 20 | |
| Hunting | Bobcat Unit H | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 11, 2027 | 11 | |
| Closed | Bobcat Unit X (rest of Lower Peninsula) | – | No 2026 season |
Bobcat row notes
- Residents only; free kill tags May 1-Oct. 31; 2 per season (second tag Unit A only); mandatory registration.
- Unit X (WCO 12.806x) has no season in the 2026 summary.
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary and the Wildlife Conservation Order, checked October 22, 2026.
Bobcat limits and license costs, 2026-27
Limits for bobcats in the DNR's own words, then each license, stamp and application with resident, senior, youth and nonresident prices.
Bobcat (detail)
Two per resident fur harvester: one kill tag valid in all units/lands, second tag Unit A (Upper Peninsula except Drummond Island) only.
What a bobcat hunter buys
| License | Resident | 65 and older | Youth | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base license | $11 | $5 | $6 | $151 |
| Fur harvester license | $15 | $6 | $15 | $15 |
| Incidental tag | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Bobcat kill tag | Free | Free | Free | – |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
Bobcat regulations beyond the bag
Field rules for bobcats, checked on October 22, 2026.
Reporting
Bobcat, fisher, marten and otter must be presented for registration/sealing by unit deadlines.
Hours
Bobcat hunters follow the WCO 2.5 hours, sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30, on the DNR table for the date.
Orange and pink
From Aug. 15 through April 30, in daylight shooting hours, anyone taking bobcats wears a cap, hat, vest, jacket or rain gear of hunter orange; camouflage with at least 50% orange counts. A bobcat hunter who is stationary may be exempt under MCL 324.40116(2).
Hunting on Sunday
No Sunday closure applies to bobcats in Michigan.
Registration deadlines
Hunting Units A, B and C: Mar. 11, 2027; Hunting Unit D: Feb. 11, 2027; Hunting Unit G: Jan. 30, 2027; Hunting Unit H: Jan. 21, 2027; Trapping Units A and B: Jan. 28, 2027; Trapping Units C, D and G: Jan. 8, 2027; Trapping Unit H: Dec. 30, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops for bobcats
| Day | Season point | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Trapping opens | 6:36 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:14 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Trapping closes | 6:52 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Trapping opens | 7:12 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Trapping opens | 7:20 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Trapping closes | 7:27 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 7:39 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. |
| Dec 29, 2026 | Trapping closes | 7:31 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Hunting opens | 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. |
| Jan 18, 2027 | Trapping closes | 7:27 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. | 7:39 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. |
| Feb 1, 2027 | Hunting closes | 7:16 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 6:22 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. |
| Mar 1, 2027 | Hunting closes | 6:38 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summaries: harvest reporting, MCL 324.40116 hunter orange, baiting, hunting hours tables, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours by zone · Michigan hunting laws.
Where bobcat rules change by unit
Unit A is the UP; B is Drummond Island.
| Bobcat unit | Area | Hunt | Trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit A | Upper Peninsula except Drummond Island | Jan 1-Mar 1 | Nov 1-Nov 14; Dec 1-Jan 18 |
| Unit B | Drummond Island | Jan 1-Mar 1 | Nov 1-Nov 14; Dec 1-Jan 18 |
| Unit C | Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Montmorency, Osc | Jan 1-Mar 1 | Dec 10-Dec 29 |
| Unit D | Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, | Jan 1-Feb 1 | Dec 10-Dec 29 |
| Unit G | Bay, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Isabella, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason | Jan 1-Jan 20 | Dec 10-Dec 29 |
| Unit H | Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sh | Jan 1-Jan 11 | Dec 10-Dec 20 |
| Unit X | Rest of the Lower Peninsula | Closed | Closed |
fur harvester summary, checked October 22, 2026.
Bobcat hunting areas
Few property records name bobcats by itself, so this list also takes in the 4 properties whose game list carries furbearers; read each property page before you go.
| Property | Kind | Counties | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Forest System | State Forest | Alcona, Alger, Alpena… | 3,954,811 |
| Ottawa National Forest | National Forest | Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton… | 1,000,750 |
| Huron-Manistee National Forest | National Forest | Alcona, Crawford, Iosco… | 979,067 |
| Hiawatha National Forest | National Forest | Alger, Chippewa, Delta… | 899,499 |
Properties and their game lists from DNR, USFS, FWS and NPS pages and the DNR land layers, retrieved 2026-10-22. Michigan public land directory · County guides.
Legal weapons for bobcats in Michigan
Legal and prohibited equipment for bobcats, with the method rules beside it.
| Season or group | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Night hunting (raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, skunk, weasel) | Bow, crossbow, pneumatic gun, rimfire .22 or smaller, centerfire rifle/pistol .269 caliber or smaller, shotgun with loads no larger than No. 3 buckshot (WCO 2.5(2)). | Centerfire rifle/pistol at night in state parks/recreation areas; buckshot larger than No. 3, slugs, cut shells. |
| Trapping | Foothold, body-gripping/conibear, cage traps for all furbearers; snares for beaver only; colony traps for muskrat only; nonlethal cable restraints for coyote/fox Jan. 1-March 1. | Setting traps before the season opens; see trap-type table and trap-check rules. |
Bobcat method rules
Buying and selling game
Game may not be bought or sold except as allowed by WCO 4.3.
Live wild animals
Possessing live game or protected animals taken from the wild requires a DNR permit.
Drones and vehicles
No hunting from cars, snowmobiles, aircraft, drones, motorboats, ORVs or sailboats (special permits excepted); drones may not be used to locate or recover game.
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
Michigan bobcat questions answered
Can nonresidents hunt bobcat in Michigan?
No. Bobcat is a residents-only season.
When must a bobcat be registered?
Hunting Units A, B and C: Mar. 11, 2027; Hunting Unit D: Feb. 11, 2027; Hunting Unit G: Jan. 30, 2027; Hunting Unit H: Jan. 21, 2027; Trapping Units A and B: Jan. 28, 2027; Trapping Units C, D and G: Jan. 8, 2027; Trapping Unit H: Dec. 30, 2026.
Which counties are closed to bobcat?
Unit X, the rest of the Lower Peninsula outside Units C, D, G and H, has no season.
Do bobcat hunters wear orange or pink?
From Aug. 15 through April 30, in daylight shooting hours, anyone taking bobcats wears a cap, hat, vest, jacket or rain gear of hunter orange; camouflage with at least 50% orange counts. A bobcat hunter who is stationary may be exempt under MCL 324.40116(2).
Is there a harvest report for bobcats?
Bobcat, fisher, marten and otter must be presented for registration/sealing by unit deadlines.
Is there any Sunday closure for bobcats?
No Sunday closure applies to bobcats in Michigan.
Which weapons are legal for bobcats in Michigan?
Night hunting (raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, skunk, weasel): Bow, crossbow, pneumatic gun, rimfire .22 or smaller, centerfire rifle/pistol .269 caliber or smaller, shotgun with loads no larger than No. 3 buckshot (WCO 2.5(2)).
When do Michigan bobcats come into season in 2026-27?
For bobcats: trapping Nov 1 to Nov 14, 2026 (Bobcat Unit A); trapping Nov 1 to Nov 14, 2026 (Bobcat Unit B); trapping Dec 1, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027 (Bobcat Unit A); trapping Dec 1, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027 (Bobcat Unit B); trapping Dec 10 to Dec 29, 2026 (Bobcat Unit C). The other bobcat rows are in the season table on this page.
What does the DNR let a hunter keep of bobcats?
Two per resident fur harvester: one kill tag valid in all units/lands, second tag Unit A (Upper Peninsula except Drummond Island) only.
How much do the licenses for bobcats cost?
Buy, as it applies to bobcats: Base license ($11); Fur harvester license ($15); Incidental tag (Free); Bobcat kill tag (Free).
Can bobcats be hunted on state or federal land in Michigan?
Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest head a list of 4 properties. Several of those records carry a group heading such as furbearers or small game instead of the animal itself.
Is there a sunset rule for bobcats in Michigan?
Bobcat hunters follow the WCO 2.5 hours, sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30, on the DNR table for the date.
Heading out after bobcats
Dates and limits here match the DNR summaries as checked on October 22, 2026; the DNR can change them, so check the summary before a bobcat hunt.
Other photos on this page: ksblack99 (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Don Henise (CC BY 2.0); ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0).