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Furbearers, hunted and trapped · 2026-27
Weasel Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Least, short-tailed (ermine) and long-tailed weasels are open all year in Michigan, hunting and trapping, with no bag limit. Dates, limits, land and rules for weasels, all from the DNR 2026 summaries.
Photo: AdamB1995 (CC BY 2.0)
Weasel is on the WCO 2.5(2) list of species that may be hunted at night. No bag limit. Landowners may take them without a license when they are doing or about to do damage on private property.
The DNR line on weasels
- Methods and dates: Year-round.
- Bag: No limit.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Weasel seasons by zone and unit
Weasels have no closed season in Michigan; the row below shows the wording.
| Segment | Unit | Methods | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Statewide | Hunting and trapping | No closed season | Year-round |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary, checked October 22, 2026.
Weasel bag limits and licenses
These weasel limits are statewide unless a unit, a property or a hunt sets its own.
Weasel (least, short-tailed/ermine and long-tailed)
Residents: no limit per season; nonresidents: no limit
Weasel license costs
| Product | Res. adult | Res. senior | Youth | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base license | $11 | $5 | $6 | $151 |
| Fur harvester license | $15 | $6 | $15 | $15 |
| Incidental tag | Free | Free | Free | Free |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
The DNR rulebook for weasels
Before going after weasels, check these reporting, hours and bait rules.
Harvest report
Nothing is reported or registered for weasels.
Hunting hours
Michigan gives weasels the standard window, a half hour either side of sunrise and sunset, with the zone offsets from the DNR map. Weasels can be hunted at night too, within the WCO 2.5(2) weapon list.
Orange rule
Wear hunter orange for weasels by day from Aug. 15 through April 30; the statute lets the Natural Resources Commission authorize pink too.
Sundays
Neither the 2026 summaries nor the Wildlife Conservation Order closes Sunday hunting for weasels.
Weasel hours on key days
| Day | Opener or close | In A | In B | In C | In D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | mid-October | 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 | mid-November | 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. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | mid-December | 7:24 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | mid-January | 7:29 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:35 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 7:41 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. | 7:47 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | mid-February | 6:59 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 6:52 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.
Weasel ground: harvest and public land
Listed: 4 properties with furbearers or the species on their game list.
| Public area | Kind | County | 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.
What gear is legal for weasels
Allowed and banned equipment for weasels, side by side.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Method limits for weasels
Artificial lights
No lights to locate animals in November, or 11 p.m.-6 a.m. the rest of the year; no lights with a weapon in possession; Nov. 1-30 on own/family land without a weapon; deer hunters may use lights 1 hour before/after hours with an unloaded weapon while walking to/from the stand.
Buying and selling game
Game may not be bought or sold except as allowed by WCO 4.3.
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
Common Michigan weasel questions
Is there a closed season on weasels in Michigan?
No. They may be hunted and trapped all year.
Do I have to report weasels in Michigan?
Nothing is reported or registered for weasels.
Does Michigan close Sunday hunting for weasels?
Neither the 2026 summaries nor the Wildlife Conservation Order closes Sunday hunting for weasels.
Which guns, bows and loads work for weasels?
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 is weasel season in Michigan?
Weasels have no closed season in Michigan.
How many weasels may go in the bag under DNR rules?
Residents: no limit per season; nonresidents: no limit.
What must I buy before going after weasels in Michigan?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Base license ($11); Fur harvester license ($15); Incidental tag (Free).
Which game areas and forests carry weasels?
Of 4 public properties that qualify, the largest are Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest. A group heading in the property record put some of these on the list.
How long after sunset can weasels be taken?
Michigan gives weasels the standard window, a half hour either side of sunrise and sunset, with the zone offsets from the DNR map. Weasels can be hunted at night too, within the WCO 2.5(2) weapon list.
Does the orange law cover weasels?
Wear hunter orange for weasels by day from Aug. 15 through April 30; the statute lets the Natural Resources Commission authorize pink too.
Final notes on weasels
Before the weasel trip, confirm your license, the property rules and the hunter orange rule for the dates you hunt.
Other photos on this page: rkramer62 (CC BY 2.0); desertdutchman (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).