For the purpose of this regulation, bait means a substance composed of grain, fruit, vegetables or other food placed to lure or entice wild turkeys. ET, Monday through Friday. You can purchase an application at a retail license agent or online at Michigan.gov/Turkey. What happens if Im not selected in the drawing? The autumn section of the fall season begins on 1 September, ends at midnight on 31 October, and may be broken up into two separate periods; one for a break that would normally occur between weeks 41-42 (1st 3rd week in December), and another for 4th 6th week of December. Im going to address both sides of each argument for and against turkey rifle hunting. Florida- centerfire. They say you can hunt with a air rifle but then go on to talk about shot sizes. I have a great deal of experience testing gear with an objective methodology co-authored the Explore Archery curriculum with USA Archery and served as the primary author for the revised Level 1 and Level 2 certification manuals. However, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. The use of handguns to hunt turkey or migratory game birds is prohibited. You just have to know your limits before you take the shot. Are there any restrictions on on the bolts and quarrels? Im new to turkey hunting. See the Mentored Youth Hunting Program section for more information. Turkey hunting is legal in fall turkey season and those turkeys can be shot with rifles only. Lets start by looking at the best rimfire rifle choices for turkey hunting. In some states, you can only use rimfires. This does not apply to standing farm crops (normal agricultural practices) or other naturally growing grains, fruits or vegetables. If the states turkey population cant sustain a high harvest rate, I think your state should not allow the practice. law enforcement, legislation, rules and regulations, Accessible recreation opportunities in Michigan, All DNR-related boards, committees, and advisory groups, Find seasonal, part-time and full-time job openings with the DNR, information about volunteer and donation opportunities. So, whether you can hunt turkey with rifle depends on a number of factors, including the caliber of your firearm and shooting skills. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE RAM HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. A sign that says no shooting from April 1 through September 14. So this just adds an extra challenge to the shotgun dynamic. The Liberty Hunt and Ranch models from Ruger are lighter than six feet in weight. Unlawful Firearms & Devices: 1) Automatic and semi-automatic (autoloading) rifles and handguns; 2) air or gas operated rifles and handguns. Zone A Hunting Hours Table (Sept., Oct., Nov.). The basics of patterning your gun are pretty straight forward: Purchase a box of any ammo you may want to hunt turkeys with. A mentored youth hunter also can apply for the fall turkey license drawing or purchase leftover licenses that remain after the drawing. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE SNOWMOBILE HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? In. Can I apply for a fall turkey license? https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json, A fox comes prowling through the tall grass and snow, sunny field in background with white transparent michigan outline and image of hunt fish app in foreground. Can I use mechanical, electronic or live decoys? For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. Apply for a Spring Turkey License. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Is that true? I purchased my license online. It is widely accepted that shooting deer with a rifle is ethical. Use the button above to visit the hunting home page, or go directly to your area of interest below: Find ORV license and permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. Second, you must have a valid hunting license and a valid Archer's License to bow hunt during rifle season in Michigan. For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. Turkey hunting is one of the more challenging sports in the hunting world. Are there any other ways I can help the DNR with feedback or reporting? Air . Be sure to pattern your gun and make note of how the load performs before you go afield. Predator Hunting. And still in other states, all rifles are legal. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. Yes. After all, if there was a possibility for you to use a better tool to harvest turkeys in your state and help you become a better and more successful hunter, wouldnt you want to know about it? With a normal rifle, it is not too difficult to make a 100-yard shot, but with a shotgun, you are doing good if you make a 40-yard shot. Omega Outdoors LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. For a .177 caliber air rifle, that'd be a 7.9 grain pellet flying at about 830 feet per second. These are steps that serious turkey hunters always do, but many amateurs simply ignore, leading to lower success rates. There has to be a limit somewhere so that the turkey is still intact and edible. The good thing about this chance is youre probably not going to wound the bird. How do I apply with someone else as a partnership? The most important thing is to be safe when youre out there hunting regardless of your weapon of choice. This caliber can be a great option if you plan on taking head and neck shots. You may still apply for a license in the fall turkey drawing or purchase leftover licenses. Its also important to make sure that you have the right ammunition for your rifle when hunting turkeys. Combine that with the fact that turkey hunters tend to move around during the hunt more than duck or deer hunters, and this can easily turn into a situation where turkey hunters are stalking turkey hunters. The answer can be complicated and is different for nearly every state. I was selected in the drawing but cant buy my license. Ultimately, I think that is a question for your state. How many turkeys can I harvest with a license? Also, persons aged ten years and over can use crossbows for hunting. Phone lines are open 24/7. The hunting hours listed in the table reflect Eastern Standard Time adjusted for daylight saving time where appropriate. However, the dates are subject to change on an annual basis. What happens if I didnt apply for the drawing? Use the button above to visit the hunting home page, or go directly to your area of interest below: Find ORV license and permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. That means larger, not smaller, although if you go too big-like the time I used a 7mm-08-your bullet is definitely going to destroy the meat. Copyright 2023 Hunter Thought | All rights reserved. Michigan essentially has two seasons for turkey huntingthe first from September 15 to November 14 and another in the Spring, from April 23 to May 31. But all hunters must physically possess a tag (which is printed as part of the license) and that tag must be attached to the turkey they harvest. Depending on how many hunters apply, leftover licenses may or may not be available for some hunt units and/or dates. What happens if Im selected in the drawing? Each year the NWTF, working cooperatively with the DNR, contributes more than $300,000 to wild turkey and hunter-heritage programs in Michigan. Traditionally, that has been within 40 yards (or even less for a bow). choke on a shotgun is the size of the chokes diameter. Most states require it for other types of big game. Turkeys may be hunted with dogs during the fall season. NOTE: It is unlawful to dig out or take any wild bird or animal from its den or place of refuge. Fall hunt unit YY encompasses private lands in southern Michigan and Beaver Island, excluding Wayne and Monroe counties. So can you turkey hunt with a rifle? Delaware- shotgun/muzzle loader. No. Can you hunt turkey with an air rifle in Michigan? Box 45, Reed City, MI 49677. No. You can purchase one fall turkey license a day until quotas are met. Stalking turkeys with a handheld decoy/silhouette is illegal. Another way to harvest a turkey is by using a bow or crossbow. A youth hunter receiving instruction from an adult while he holds an unloaded shotgun in a forest clearing. While this might seem like a big deal, there are actually many people who hunt turkey with rifles every year without issue. They will be available at Michigan.gov/Turkey on Aug. 16. During an any-weapon hunting season you can hunt with a crossbow without any other permit besides your hunting license and proper tag. licenses may or may not be available for some hunt units and/or dates. If you want a rifle that you can deer and turkey hunt at the same time with, then a centerfire rifle is going to be more your speed. It is unlawful to use a tag more than once. Hunting Dogs. If you didnt apply for the drawing, you have two options. available until quotas are met. You may only use bolts and quarrels at least 14 inches in length, tipped with a broadhead point at least 7/8 inch wide. However, if you are hunting in close quarters (such as around a tree or shrub), the turkey may be within range of your firearm. Second, a lot of turkey hunters believe that hunting with a rifle is unethical, or at the very least, takes the fun out of it. MichiganTurkey.com. No. Thus it is possible to take down a turkey with a .22 caliber bullet. Decoying Made Easy Non-toxic shot is also required while turkey hunting on National Wildlife Refuges and Federal Waterfowl Production Areas. Mechanical, electronic or live decoys are prohibited. It offers you a little more punch than the .17 HMR, but lacks the accuracy you may need to hit a turkey in the head at further distances. Its not legal in most states. 7, 2023 See Turkey Hunting Digest for applicable hunt unit dates. Posts: 5,973. If you are confident that you can handle these risks properly, then go for it! Shotguns are also much easier to use over long distances than rifles are, which makes them the best choice if you want to hunt in open country or on elevated terrain. A shotgun that is commonly used for hunting turkey is the 12-gauge shotgun. How many turkeys can I kill with my license? Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. Some of the smaller-caliber deer rifles can be good for turkey hunting. The DNR also recommends considering the use of non-lead rifle ammunition for deer hunting. You can already see from these numbers why turkey hunting with a rifle is not commonplace. Hunting turkey with a rifle can be difficult, but there are ways to get an edge. Additional restrictions apply; complete program details can be found in the Michigan Hunting Digest or online at Michigan.gov/MentoredHunting. State laws and regulations prohibit the hunting of deer with .22 rimfire rifles or smaller on all WMAs. However, hunting turkey with a rifle is still an enjoyable experience for many hunters. How do I purchase a leftover license if I didnt apply in the drawing? Any family member permanently domiciled on that land is also eligible to hunt wild turkeys on that land without a permit. If youre not comfortable hunting big game animals, then dont try this at home! You must be at least 10 years of age or have a mentored youth license to apply. I'm Patrick Long, the guy behind Omega Outdoors. Hunter and Trapper Education Program. One might argue that the weapon is not the problem. 11. for the rest of us, hunting turkey with a rifle is a good way to get some wild game in the freezer. Any family member permanently domiciled on that land is also required while turkey hunting legal. Leading to lower success rates certifications and improve wildlife habitat during the fall turkey license a day until quotas met! 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