Last chance to apply for a Michigan spring turkey license

The application period for Michigan’s 2026 spring turkey hunting season is open through Sunday, Feb. 1. Applications cost $5 and can be purchased at any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

Several important changes are in place for the spring turkey season this year, including new turkey management units, season date adjustments and updated license options.

New spring turkey management units

This year, the number of spring TMUs has been reduced from 14 to three:

Unit M – Upper Peninsula.
Unit NN – Northern Lower Peninsula.
Unit ZZ – Southern Lower Peninsula.

Before buying a license, hunters are strongly encouraged to review the official TMU maps in the 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary.

Licenses available through the drawing

These options are valid on public and private land within the three TMUs. When applying, hunters must select a first-choice hunt and may also choose an optional second choice. (Turkey license quotas limit the number of hunting permits available for each TMU and season.)

Unit M (Hunt 0110): April 18-May 31. License quota: 6,000.
Unit NN (Hunt 0134): April 18-May 1. License quota: 18,000.
Unit ZZ (Hunt 0302): April 18-May 1. License quota: 8,000.
Unit ZZ (Hunt 0303): May 2-May 31. License quota: 8,000.

Licenses available without an application

The following licenses are guaranteed and do not require entering the drawing. They can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, March 16.

Statewide (Hunt 0234): May 2-31. License quota: Unlimited. Valid on public and private lands statewide except for public lands in Unit ZZ. Note: The season dates for Hunt 0234 are incorrect in the printed 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary; please refer to the online version for accurate dates.
Unit ZZ (Hunt 0301 – Private land only): April 18-May 31. License quota: Unlimited. Valid on private lands in Unit ZZ.

Who is eligible to apply for the drawing?

A person who is or will be 17 years old or older during the hunt period for which the person is applying for and has a hunter education certificate.
A person who is licensed as an apprentice hunter.

Youth spring turkey hunters 10-16 years old no longer need to apply in the drawing. Youth hunters can purchase a spring turkey youth license, which goes on sale Monday, March 16.

Drawing results will be available Monday, March 2. Hunters who are unsuccessful in the drawing may purchase leftover licenses beginning Monday, March 9, at 10 a.m. Hunters who did not apply may purchase leftover licenses beginning Monday, March 16, at 10 a.m. Leftover licenses may be limited. Hunters are allowed one spring turkey license per license year.

Season dates, license quotas, maps and more are available in the 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary.

Questions?