Many 400- and 500-pound bears tagged in UP

By ANDY HENION
Communications representative, Wildlife Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Bear hunters recorded another robust season in Michigan in 2025, harvesting nearly 2,000 animals and bringing home a remarkable number of large bears in the Upper Peninsula.

At the Escanaba-area check stations alone, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources registered an estimated 20 bears above 400 pounds and eight bears above 500 pounds, according to Cody Norton, the DNR’s bear, furbearer and small game specialist.

“We saw a phenomenal number of unusually large bears harvested across the Upper Peninsula,” said Norton, a Marquette-based wildlife biologist and avid bear hunter. “This is something we’ve been working toward with our long-term bear management plan – growing the total number of bears and giving hunters more opportunities to harvest large, mature animals.” Read more

Millennium Treestands, the name synonymous with continuous innovation, proudly announces the launch of its new Antler Shak Series, headlined by the Antler Shak 7 Mag and Antler Shak 30/30 ground blinds. Engineered from the ground up, this series sets a new standard with its revolutionary approach to concealment and visibility, featuring industry-first optical technology.

Built with a tough, 600D brushed shell in Mossy Oak Country Roots, each blind is designed to disappear into the landscape while providing a spacious, tactically superior shelter for the modern hunter. The series’ integrated features, from silent blackout curtains to a robust hub system, deliver the ultimate combination of undetectable concealment, unparalleled visibility, and field-tested durability.

Antler Shak 7 Mag
The Antler Shak 7 Mag stands as the premium flagship model, engineered for hunters who refuse to compromise on space, stability, or tactical advantage. Its innovative Wide Bottom design creates an exceptionally roomy 62″x62″ footprint, providing unmatched stability on uneven terrain, ample space for three hunters, and their full complement of gear. This blind dominates the sightline with nine strategically placed vertical and horizontal one way, see through windows, ensuring a panoramic, 360-degree view while you remain completely invisible. Thoughtful premium features like the exclusive 4″ exterior skirt eliminate ground-level light leaks, and the integrated ceiling storage net keeps essentials organized and within easy reach. These unmatched features make the 7 Mag a complete, self-contained ground blind built for the most demanding expeditions.

Key Specs: Read more

Wildlife Research Center® Celebrates 35 Years of Special Golden Estrus® – The Original Dated Fresh Estrus Scent

Wildlife Research Center®, the trusted name in hunting scent technology, proudly announces the 35th Anniversary of its legendary Special Golden Estrus®—the Dated Fresh Super Premium Estrus Scent that has revolutionized deer hunting for over three decades.

It was originally only available to hunting industry insiders, as a special favor until it launched to retailers 35 years ago making Special Golden Estrus® available to all hunters who demand the best. Each bottle of super premium doe urine with estrus secretions is individually labeled with a serial number and “Use By” date, so you know it’s fresh. Lab tested and certified estrogen levels of 30 pg/mL at time of collection. It’s the scent your trophy buck has been waiting for.

Available in three sizes:
1 FL OZ – MSRP $14.50
4 FL OZ – MSRP $32.87
8 FL OZ – MSRP $49.99 Read more

Pearl, MS – For hunters who require a sturdy, spacious, and safe elevated platform, a standard tripod or ladder stand often isn’t enough. The solution is found in the robust Quad Pod series from Ol’Man Outdoors, featuring the BaseCamp 7′ Quad Pod (OT-702) and the Fortress Deluxe 12′ Quad Pod (OT-703). These four-legged giants are engineered to provide an unmatched combination of stability, comfort, and a commanding field of view for the most demanding hunting situations.

Ol’Man BaseCamp 7′ Quad Pod (OT-702)

The BaseCamp is the ultimate hub for hunters who value a solid, roomy, and easily accessible elevated blind. Its 7-foot platform height provides a significant tactical advantage while maintaining a footprint that is easier to place in varied terrain than taller models. The 5’x5′ platform creates a generous square shooting house, offering ample space for gear, movement, and a comfortable hunt.

Specifications: Read more

Perfect mARC and Mossy Oak Introduce the “Navigator Whistle” in Bottomland. Retriever training staple now available in Mossy Oak Bottomland for $59.99. WEST POINT, MS — Perfect mARC proudly announces the release of its flagship Navigator whistle in Mossy Oak Bottomland, bringing iconic camouflage style to a tool built for serious retriever training and hunting.

Engineered for performance, Navigator is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum and high-density acrylic, ensuring rugged durability in the toughest conditions. Precision-machined components fit seamlessly without adhesives, allowing easy disassembly for cleaning, customization, and serviceability.

At its core, Navigator features the powerful aCME Tornado whistle, delivering an extremely loud, pea-less sound that cuts through wind, lunging water, and distance without freezing or sticking in icy hunts. With a durable finish, rubber grip ring, and a 5-inch length, Navigator combines comfort, style, and extended range in the field. Read more

Ring in the new year with an invigorating hunt in Michigan’s scenic wilderness.

• • Spring turkey hunting
  • Deer donation drive
  • Deer hunting
  • Waterfowl hunting
  • Small game hunting
  • Fur harvesting
  • Get engaged
  • Hunt state land
  • Support wildlife

The spring turkey application period is Jan. 1-Feb. 1, 2026. You can buy an application for $5 online, at a license agent, or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

New changes for the 2026 application period:

• • • Eligible applicants: To apply for a spring turkey license during the application period, hunters must be 17 years old or older during the hunt period and have a hunter education certificate, or they must be licensed as an apprentice hunter. Hunters 10-16 years old can purchase a spring turkey youth license, so there is no need to apply for a license.

• • • New Spring Turkey Management Units: The number of spring turkey management units has been reduced from 14 to 3. The units are now M (Upper Peninsula), NN (northern Lower Peninsula) and ZZ (southern Lower Peninsula). The boundary line between NN and ZZ does not follow the existing hunting and trapping zone lines. Please see the 2026 spring turkey hunting regulations summary to view the official TMU boundary maps, as well as season dates and license quotas.
    • Hunt 0234 and Hunt 0301: These guaranteed licenses do not require an application in the drawing. You can purchase a Hunt 0234 license or a Hunt 0301 license when leftover licenses go on sale Mar. 16 at 10 a.m.

Drawing results will be available Mar. 2, 2026. You can check your drawing results online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app or by calling 517-284-9453. You are responsible for obtaining your drawing results.

Additional season information can be found in the 2026 spring turkey hunting regulations summary.

Saturday, Jan. 17, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Belding Sportsman’s Club, Montcalm County

Do you know a youth hunter interested in learning more about small game hunting? Now is their chance! Hunters ages 16 and younger are invited to a free small game hunt at the Belding Sportsman’s Club, located at 10651 Youngman Road in Greenville.

Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m., and the hunt will begin shortly after daylight. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m., with a prize raffle at 12:30 p.m.

Preregistration is required by Jan. 16. To RSVP, call the Department of Natural Resources Flat River Field Office at 616-794-2658.

Participants must bring their base license or mentored youth license, hunter orange garments, and a firearm and ammunition. Hunting guides may be provided to hunters depending on availability.

This event is hosted in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Belding Sportsman’s Club, Michigan Squirrel Dog Association and National Deer Association.

Dec. 31 is the last day to get your hands on Pure Michigan Hunt applications before the January drawing! Don’t miss your shot at the hunt of a lifetime. You could take home:

• Hunting equipment worth thousands.
• Licenses for elk, bear, antlerless deer, and spring and fall turkey.
• First pick at a managed waterfowl area for a reserved hunt.

Each $5 Pure Michigan Hunt application helps fund Michigan’s wildlife habitat restoration and management.

Apply for Pure MI Hunt ?