MI resident here - can I target shoot on hunting land?

[newbie4help]

Is it legal for me to shoot my AR-15 at targets on public hunting land in Michigan if I do not have a hunting license/am not a citizen of Michigan?

 

[moooose102]

you can go to the michigan dnr website and ask them directly. www.michigan.gov/dnr i think is the correct address.

 

[qajaq59]

I think you'd best ask the wardens. In CT at least having a loaded gun in the woods would be prima facia evidence of hunting whether you actually were or not. Michigan may have the same type of law.

 

[Clipper]

You can target shoot on public hunting land if you have a hunting license. There are animals that can be hunted year-round, like red squirrel...The law says you may not have an uncased, loaded gun in any area frequented by game, without a license, and so technically, you are hunting red squirrel, or woodchuck. It's an odd way of doing it, but it's the way it was explained to me when I checked on it years ago.

 

[highorder]

You can target shoot on public hunting land if you have a hunting license. There are animals that can be hunted year-round, like red squirrel...The law says you may not have an uncased, loaded gun in any area frequented by game, without a license, and so technically, you are hunting red squirrel, or woodchuck. It's an odd way of doing it, but it's the way it was explained to me when I checked on it years ago.

that is the way I have always understood it as well. get a small game license, and you are hunting.

from the Michigan DNR:

Species with Year-round Hunting Seasons
No closed hunting season for opossum, porcupine, red squirrel, skunk, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, weasel, woodchuck, English (house) sparrow, European starling, and feral pigeon (rock dove)

 

[V-fib]

From the 2007 MI hunting and trapping guide valid from 8-1-07 to 7-31-08 page 10 second paragraph:

“A hunting license is not required when target practicing or sighting-in a firearm at an identifiable, artificially constructed target, and there is no attempt to take game.”

 

[newbie4help]

Thank you V-fib. That's actually what I had heard!!! Does that include handguns as well?

 

[Clipper]

“A hunting license is not required when target practicing or sighting-in a firearm at an identifiable, artificially constructed target, and there is no attempt to take game.”

Yeah, but you better have a license if you're strolling through the woods shooting the odd feral tin can, or otherwise not using formal targets.

 

[V-fib]

newbie4help,
yep. that includes handguns.

clipper,
What's with shooting the messenger? Pick up a Mi trapping and hunting guide and see for yourself. Look at newbie4's original post. sheesh. :banghead:

 

[Savage3006]

I have a warden friend in the Northeast and he told me that even if it is legal to target shoot in the wood some wardens will assume that you are hunting if you are carrying weapons in the wood. I would say, do not do it.

 

[houseofdon]

Where in MI are you? Below the rifle line, I'm almost certain that you can't shoot a centerfire rifle on public lands, regardless of season or if you are only shooting for fun. Don't quote me on that, though.

I live below the rifle line and I'll go out to plink with my 10/22 and handguns (occasionally), and haven't run into problems. Usually I just tromp around the woods for a while to look for small game, and after I don't get anything I'll set up and target shoot for a while. I'd follow the suggestion of having your small game license regardless.

 

[Clipper]

The only time centerfire rifles are prohibited below the line is during deer season. Varmint hunting would be a bit problematic otherwise...

 

[houseofdon]

Thanks for clearing that up, Clipper. Good to know!

 

[Supertac45]

I believe that if your not a Michigan resident, you must have a concealed carry license from your home state in order to bring a handgun into Michigan if you want to use it.