The Michigan state park reservation website has added a new flexible dates feature to make trip planning even easier.

When booking camping or overnight lodging, the dates menu now includes additional search options, including number of nights, travel month and preferred state park. You can also use the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recreation search tool to find amenities or specific activities for your trip.

State campsites, lodging and harbor slips can be reserved up to six months in advance.

Visit MichiganRVandCampgrounds.org for additional resources or contact my office for a hard copy of their annual publication.

In response to ongoing concerns about overpopulation, the Natural Resources Commission established a coyote management season running from March 2 to Oct. 14.

The hunting and trapping season runs from Oct. 15 to March 1, with a management season for the remainder of the year, except on state park and recreation lands where hunting is prohibited from April 1 to Sept. 14. During the management season, the lethal take of coyotes is allowed from March 2 to Oct. 14 to address interspecies conflict and overabundance on private and public lands.

The NRC restored the ability to take coyotes year-round but limited the scope of hunting during the management season.

The 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations guide is now available for the license season beginning April 1. The guide includes current rules, regulations and license information. If you would like a hard copy of the regulations, please contact my office.

A fishing license is required for anyone age 17 and older. Annual and short-term licenses can be purchased online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Users can select auto-renew at the online checkout or in the Auto Renewals section of the app to automatically purchase future licenses as they become available. License fees are waived for Michigan residents who are veterans with 100% disability or active-duty military.

Licenses are on sale now for two spring turkey hunting seasons that do not require hunters to enter Michigan’s turkey hunt drawing.

Hunts 0234 and 0301 offer more flexible options for hunters, have unlimited quotas and can be purchased throughout the season.

For complete details, including eligible turkey management units for each hunt, visit the 2026 Spring Turkey Regulations Summary. Please note that the print version of the summary included incorrect season dates for statewide TMU 0234. The correct dates are May 2-31. If you would like a hard copy of the regulations, please contact my office.

For licenses purchased at a license agent or online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, you will receive a paper kill tag. If you purchase online, tags will be mailed within 10-15 business days. For licenses purchased through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, you will receive an electronic kill tag immediately in the app. You must have a kill tag in your possession while hunting.

This year, all harvested turkeys must be reported within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the bird, whichever comes first. Similar to deer harvest reporting, harvests can be reported through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. The reporting system provides real-time harvest information throughout the season.

Michigan’s elk season application period opened May 1, with updates for the 2026 and 2027 seasons:

Elk hunting is limited to Michigan residents. Applications are open through June 1. Each hunter is limited to one application per year.

Applications cost $5 and are available in person at any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app. Drawing results will be announced June 22.

For more information on the 2026-27 elk hunting regulations, visit the DNR’s elk hunting regulations webpage.

Bear hunting licenses in Michigan are limited and selected using a preference point drawing system. Hunters do not need a base license to apply, but if selected, they must purchase both a base hunting license and a bear license.

The application period for a bear license is May 1-June 1. Applications cost $5 and are available in person at any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app. Drawing results will be announced June 22.

A successful harvest must be examined, sealed and registered within 72 hours. Hunters can call the DNR office or private cooperator bear registration station to schedule an appointment.

For more information on the 2026-27 bear hunting regulations, visit the DNR’s bear hunting regulations webpage.

My office can also send you a hard copy of the updated regulations.

In addition to several other offerings, my office offers a series of free publications that highlight the many exciting outdoor opportunities Michigan has to offer.

From Michigan history to exciting day trips with the family, I hope you find these resources helpful in planning your next Pure Michigan adventure:

You can also contact my office at 517-373-2420 or SenLTheis@Senate.Michigan.gov for a hard copy of any of these publications, as well as others listed on my website under the “Publications” tab.