All Firearm Deer Seasons -
Limited Firearm Deer Zone (See pg. 11)
In the Limited Firearm Deer Zone, all hunters afield from Nov. 15-30, and all deer
hunters in this zone during other deer seasons, must abide by the following firearm
restrictions or use a crossbow or a bow and arrow. Legal firearms are as follows:
• A shotgun may have a smooth or rifled barrel and may be of any gauge.
• A muzzleloading rifle or black powder handgun must be loaded with black
powder or a commercially manufactured black powder substitute.
• A conventional (smokeless powder) handgun must be .35 caliber or larger
and loaded with straight-walled cartridges and may be single- or
multiple-shot but cannot exceed a maximum capacity of nine rounds in the
barrel and magazine combined.
2018 Michigan Hunting Digest 21
E Q U I P M E N T R E G U L A T I O N S
• A firearm deer hunter may carry afield a bow and arrow, crossbow and firearm.
Exceptions: See Muzzleloading Deer Seasons below.
• A .35 caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled cartridges with a min.
case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches.
• A .35 caliber or larger air rifle or pistol charged only from an external highcompression
power source.