Ottawa National Forest
The Iron River Ranger District alone covers about 138,000 acres of national forest, and it is open to hunting.
906-214-2308
906-265-9100
40 E Adams St
Iron River, MI 49935
Spring Turkey Hunting in Iron County, Michigan
Iron County • Michigan
Spring comes late to the north woods, and the gobblers start sounding off right about the time the season opens in mid-April. Iron County is one of the top turkey counties in the Upper Peninsula, and this page gets you the places, the licenses and the rules.
130
Spring birds reported here in 2026, third in the U.P.
UNIT M
One spring unit for the whole Upper Peninsula
APRIL
Season opens mid-April (April 18 in 2026)
72 HRS
To report your bird, new for 2026
Find The Birds
Where to Turkey Hunt in Iron County
Turkeys go where the food is, and up here that means acorns, cherries and the first green along the field edges. Start where the oaks meet the openings.
South of Crystal Falls, the oak stands on state land along the Paint River pull birds in for the acorns. Over by Long Lake, Lake Emily and Chicagon Creek, the state forest is managed for the oak and cherry that turkeys feed on. There's a hunter walking trail through it, so you can cover ground quietly.
Scout the farm country too, where open fields run up against the woods. Ask before you set foot on private land.
Map Public Land on MiHuntPublic Land
Is There Public Land for Turkey Hunting?
There's plenty of it. Most of Iron County is hardwoods, pine and spruce, and a good share of that forest is open to you on foot.
State Forest Land
State forest runs around Crystal Falls and across the county. Look for the oak stands managed as wildlife food.
Commercial Forest Land
This is private timber land, but it's open to hunting on foot under Michigan's Commercial Forest Program. MiHunt shows you where it is.
Spring Season
Spring Turkey Season and Licenses
Iron County sits in Turkey Management Unit M, which takes in the whole Upper Peninsula. Here's how 2026 worked. The 2027 dates come out over the winter, so check the current spring rules before you plan.
Hunt 0110 (Unit M)
April 18 – May 31, 2026
Licenses by drawing, with leftovers sold after
Hunt 0234 (Statewide)
May 2 – 31, 2026
No drawing. Any hunter can buy one.
Applying
Jan. 1 – Feb. 1 in 2026
Results came out March 2
License Costs
Base license $11 resident, $151 nonresident
Spring turkey license $15
$5 to apply for the drawing
Bag Limit
One bearded turkey per spring license
Report Your Bird
Within 72 hours, online or in the Hunt Fish app
Hunting hours:
Iron County runs on Central time, but the state's hunting-hours
table is printed in Eastern. Subtract an hour, then add your
zone's minutes, and work it out the night before your first
morning.
Before You Go
Spring Rules Visiting Hunters Miss
Hunt Them Fair
Leave the bait at home. It's not allowed for turkeys, and dogs stay out of the woods until the fall season.
Stay on the Ground
Elevated platforms aren't allowed on public land in spring. Sit against a tree or set up a ground blind.
Shotgun, Bow or Crossbow
Load your shotgun with No. 4 shot or smaller. Bows and crossbows are legal too.
Plan Your Mornings
Roost Them, Then Get Close
The evening before is when you find your bird. Sit on a ridge or a quiet forest road at dusk and listen for turkeys flying up to roost. Be set up against a wide tree before first light, call softly, and let the gobbler come to you.
Licenses
Buy Before You Drive Up
Get your license sorted before the trip. Buy it online, in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, or from a license agent in Iron River or Crystal Falls.
Buy a LicenseFall Season
Hunting Turkeys in the Fall?
The U.P. has a fall season too. It's one bird of either sex, and licenses are limited.
U.P. Turkey & Fall GuideQuestions
Spring Turkey Hunting in Iron County: Common Questions
When is spring turkey season in Iron County, Michigan?
Mid-April through May. Iron County is in Unit M, and in 2026 the Unit M hunt ran April 18 to May 31. The statewide hunt ran May 2 to 31. The 2027 dates are set over the winter.
Do I need to apply for a spring turkey license?
Yes, for the Unit M hunt. Those licenses go by drawing, and in 2026 you applied Jan. 1 to Feb. 1. Leftovers go on sale after the drawing. The statewide hunt needs no application.
Is there public land to turkey hunt in Iron County?
Yes, a lot of it. The Ottawa National Forest, state forest land and Commercial Forest land are all open to hunting on foot. MiHunt shows the boundaries.
What time zone are Iron County hunting hours in?
Central time. Michigan's hunting-hours table is printed in Eastern, so subtract one hour and add your zone's minutes.
Do I have to report a turkey I harvest?
Yes, within 72 hours. That's new for 2026, and you can do it online or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.
Start Planning
Plan Your Iron County Spring Turkey Hunt
Put in for your license over the winter and scout the oak country once the snow goes. Then get a room close to the woods, because those spring mornings start in the dark.
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Iron County is one of the Upper Peninsula’s best kept secrets. From camping to fishing, hunting to canoeing, mountain biking to forest bathing – no matter your interests, the great outdoors and clear crisp air await you here.