Ottawa National Forest
Much of the west side of the county is national forest, open to hunting and laced with forest roads. The Iron River ranger office has the maps.
906-214-2308
906-265-9100
40 E Adams St
Iron River, MI 49935
Hunting Deer in Iron County Michigan
Iron County • Michigan
Opening week is the biggest week of the year up here, when the woods fill with blaze orange and the camp lights come on down every two-track. Here's where to hunt deer in Iron County, the 2026 dates and rules, and what to expect from this year's herd.
NOV. 15
Firearm opener. The season runs through Nov. 30
2 KINDS
Of country: farm and forest down south, big woods up north
BAIT OK
Up to 2 gallons, scattered, Sept. 15 to Jan. 1
NOV. 21
Buck Fest weigh-in in Crystal Falls
Pick Your Country
Where Should You Hunt Deer in Iron County?
Decide first whether you want more deer or more room, because the county gives you both. The south end, around Crystal Falls, is farm-and-forest country, with fields and hayland running up against the woods. It holds the most deer in the county, about two bucks to the square mile, which puts it near the top of the Upper Peninsula.
The north end is big woods. There are fewer deer and a lot more room, and it's deer-camp country, where families have hunted the same ridges for generations. Expect to walk for your buck.
One rule follows that line. You can buy an antlerless license for the south end (Unit 022), but the north end (Unit 036) is closed to them this year. Check which unit your spot is in before you buy.
Check Your Spot on Mi-HUNTState Forest
State forest runs around Crystal Falls and across the east side of the county, with hunter walking trails in some of the best cover.
Commercial Forest
Private timber land that's open to hunting on foot. Mi-HUNT shows where it is, and there's plenty of room to walk.
2026 Seasons
Deer Season Dates for 2026
These are the 2026 seasons for the Upper Peninsula. The muzzleloader season is down to three days this year, and January archery is gone, so everything wraps up on New Year's Day.
Archery
Oct. 1 – Nov. 14
Dec. 1 – Jan. 1, 2027
Regular Firearm
Nov. 15 – 30
Blaze orange required
U.P. Muzzleloader
Dec. 4 – 6
Three days this year, down from ten
Liberty Hunt
Sept. 12 – 13
Youth and hunters with disabilities
Independence Hunt
Oct. 15 – 18
Hunters with disabilities
License Costs
Base license $11 resident, $151 nonresident
Deer license $20 · Combo $40 resident, $190 nonresident
Hunting hours:
Iron County runs on Central time, but the state's hunting-hours
table is printed in Eastern. Subtract an hour, and work it out the
night before opening morning.
Before You Go
The Rules That Trip Up Visiting Hunters
Count the Points
On a single deer license, your buck needs one antler at least 3 inches long. On the combo, one tag takes a buck with 3 or more points on a side, and the other takes 4 or more.
Two Gallons, Spread Out
Baiting is legal in the U.P. from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. Keep it to 2 gallons and scatter it over at least 10 by 10 feet. No piles.
Report Within 72 Hours
Report your deer within 72 hours, or before you hand it off to anyone. The Hunt Fish app does it on the spot, and it carries your tags now too.
Scout Before You Come
How to Find a Spot on Public Land
There's more public land here than you'll ever walk, so do the narrowing at home, before the trip.
- Open Mi-HUNT and zoom in on Iron County.
- Turn on the public land layers and the unit lines.
- Look for edges: cutovers, swamp edges and oak or hayfield borders.
- Pick three spots, not one, in case someone beats you there.
- Drive the roads the day before the opener and walk in once.
The 2026 Herd
What Are the Deer Like This Year?
Last winter was a hard one, with snow a foot deep or more on the ground for well over a hundred days. Expect fewer fawns this fall, lighter deer and smaller racks on the young bucks. Hunters still took about 1,070 deer in Iron County during the 2025 firearm season.
Chronic wasting disease hasn't been found in Iron County, though it has turned up next door in Dickinson County. Free mail-in testing is available if you'd like your deer checked.
Deer Season In Town
Buck Fest, Widows Weekend and Deer Camp
Deer season runs through the towns as much as the woods. Crystal Falls holds Buck Fest on the first Saturday of the season, with a weigh-in and prizes for the heaviest buck, heaviest doe and biggest rack. The Wednesday before, Nov. 18, it's Ladies Night Out for everyone left at home on widows weekend.
Nov. 21 · Crystal Falls
Buck Fest
The weigh-in runs 4 to 7 p.m. behind the Crystal Theatre. Bring your deer, or just come see what the county's hunters brought in.
Buck Fest DetailsAfter The Shot
Getting Your Deer Processed
Line up a processor before the opener, since the first week is their busiest. The state keeps the list of licensed wild game processors.
Find a ProcessorQuestions
Deer Hunting in Iron County: Common Questions
Are there deer in Iron County, Michigan?
Yes. The south end around Crystal Falls holds about two bucks per square mile, one of the better numbers in the U.P. The north end has fewer deer and more room. Hunters took about 1,070 deer here in the 2025 firearm season.
When is deer season in the U.P. in 2026?
Firearm season runs Nov. 15 to 30. Archery runs Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, and the U.P. muzzleloader season is Dec. 4 to 6.
Can you bait deer in the Upper Peninsula?
Yes, from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. Use no more than 2 gallons, scattered over at least a 10-by-10-foot area.
Can I get an antlerless license in Iron County?
In the south end, yes. Unit 022 allows one antlerless license per hunter. The north end, Unit 036, is closed to antlerless licenses in 2026. Check your spot's unit on Mi-HUNT.
What changed for deer season in 2026?
The U.P. muzzleloader season dropped to three days, January archery is gone, the U.P. antlerless drawing ended, and you can carry your tags in the Hunt Fish app.
Where can I hunt public land in Iron County?
The Ottawa National Forest, state forest land and Commercial Forest land are all open to hunting on foot. Mi-HUNT shows the boundaries.
About The Photos
Photographs by Kevin Zini
Every photo in this guide was taken in Iron County by Kevin Zini, a photographer from Iron River. See more of his work on his website.
Kevin Zini PhotographyStart Planning
Plan Your Iron County Deer Hunt
Scout your spots on the map, buy your license before you drive up, and book your room early. Rooms near the woods go fast for the opener.
Hunting and tagged deer hunting, hunting, iron county deer hunting, iron county michigan, upper peninsula michigan.
-
Morel Mushroom Hunting in Iron County, MichiganIron County • Michigan • Upper Peninsula When the serviceberry blooms and the aspen leaf out, morels come up in the Iron County hardwoods. […]
Waterfalls in Iron County, MichiganIron County • Michigan • Upper Peninsula Three waterfalls run inside Iron County, each one tucked down in the rock and the hardwoods off a back […]
Christmas Tree Galleria in Caspian, MICaspian • Michigan • Nov. 28 – Dec. 13, 2026 For two weeks every holiday season, more than fifty Christmas trees, each one decorated by […]
Trout Fishing in Iron County, MichiganIron County • Michigan • Upper Peninsula Wild brook trout in cold Northwoods creeks, browns that top twenty inches, and deep lakes stocked with […]
Rewarding Places to Stay in Michigan
AmericInn
by Wyndham
Chicaugon
Lake Inn
906-265-9244
1700 County Road 424
Gaastra, MI 49917
Lakeshore Motel
Ice Lake
906-265-3611
1257 W Ice Lake Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
Pioneer
Lodge
800-362-7853
373 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
Ski Brule
Village
800-DO-BRULE
906-265-4957
397 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
Tall
Pines
906-822-7713
1968 US 141 Highway
Amasa, MI 49903
Iron County Michigan Visitors Guide
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.