• Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission made decisions on underwater spearfishing, turkey hunting and more
• The Michigan Department of Natural Resources indefinitely paused a controversial goose-gassing program
• The NRC has not yet decided what to do about the length of the coyote hunting season

In 2025, Michigan expanded underwater spearfishing, simplified turkey hunting and changed who can kill a buck, but the state has yet to make a final decision on what to do about coyotes.

Michigan’s hunting and fishing rules are decided by the Natural Resources Commission. The group is made up of seven governor-appointed members who hold monthly public meetings. While orders related to hunting and fishing regulations are often researched and written by Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff, the Natural Resources Commission ultimately votes on them.

This year, the NRC approved a number of significant policy changes and still has a couple outstanding issues to settle in 2026.

RELATED: 

• Big day for spearfishers in Michigan as state panel expands access
• Amid public outcry, Michigan pauses goose-killing program
• Michigan OKs ‘does with bows’ UP hunting, punts on coyote plan

Here’s a look at some of the biggest changes of the year:

Underwater spearfishing expanded

Underwater spearfishing advocates say Michigan approved the biggest North American expansion for freshwater gamefish that the sport has ever seen.

Since 2022, those who partake in the sport have been allowed to go after three kinds of desirable gamefish — lake trout, northern pike and walleye — but only in limited areas of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Underwater spearfishing participants argued that wasn’t fair because they buy the same fishing license as hook-and-line anglers.

In November, the Natural Resources Commission voted to let underwater spearfishers go after those fish in additional waters: parts of Lake Erie and Lake Superior and expanded portions of Lake Michigan. Those changes will go into effect in April.

Liberty and Independence hunt participants can now shoot a buck

Michigan’s Liberty and Independence hunts are available to youth 16 and younger, veterans and people with disabilities outside of the regular deer seasons. After changes made last year, hunters in those seasons were supposed to only be able to take antlerless deer starting this year. But in May, the Natural Resources Commission changed it so participants could each kill an antlerless deer or a buck.

“If they had a buck, we didn’t want them to have to pass on it because there are so few bucks taken during that season,” said Natural Resources Commission Chair Becky Humphries.

Turkey regulations were simplified

“They changed a lot for Turkey,” said Justin Tomei, the former policy and government affairs manager for Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “I think the hunters are going to be pretty happy with the way it turned out.”

The number of regulated zones (which are called turkey management units) were drastically reduced for both spring and fall turkey seasons. For the fall, the license process was also streamlined and new areas in the northern Lower Peninsula were made available for hunting. For the spring, the season was also extended, opportunities were expanded for youth and hunters were required to report their kills.

Michigan paused its newest goose-killing program

Since 2022, the DNR had allowed property owners or park staff to apply to have Canada geese killed if they threatened human health or safety. 

In September of last year, the practice gained more visibility when the NRC voted to implement an expanded program that would have allowed some lake associations, golf clubs, municipalities and others to hire federal crews to round up and gas geese. 

Locations seeking to participate would have needed to be involved in the state’s nest and egg destruction program and have at least 100 geese on their property or geese that were threatening human health or safety.

The new program, which was set to start in June, resulted in public outcry, including a billboard that said, “Tell Gov Whitmer Don’t Gas Geese!” 

In May, DNR Director Scott Bowen announced he had indefinitely paused the controversial geese-gassing effort.

Commission closer to weighing in on coyote season 

One decision that wasn’t made in 2025 was what to do about coyotes. 

The length of the coyote hunting season has been a hot topic since it was shortened to nine months in March of last year. Some hunting and trapping groups felt like that decision wasn’t based on science. They sued.

Earlier this year, in March, the NRC introduced an amendment to extend the coyote hunting season, but it didn’t vote on it. Then in June, a judge ruled on the lawsuit, saying the commission’s decision to shorten the coyote season was sound.

At the Natural Resources Commission’s December meeting, an informational DNR memo said the commission is looking to allow coyotes to be killed year-round by dividing regulations into two areas: a hunting and trapping season, and a coyote management season. The commission is expected to take up the issue again in January.

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