Fishing Licenses & Requirements

Purchase your fishing license immediately online. If you do not have a Michigan Driver's License, select the option to purchase an MDNR Sportcard for an additional $1.

324.43532 Restricted fishing license; fees; rights of licensee; all-species fishing license.

(1) A person 17 years of age or older shall not take aquatic species, except aquatic insects, in the waters over which this state has jurisdiction without a license. The fee for a resident restricted fishing license is $15.00. The fee for a nonresident restricted fishing license is $34.00.

(2) The restricted fishing license entitles the licensee to take aquatic species as prescribed by law other than trout or salmon.

(3) A person under 17 years of age may take aquatic species in the waters over which this state has jurisdiction without a license. However, a person under 17 years of age may obtain an all-species fishing license. The fee for a resident or nonresident who is under 17 years of age, for an all-species fishing license is $2.00. The department shall not sell or vendor the list of licensees under this subsection.

(4) The fee for a resident all-species fishing license is $28.00. The fee for a nonresident all-species fishing license is $42.00.

(5) The all-species fishing license entitles the licensee to take all species of aquatic species as prescribed by law.

(6) A person to whom a valid restricted fishing license has been issued may return the restricted license to the department or its authorized agent and receive an all-species fishing license by paying a fee equal to the difference in cost between the all-species fishing license and the restricted fishing license for which that person is eligible.

324.43533 Limited fishing license; fees.

A resident or nonresident may purchase a limited fishing license entitling that person to take all aquatic species as prescribed by law. Except as provided in this section, the fee for a limited fishing license is $6.00 per designated consecutive 24-hour period. Except as provided in this section, beginning in 2001, the fee for a limited fishing license is $7.00 per designated consecutive 24-hour period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the fee for a limited fishing license for a senior citizen is $3.00.

324.43536 Senior restricted fishing license; fee; senior all-species fishing license.

(1) A resident of this state who is 65 years of age or older may obtain a senior restricted fishing license. The fee for a senior restricted fishing license is discounted 60% from the fee for a resident restricted fishing license.

(2) A resident of this state who is 65 years of age or older may obtain a senior all-species fishing license. The fee for a senior all-species fishing license is discounted 60% from the fee for a resident all-species fishing license.

324.43536a Person stationed outside state; lottery not required; validity; “member of the military” defined.

(1) A member of the military may obtain any license under this part for which a lottery is not required for $1.00 upon presentation to a licensing agent of leave papers, duty papers, military orders, or other evidence acceptable to the department verifying that he or she is stationed outside of this state. The license is valid for a period of up to 2 weeks designated by the member of the military but only during the season in which such a license would otherwise be valid.

(2) As used in this section, "member of the military" means either of the following:

(a) A person described by section 43506(3)(d) who is stationed outside this state.

(b) A person who meets all of the following requirements:

(i) The person is a reserve component soldier, sailor, airman, or marine or member of the Michigan national guard and is called to federal active duty.

(ii) At the time the person was called to federal active duty, he or she was a resident of this state.

(iii) The person is stationed outside this state.

(iv) The person has maintained his or her residence in this state for the purpose of obtaining a driver license or voter registration, or both.

324.43537 Restricted or senior all-species fishing license; eligibility of legally blind; proof of blindness; disabled veteran; eligibility for senior hunting or fishing license; disabled veterans firearm deer season; pilot project; proof of eligibility; processing licenses; appropriations; "disabled veteran" defined.

(1) A resident who is declared legally blind is eligible to purchase a senior restricted or senior all-species fishing license. The department may demand proof of blindness. The licensee, when fishing, shall possess proof of blindness and shall furnish the proof upon the request of a peace officer.

(2) A disabled veteran is eligible to purchase any senior hunting license described in section 43535 or any senior fishing license described in section 43536, or both.

(3) As a pilot project for 2007, there shall be a disabled veterans firearm deer season in at least 3 areas of this state, including Marquette county and deer management units 053 and 064. The disabled veterans firearm deer season shall correspond with the youth firearm deer hunting days, if any, established by order of the commission. A disabled veteran may take 1 deer during the disabled veterans firearm deer season. A disabled veteran taking deer during this season shall possess a current firearm deer license, combination deer license, or antlerless deer license or a deer management assistance permit authorizing the disabled veteran to take a deer with a firearm and issued for the area or land upon which the veteran is hunting. The same kind of deer may be taken during the disabled veterans firearm deer season as during the regular November firearm deer season. This subsection does not limit the authority of the commission under section 40113a to establish a special hunting season in any area of this state for veterans with disabilities or other classes of individuals.

(4) The department may demand proof of eligibility under subsection (2) or (3). The licensee, when hunting or taking aquatic species, as applicable, shall possess proof of his or her eligibility under subsection (2) or (3) and shall furnish the proof upon the request of a peace officer.

(5) The department shall process licenses issued under subsection (2) in the same manner as licenses issued to senior citizens for purposes of receiving appropriations from the legislature under section 43546.

(6) As used in this section, "disabled veteran" means either of the following:

(a) A resident who has been determined by the United States department of veterans affairs to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service and entitled to veterans' benefits at the 100% rate, for a disability other than blindness.

(b) A resident rated by the United States department of veterans affairs as individually unemployable.