ALL WAYS TO

HUNT IN THE CADILLAC AREA

A variety of species in all four seasons. Experience nature from our fields and forests while in pursuit of small game, deer and bear.

STAY IN CADILLAC

We have a variety of resorts, hotels, motels, cabins & campgrounds perfect for all seasons!

Hunting

The quality of hunting in Northern Michigan is legendary, while Cadillac offers some particularly unique advantages. Extensive access to public land is a primary reason hunters find their way to Cadillac during hunting seasons throughout the year. Whitetail Deer hunters flock to the Cadillac area for bow hunting, rifle and muzzle loading seasons, and are rarely disappointed. Black Bear is also included in the big-game list on our 600,000 acres of prime hunting land in the National Forest and State Forest surrounding Cadillac.

Small Game

A small game license entitles you to hunt rabbit, snowshoe hare, squirrel (fox and gray), pheasant, ruffed grouse, woodcock, quail, woodchuck, crow, coyote and waterfowl during the open season in the Cadillac area and Wexford County.  There is no closed season on opossum, porcupine, weasel, red squirrel, skunk, starling, feral pigeon, English sparrow, ground squirrel and woodchuck. Wexford County boasts one of the highest wild turkey populations in Northern Michigan and both fall and spring hunting opportunities exist on the permit basis.

Hunting Resources

We have several guides for hunting in the area, buck pole events as well as hunt clubs in Marion, Manton & Cadillac. We are also very fortunate to be a home to the Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center, one of only seven MDNR Visitors Centers in the state. located between Lakes Cadillac & Mitchell.

Hooking Into The Fall Steelhead Run

(Parker McNitt fighting a steelhead on a center pin rod) The Manistee River, located west of Cadillac, is the mecca of steelhead fishing. Steelhead, a migratory rainbow trout, are one of the most sought-after fish in the world. Every year, thousands of these fish...

September Anglers Chasing Salmon or Gearing up for Hunting

By Steve Knaisel, PilgrimVillageFishing.com, Cadillac The leaves are starting to turn and there’s no traffic on the lakes-what a great time to be fishing. This fall, fish two different lakes connected by a canal. Each has a unique personality. No matter the weather,...

Out & About, Spear Anglers Wait for Pike in Darkhouses

By Dave Foley:When you think of ice fishing, what comes to mind is folks standing on the ice or sitting inside fish shanties. Whether it’s tipups baited with minnows or jigging with ice rods, the vast majority of ice anglers are hoping to hook fish fish...

Out & About, Steelhead on the Move

By Dave Foley Rivers like the Pere Marquette, as well as the Big and Little Manistee, get a little crowded after Labor Day as thousands of salmon leave Lake Michigan to push up these steams to spawn. From late August until September king and coho salmon dominate the...

Trophy Pike to Crappie frenzy on Lakes Mitchell & Cadillac

By Steve Knaisel, PilgrimVillageFishing.com, Cadillac Some years the ice lingers through the middle of April. This winter has had so many highs and lows, it’s any ones guess as to how long it will last. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell appear empty since the...

The Superbowl of Deer Season

(Mike Porter, Tim Porter, Levi Rowan, Lynn Frankenberger, and Jon Porter take a break from hunting for a picture and some lunch) November 15, a day for many Michiganders filled with incredible excitement. The opening day of deer rifle season is one of the best days of...

The Gold Standard in Fish Decoy Carving is known as “The Cadillac Style”

Fish decoy carving has been a unique part of fishing culture for generations and they are still being used today. But did you know the rich history it has right here in Cadillac? The main purpose of decoys now is for ice fishing/spearing. After a hole is cut in the...

Summer 2020 Family Bucket List – Cadillac, Michigan

Take a Day to go Hiking – from wide trails to forest trekking, there are several trails in the area to take the whole family. Always ensure you pack water, possibly a few snacks and bug spray.  Most trails only have bathrooms at the trailhead.   Make sure you have a...

Gobble, gobble… Spring is upon us; turkey hunting season is here

We are, in my opinion, in the “good ole days” of turkey hunting. It may be hard to believe, but not too long ago the wild turkey hunting season was unimaginably different. In the late 1970’s, according to Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, a hunter had only a...

Lake & River Angling

Rolling hills, scenic beauty and pristine waters.  Welcome to the Cadillac area, offering an abundance of angling options on the lakes and along our rivers.  This area is unique in that there are several nearby streams and rivers that offer an angler a wide range of...

Cadillac Hunting & Fishing Stories

Find the latest news and stories about the Cadillac region.  Our team of local writers dig deep into the region’s culture and provide our travel community the latest about entertainment, art, culture, trails, seasons and so much more.

*NEW* MDNR Hunt Fish Mobile App

Licenses, permits, regulations and more, all in the palm of your hand!

MORE HUNTING & MICHIGAN DNR RESOURCE INFORMATION…


  • Our local MDNR office is located on Mackinaw Trail, between US-131 BR and M-115, just south of Downtown Cadillac.  Call 231-775-9727.
  • The Huron-Manistee National Forest are the only National Forests in Lower Michigan. The Huron-Manistee National Forests comprise almost a million acres of public lands extending across the northern lower peninsula of Michigan, offering over 500,000 acres in the Cadillac area, the largest single span in the lower peninsula. It provide recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife, and resources for local industry. Throughout the year there are campsites and trail heads throughout the National Forest for use. Some may require a fee/ permit. Call (800) 821-6263, located at 1755 South Mitchell street, just south of Downtown on BR US-131.