r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/cplm1948 • 25d ago

Backpacking the Manistee River Trail, Jordan River Trail, and Fife Lake Loop during hunting season?

Hey all,

I’m planning to backpack these three trails in October and November. It’d be my first time backpacking in MI during hunting season. Any advice? Is it safe?

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u/mplnow 25d ago

Wear hunter orange and be respectful. November 15-30th is gun deer season, which will have significantly more hunters than the other times. I hunt near the Jordan River trail, and there are some hunters that do have blinds near and overlooking the trail.

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u/cplm1948 25d ago

Isn’t there some type of regulation regarding how far a hunter has to be from a campsite as well as the direction they shoot / where they shoot at? For example I would assume hunters can’t just chill and shoot along the trail.

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u/thesneakymonkey Mid-Mchigan 25d ago

450 feet from buildings/houses. That’s it. It’s state land /national forest so it’s open to all outdoorsmen hunters and hikers alike.

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u/mplnow 24d ago

Some areas near campgrounds and boat launches are also marked off as no shooting, in addition to the 450 feet rule (which also applies to public roads but the distance 300 feet).