Michigan Bill Would Let Bow Hunters Open Carry Without a CPL

LANSING, Mich. – As Michigan’s October 1 archery deer season approaches, a new proposal at the state capitol could change how bow hunters protect themselves in the woods.

State Representative Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) has introduced House Bill 4855, which would allow bow hunters to openly carry a firearm for personal protection without needing a Concealed Pistol License (CPL).

Safety in the Woods

Prestin said the measure comes directly from concerns raised by his constituents in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where predators such as bears, wolves, and cougars are part of the landscape.

“I can’t blame anybody for carrying a sidearm out there especially with the predators that we have up here in the UP,” Prestin told WPBN/WGTU. He added, “This simply allows someone that’s normally able to open carry with a firearm in Michigan to open carry a firearm while bow hunting in the state of Michigan.”

Currently, Michigan law prevents bow hunters without a CPL from carrying a pistol in the field, even if they are otherwise legally able to open carry. Prestin argues that creates a safety gap: “Bow hunters are very limited in their ability to respond if one of these animals becomes aggressive and decides to attack them,” he said.

A Real-World Example

Prestin pointed to a case last year in the Northern Lower Peninsula where a young bow hunter was attacked by a black bear with three cubs. The hunter fought the bear off but needed 40 stitches in his leg and waited two hours before being rescued.

“This bill is just simply about safety, self-defense, best practices, and keeping our hunters safe in the woods,” Prestin said in a press release.

Clarifying Confusion

Many hunters already assume open carry during bow season is legal. “A lot of local sheriffs and MSP officers are shocked when they even look into it themselves,” Prestin said, noting confusion in the law.

Retailers are also seeing rising demand for defensive tools. Gary Jurkovich, owner of TCH Gear in Interlochen, told WPBN/WGTU, “We sell a lot of the things. In fact, we tripled the size of our archery department inside our new addition now.” He added that bear spray remains a popular choice: “This is the number one way to deal with that if you encounter a bear.”

Limits of the Bill

The proposal would not allow hunters to use firearms to take game during archery season. Prestin stressed that “at the end of the day this is about best practices safety and you cannot properly defend yourself with a bow.”

Michigan ranks third in the nation with more than 300,000 bow hunters. The bill is expected to draw attention as it moves through the legislative process, with many hunters watching closely to see if they will soon have the legal option to carry a sidearm for protection this fall.

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