So it looks like I am leaning toward relocating to Michigan, the Eaton Rapids area. I am looking to start over after a divorce (25 years).

So what can you Michigan members suggest/advise. Yeah, I know it snows, I am more interested in day to day life, Hunting and firearms does and don'ts. Is it a CHL state or open carry etc.

If you are looking for a quiet little farm town, you are going to the right place in Eaton Rapids. I have been deer hunting there for the last 8 years on a 300 acre farm and have shot some very nice animals. CWD Restricted zone this year, if that matters to you.

Personally I would probably move to saline area in Washtenaw county, but that's me.

good luck to you.

You can open carry in Michigan however it is rare to see. Just apply and get a CCW permit. no problem. Eaton Rapids area is very nice if you like slow small town area. Its about half hour from Lansing and Jackson so not far to get what you need in the city, so to speak. Lots to see and do in Michigan. Great fishing, The Hunting is ok for Deer and we have a decent black bear population. Small Elk herd, the bear and elk licenses are draw. Lots of water if you like water sports, boating, Kayaking, Good Hiking Feel free to drop me a line and we can talk. If you are tied to Eaton Rapids that is good but there are lots of areas to consider based on what your likes are.

Transporting long guns might be different. They must be cased or in the trunk and unloaded in the chamber and magazine.

Divorce is bad enough. There's no reason to make it worse by moving to Michigan.

Eaton Rapids is a nice area. I used to have a stop on my route there a couple years ago. Puts you not far from Lansing if u need big town stuff but its a small town for sure. CPL is a one day class u gotta take. All the fishing/water stuff you want in Michigan. U have to remember for deer hunting anything south of M-57 is shotgun/pistol for deer so Eaton Rapids is gonna be shotgun zone but puts you about 30 minutes south of the rifle line.

Well it looks like you'll make the next Michigan get together. I can't say much more than rylee1 Michigan is a real pretty place away from the city, lots of rural farmland and lots of forests.

You can use a rifle for Deer season throughout the state except in the "Shotgun Zone" a rifle must be of 35 cal or larger and have a minimum case length of 1.16 and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches.

What made you choose the Eaton Rapids area?

Thanks guys. The town is actually Springport.

Looks like I will be in the shotgun/pistol zone, time to dust off the Andaconda.

My SIL was saying something about doe tags, on farms, almost like cull tags. At least that's what I thought he was saying.

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the "Shotgun Zone?" Or did you forget a period after "zone?"

Yes, in some areas as long as you have permission from the land owner you may get a doe tag for their chunk of land.

Here is the Antlerless guide for 2018.

For some reason I can't seem to attach the guide. Pm me you email address and I'll send it to you.




It is now called Limited Firearms Deer Zone, known by most and still called Shotgun Zone. Hunters are a stubborn bunch you know that......

Gotcha

And I believe you can use a centerfire rifle without the deer season restrictions on the cartridge from Dec. 1--Nov.9 in the "shotgun zone".

What Bristoe said. I can’t wait to move away from this state.

Does Michigan have a wolf problem, season?

Yes.........No

There are folks working on it.

The same formula as always. 3 counties control the entire state.

If I were moving to MI I’d probably pick the west side of the state between grand haven and traverse city and west of 75. Big area but beautiful and more conservative then the east side of the state. Tons of hunting opportunities all over the state with some places better than others. All the fishing you can handle.

I know a guy who lives in that first town. It ain't so bad...

Shhhhh....

Huh?

The SSS Plan.

Mac is correct, except that I'd note that if you prefer Walleye fishing, the East side is where it's at in Michigan! Moved from Muskegon County a year ago to Florida.....Politically it's becoming a real schitthole state especially with the ever-growing Muslim contingent near Dearborn.

I got family around the eaton Rapids area, otherwise I wouldn't be going there.

Muzzies, meh they are all over. Someplace swore than others though.

From a Southerners perspective, Michigan is o.k.! I lived there in the late 80s/early 90s, while in high school. I had a blast and made a lot of friends. It is a great state for a sportsman. Winter’s severity isn’t as tough at how long it lasts. Don’t expect spring to hit in April. It might.....and it might not.

I live out side of Cadillac and like the area. Lots of deer, Lots of Bear, but take 14 years to draw a tag! good fishing! Eaton Rapids area should still be nice , the southern part of the state Does SUCK I lived there most of my Life and its getting worse !

In the shot gun zone,the only time the cartridge is restricted is during deer season and the few days before.The rest of the year you can use a centerfire rifle just like the rest of the state.

I don't agree with this. More down to earth folks with better cost of living live on the east side, barring the cancer surrounding Detoilet. Traverse county is full of libs, and the freakishness is spreading up from the Indiana border and down from TC. Here are the voting maps for both the senate and governor races, and plainly show where the problems lie. Thanks Saginaw and Flint for bringing groids enmasse years ago to "work" at auto plants, and then they did the same thing as when they picked cotton.

Governor:


Senate:

i like the sunrise side alot

Whatever the current status of the state is right now, it just got worse by an order of magnitude with the election of another liberal DemonRat governor.

Taxes are bound to rise & even more freebies will be handed out.

The above maps are accurate...................

MM

I plan to use my 45/70 Marlin Lever Action this year for deer despite being in the Limited Firearms Zone. I have shortened the brass accordingly so I will be able to legally use it. I worked up a good load with the Hornday 325 FTX bullet.

Note that the counties that voted Democrat are all union (GM, Dow, etc.), have a university, and/or have a excess of minorities living in them. With weed on the ballot, I'm surprised more counties did not go dem.

I know 2and their both sisses and grunts!!

There are two Michigans. The urban and the rural--different worlds. Stay away from the cities/universities and you will do fine.

The new democratic administration will be a solid kick in the nuts, though.

Yep, that's where I live - 4.23 square miles surrounded by reality.

If you're a liberal you'll fit right in. Wednesday evening we had our own little group of ANTIFA demonstrating in front of the Jr High School with their "Not my President" and Protect Mueller" signs - wish I had a couple strips of firecrackers that I could have tossed out the window.

As long as the legislature stays red we'll survive. She made a bunch of promises she can't keep. Stoopid liberals...

Thank you that’s the truth.

I live in GR area and have to agree that the west is the best by a healthy margin particularly if you’re looking for a nice conservative place where you can hunt and fish your head off. Decent sportsman’s clubs lots of public land. Eaton Rapids is a nice little town and I wouldn’t complain. Great hunting for deer and small game in that area.

I've found that our new town is solidly conservative. Well, except for the neighbor across the street.

Go anywhere north of Grayling.

I spent a year visiting numerous towns all across Northern Michigan looking for a spot to live. By visiting, I am talking about Chambers, schools, LE, hospitals and other agencies. If you really enjoy awesome big game hunting, fishing (both stream and lake), atv trail riding, snowmobiling,waterfowl, upland game, ..send me a PM. Also, Trump won these areas by 20-30 points. My town is about 13K. One murder in last 15 years. Very safe and very affordable. The area has millions of acres of public land.

Again, send me a PM and I can give you a solid report on anything north of Grayling. It’s an awesome place to go if you like getting out of the house. I love it.

Where did you move to Mark?

My concern is that she will make a bunch of liberal "we are smarter than you " long-lived appointments within her administration to decision making positions. What the DNR doesn't need is more staff that was raised on concrete and has little interaction or appreciation for the rural culture.

Speaking from personal experience...

Lot of jack pine savages by Grayling...:)

That’s a perfectly reasonable concern.

The dyke attorney general is pretty disconcerting too.

What’s a jack pine savage?

Back to the WWII generation, say, slightly less well to-do folks living in the jack pine plantings of the north country. Or any relative you didn't like.

The dyke concerns me, too. I imagine they will be adding a third bathroom to all the parks and campsites...;)

Yup. She'll lean progressive/liberal in her views. Conservatives still have the majority on the state supreme court, hopefully they'll rein her in.

Aren't jack pine savages & woodticks one in the same? Ya know, family tree resembles a telephone pole? 🤣

Al, we moved to Lenawee County.
10 miles from Ohiah.
Very much looking forward to having winters less than 5 1/2 months long.

I grew up in mid Michigan and lived in the up for 20 some years. Last year I moved to Montana and safe to say I will never move back to MI. With that said there are plenty of nice small country towns in all parts of the state. I would favour the UP or perhaps the northerlower around the Pigeon River area.

You just wanted to get closer to toby.😂

Why no Boss, we wanted to be closer to you. Being closer to Toby is just gravy.

So... you moved from the snow belt to a tornado alleyway. Some people. 🤣

Hope you're feeling better these days!

Reasons I'am working on leaving Michigan.....DNR are a bunch of idiots there only concern is how much money they can bring in....one of the highest taxes on fuel.....worst roads in the country....not friendly to retirees charge income tax on pensions....high property taxes....highest auto insurance in the country.....outrageous priced auto license plates....

Hope you have a job with a very good income, you will need it to live in Michigan....

The worst part there will be a new Governor come January a female Democrat....there is a Republican controlled House and Senate that I hope will control the "Bitch".....

8 years ago we had a female Democrat governor she brought hundreds of semi-truck loads of garbage a day from Canada and its still going on ....never fixed the roads....higher taxes....chased business out of the state....

Would echo the thoughts of coyotewacker for sure. Have lived here over 60 years except for 3 spent in Idaho. Would look at either Idaho or Montana over this state. The roads are crap and don't see this getting better. Car insurance is the highest in the US and a recent rollback effort was again defeated by the legislature. My truck plate in Idaho was $30, here it is $140. Insurance runs $1400 per year, in Idaho was $600. Longer hunting seasons another big reason to look west rather than the Great Lakes. Like bugs and humidity then Michigan is a great place !

If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a tornado!
Snow? Ain't no dodgin' that.

I called MI home for a little over 12 years and of those 8 were in the metro Detroit area (Monroe and then Farmington Hills) and 4 were in the UP (Marquette/Gwinn) . I loved the UP and use to go north every year to hunt with friends, and even shipped my hunting stuff by UPS and flew with my rifle to the UP when I lived out of state.
As previously mentioned the west side of the state, areas north of Grayling and the UP are great and if I was forced to choose a bigger town it would probably be Grand Rapids.

Once you get away from southeast MI it's actually a great state.


While I live in the Blue Ridge mountains of NC a part of me will always be a "Yooper".


YMMV


StarchedCover

So should I get a 357 mag or 44 mag lever gun, being I will be in the south zone. I have revolvers in each caliber already.

I am going to get a Henry steel, the caliber is the choice now. I don't trust Marlin quality anymore.

Mark is a smart man..........Just sayin'......

44 Mag of course, like there's even a doubt........

.44 Mag..............or the newest darling of southern MI, a .450 Bushmaster in a Ruger American or Savage Wolverine if you're a bolt gun fan.

My RAR Ranch 450 B really rocks!
At this point, I don't believe the jacketed bullet technology is up to the task for much bigger than deer or hogs.
.452" cast bullets offer a lot of promise, especially if someone would make a barrel with a slower twist than 1 in 16" that Ruger uses.

I love lever actions, Although someday I could get an upper for the a4

I still regret letting my Marlin 1894SS get away.

450 bushmaster is all the rage.

Michigan is the only state (that I know of) that allows over twice the GVW (gross vehicle weight) than the other states. Something like 80k lbs standard to 164k lbs in Michigan. They put multiple axles under heavy haul trailers to accommodate but that is a schit ton of weight going down the road.

I remembered that I had cabellas points, and I went and picked up a Henry steel 44 mag. I thought about the Big Boy, but they don't have sling studs ( a must have).

No major tornados,no big floods,no ass deep snow in the southern part of the state.HIGH car insurance SUCKS a weeny.If i had a choice where to live in this state,SAY YA TO DAH UP.There you have it.

Just think if you could get a 450 B Creed!!😈

I'll stick with my Knight!

Ain't it past your bedtime Pops?

I had a nap!

So when did he become Pops?
I thought we were supposed to refer to him as Boss?
It's gettin' harder and harder to keep up without a program.

I just put 6.5 Creed ammo in my 450. Wurks fine

I gotta be what ever Toby calls me!

Does Michigan have a pro nfl team?😚

Well, the finlanders (native U. P. residents) all cheer for the cheese heads for a reason... 🤣

A lot of West Michigan people cheer on the green and gold also!!!!

We used to has one back in 1959 i think it was they call them the Lions i think it was!!

He's Boss Pops when he's being cranky.......

Well, in fact it's possible to put 6.5 Creed ammo in your 450B, sort of. Will you settle for bullets headstamped 6.5 Creedmoor?

In 2010 the possibility of producing jacketed bullets from fired brass was explored pretty thoroughly in a thread on the reloading forum of 450bushmaster.net. Thread was titled "Bullet swaging for the 450b --CHEAP!". The technique involved using sawed-off brass cases filled with lead and swaged to proper diameter and profile.

http://www.450bushmaster.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=910

Unfortunately most of the photos have disappeared from the thread, but there are some youtube videos still extant produced by the guy who started the thread.. Here's an image from the video showing a product of such manipulation, built on a 308 case:
.

.
So, just take some Creedmoor cases, cut them to length, fill them with lead, swage them a bit, and presto, you're shooting 6.5 Creedmoor in a 450 B.

Youtube instructional video links:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy19DVW6jbE

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQUQfkdx920

--Bob

The current hot ticket to fit the odd legalities for deer hunting in the limited zone is the 450 Bushmaster.

My mom's family owned a small resort on the banks of Pratt Lake in Gladwin.
Some of my best memories are still there.
Small town America.... bass, pike and palm sized bluegill were a huge part of my life.
It's where I learned to ride dirt bikes.
Dirt roads...Amish communities...4 seasons.
I went back there a couple of years ago to bury my mom...still a beautiful little community.

Just a few comments and corrections.
1. We've only had the tax on pensions since 2012. It was voted and signed into law by our "friends", the GOP. The new governor ran on a platform of repealing it.
2. We have terrible roads because of a strong trucking lobby. Until we get rid of the 11-axle, 160K GVW steelhaulers and gravel trains, they'll always be bad. There's a lot of bribery going on in Lansing.
3. We can't do anything about the Canuckian garbage because the US Govt considers it interstate commerce and states can't mess with it.
4. As others have mentioned, the Ruger American in 450 is the hot ticket. I've heard that a state gun dealer, Randy's out of Bad Axe, was the impetus for it by having Ruger make a limited run for him.

Back in the old days, everyone went "up North" (Michigan expression for anywhere north of Bay City) to go deer hunting. Now, the big deer are in the southern farm counties and people stay closer to home. It doesn't have the same appeal to me. I like to get away into the woods.

That's really interesting. I'm a member there, but since I can't even see my reloading presses, that fun will have to wait.
Hornady 250gr FTX is good enough to kill any Whitetail, and it often shoots ragged one hole groups in my Ranch RAR.

Gonin up Nort for a trophy buck!!!

No we don't. That means you can go and do stuff in the outdoors on fall/winter Sunday afternoons.

Keep yer eyes peeled for dat Turdy Point Buck!

That allow the 450 Bushmaster to be legal in the "shotgun zone" for the southern half of Michigan. My step-son bought the Ruger model for his daughter but the short barrel makes it really loud.

I stumbled across Norman Fox of For Arms in Burton, MI. He takes a Savage .308 bolt action rifle and installs a custom 450 Bushmaster barrel with the Weathergaurd finish. With a Leupold 3-9x40 with the custom CDS turret set up for that cartridge, with the Accu Trigger it's accuracy rivals that of my Tikka T3 .204.

I've lived in Michigan my whole life, and other than Allendale it's a good place to live!

Viking, As I mentioned before I plan to use my 45/70 Marlin Lever Action this year for deer despite being in the Limited Firearms Zone. I have shortened the brass accordingly so I will be able to legally use it. I worked up a good load with the Hornday 325 FTX bullet using shortened Starline brass, a CCI 200 primer and 48 grains of H4198 powder. Velocity from my 18" barrel is 1900 fps.

Certainly more than needed for most situations but if hunting an area where there is a field the extra range will come in handy. I have a Leupold VX2 scope in 2-7 power range with the extra dots below the crosshair. I am zeroed at 100 yards and am then on at 150 and 190 yards with the extra dots.

My Marlin did have some issues and I sent it back to Marlin. So far it seems that they fixed it. Good luck with your move and hunting.

Yep, Randy Brown is responsible for Ruger chambering the American in .450 BM. They didn't want to do it at first and limited the first run to 1500. Randy had them all sold before the first one arrived. Now it's a standard chambering.
'Up North' isn't necessarily above Bay City. Folks down in 'The City'(south of I-69) refer to us in the thumb as 'Up North'.
We like to say we have four seasons:
Almost Winter
Winter
Still Winter
Road Construction

Well I made it to Michigan today. Leaving home was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Welcome to your new home, glad you made it Viking.

When you get all settled in let us know and Denny and I will drive over and let you buy us lunch........

Sure, Taco Bell 😂

I had a service call in Michigan just yesterday. 12hr call, 2 hours on site, 10hrs driving. I think I'll bring a sleeping bag and catch a few hours sleep next time before driving back. Lol...and they have 2 more locations to service in that town.
Oh well, it will look good on the paycheck.

Enjoy the move. What I saw looked alright.

Not a problem, I'll drink a bottle of Imodium before I leave.......

I made in to Eaton Rapids today. I needed antifreeze and looked for work.

I've got family up in Petoskey. I like it up there. Beautiful place.

Brother lived in Monroe for quite a few years. Kinda between Detroit and Toledo. Wouldn't live there.

Monroe was all right. Twas our jump off point for walleye fishing the western basin of lake erie.

Where were you yesterday? What kind of work you looking for?

We went to Standish? I got a pair Mucs at a store called North Woods on the way.

Standish, Holy crap! You took the long way to get there.

SIL's folks live near there, that is why.

Lol, I thought maybe you got lost having so many tar roads to choose from.

Are you staying with family for a bit yet?

I'm afraid you have been given a little bit of a cold reception.........Gonna get a little cold Fr and Sat.mornings.

How do you like the scenery so far?

Everything is good.

What type of work are you looking for?

Just don't become a Mechigan university fan!

Let me know when you get settled in and I will come over whenever you are open. I live just south of Hastings and west of Charlotte.
Phil