At all times it is illegal to operate an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) on public lands in the Lower Peninsula not posted open. Snowmobiles are prohibited at any time on state game areas or state parks and recreation areas unless posted open.

Time Restrictions

It is illegal to operate an ORV or a snowmobile between the hours of  7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. on any area open to public hunting during the November 15-30 firearm deer season.

Exception: The time restrictions on the use of ORVs and snowmobiles do not apply during an emergency or while traveling to and from a permanent residence or hunting camp that is otherwise inaccessible by a conventional wheeled vehicle.

The time restrictions on the use of ORVs also do not apply to retrieve a legally taken deer, to private landowners and their invited guests, to motor vehicles licensed under the Michigan Vehicle Code operating on roads capable of sustaining automobile traffic, to a disabled person using a designated trail or forest road for hunting or fishing purposes, or to a person with a valid permit to hunt from a standing vehicle.