Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Bay County. Bay City is the base camp for Saginaw Bay waterfowl. The Zone 2/3 boundary crosses Bay County along U.S. 10 and Garfield Road, so check which side of it you hunt before you buy licenses.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. At the counter you fill out Form 4473 and the dealer runs the background check; for a pistol they also complete Michigan's Pistol Sales Record. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door.
Dealers in these communities all work for Bay City-area buyers:
A Michigan CPL is issued through your county clerk, so Bay City-area residents apply in person with the Bay County Clerk. You need an 8-hour pistol safety course from a certified instructor (at least 5 hours of classroom and 3 hours on a range), the RI-012 application, photo ID and the $100 fee, plus $15 where the county takes fingerprints. You must be 21. See our Michigan CPL guide for the whole process.
The Zone 2/3 boundary runs through Bay County, so Bay City-area hunters can be in either zone depending on the property. Since the limited firearms zone was eliminated for 2026, any legal firearm, bottleneck rifles included, can be used on both sides; license quotas and antlerless rules can still differ by deer management unit, so check the DNR's Mi-Hunt map for your spot. Regular firearm season is November 15–30, with a December firearm season Dec. 4–6, 2026.
Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area, north of town on the bay, is managed for ducks and geese. Bay County buyers pick semi-auto and pump 12-gauges first, and a deer rifle second.
Source: Michigan DNR shooting range list, September 2026. Hours, fees and membership rules vary; call before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Essexville, Auburn, Pinconning, Bay City or anywhere in Bay County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the federal background check.
Not when you buy from a licensed dealer. The dealer runs the NICS check and completes Michigan's Pistol Sales Record (form RI-060); keep your copy with the pistol for the first 30 days. A License to Purchase from local police is needed for private sales instead.
In person with the Bay County Clerk. Bring your RI-012 application, your certificate from an 8-hour pistol safety course (at least 5 hours of classroom and 3 on the range), photo ID and the $100 fee; counties that take fingerprints charge $15 more. You must be 21.
The Zone 2/3 boundary runs through Bay County, so Bay City-area hunters can be in either zone depending on the property. Since the limited firearms zone was eliminated for 2026, any legal firearm, bottleneck rifles included, can be used on both sides; license quotas and antlerless rules can still differ by deer management unit, so check the DNR's Mi-Hunt map for your spot. Regular firearm season is November 15–30, with a December firearm season Dec. 4–6, 2026.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
Yes. Federal law requires non-toxic shot, such as steel, bismuth or tungsten, for all waterfowl hunting. Make sure your shotgun and choke are rated for steel; most modern 12-gauges are.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our Michigan gun law overview and ask a Michigan attorney about your own situation.