Several small hunting seasons open this week, making it a great time to get outdoors.
Michigan’s abundant small game hunting opportunities can be enjoyed this fall using a base license from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Hunting for foxes and gray squirrels, rabbits, hares, grouse, woodcocks and turkeys open on Thursday 15 September.
Purchase your basic license here, through the new DNR app (available to download for Apple and Android products), or anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
Snowshoe hare and cottontail rabbit
Cottontail and snowshoe hare hunting seasons are open statewide from September 15 to March 31. The daily hunt limit is five and the possession limit is 10.
Squirrel, fox and gray
Fox and gray squirrel season (including the black phase) is open statewide from September 15 to March 31. The daily bag limit is five and the possession limit is 10.
ruffed grouse
The dates of grouse season throughout the state are from September 15 to November 14 and from December 1 to January 1. In Zones 1 and 2, the daily bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10. In Zone 3, the daily bag limit is three, and the possession limit is six.
woodcock
Woodcock season is from September 15 to October 29 statewide. The daily bag limit is three and the possession limit is nine.
All woodcock hunters must have a basic woodcock license and free woodcock stamp, which includes registration with the federal Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). Shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells.
Turkey
Fall turkey season is from September 15 to November 14 statewide.
Even if you didn’t enter the drawing for a limited quota license, you could still get a turkey tag. Leftover fall turkey licenses will be sold until quotas are met, and hunters may purchase up to one license per day. Hunters may harvest one turkey per license.
Check the availability of surplus turkey licenses and find additional fall turkey hunting information here.
Pheasant
Pheasant seasons (males only) begin in October. The daily bag limit is two and the possession limit is four.
- Zone 1: October 10-31 (see Game Compendium for Zone 1 pheasant management unit boundaries).
- Zones 2 and 3: from October 20 to November 14.
A $25 pheasant license is required for all hunters over the age of 18 to hunt pheasant on any public land in the Lower Peninsula or on land enrolled in the Game Access Program.
Michigan’s Grouse Enhanced Management Sites, or GEMS, are great for hunting grouse and other small game. Find them here.
For more places to hunt, check out Mi-HUNT’s interactive map showing public hunting grounds across the state along with nearby amenities and features.
You can find more information about small game hunting opportunities in Michigan here. Check the 2022 Hunting Digest for season dates, bag limits and other regulations.
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