Small Game Hunting Seasons Open This Week Across Michigan

Several small game 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. Fox and gray squirrel, rabbit, hare, ruffed grouse, woodcock and turkey hunting all open Thursday, Sept. 15.

Purchase your base license here, through the new DNR app (available to download for both Apple and Android products) or anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Here are the basics on each season:

Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare

Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting seasons are open statewide Sept. 15 to March 31. The daily bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10.

Squirrel, fox and gray

Fox and gray squirrel (black phase included) season is open statewide Sept. 15 to March 31. The daily bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10.

Ruffed grouse

Statewide ruffed grouse season dates are Sept. 15 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Jan. 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

The woodcock season is Sept. 15 to Oct. 29 statewide. The daily bag limit is three, and the possession limit is nine.

All woodcock hunters must have a base license and a 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

The fall turkey season is Sept. 15 to Nov. 14 statewide.

Even if you didn’t enter the drawing for a limited-quota license, you still could snag a turkey tag. Leftover fall turkey licenses will be sold until quotas are met, and hunters may purchase up to one license a day. Hunters may harvest one turkey per license.

Check leftover turkey license availability and find additional fall turkey hunting information here.

Pheasant

Pheasant (male only) seasons begin in October. The daily bag limit is two, and the possession limit is four.

• Zone 1: Oct. 10-31 (see the Hunting Digest for Zone 1 pheasant management unit boundaries.).
• Zones 2 and 3: Oct. 20 - Nov. 14.

A $25 pheasant license is required for all hunters 18 and older to hunt pheasants on any public land in the Lower Peninsula or on lands enrolled in the Hunting Access Program.

Not sure where to go?

Michigan’s grouse enhanced management sites, or GEMS, are great for grouse and other small game hunting. Find them here.

For more places to hunt, check out the Mi-HUNT interactive map that shows public hunting land throughout the state along with nearby amenities and features.

More information on small game hunting opportunities in Michigan can be found here. Check the 2022 Hunting Digest for season dates, bag limits and other regulations.

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