The fall hunting season begins this month! Get ready to head into the field by reading the latest regulations and season dates.



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Ruffed grouse stands on log during September day.

September 2023 hunting and trapping opportunities

September is the official start to many of Michigan's hunting seasons. Get ready for a great fall in the fields and forests or on the water.


* Small game opener Sept. 15 [ #link_1 ]
* GEMS: A jewel for grouse and woodcock hunting [ #link_8 ]
* Waterfowl hunting [ #link_3 ]
* Deer hunting [ #link_4 ]
* Fur harvesting [ #link_6 ]
* Fall turkey hunting [ #link_7 ]
* Hunting regulations on your phone [ #link_9 ]
* Questions? Contact us [ #link_10 ]
* Events [ #link_17 ]
* Grants/jobs [ #link_5 ]
* Support [ #link_2 ]

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Small game opener Sept. 15

Small game seasons open statewide Sept. 15 for the following species:


* Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare.
* Fox and gray squirrels (black phase included).
* Ruffed grouse.
* Woodcock
* All woodcock hunters must get a free woodcock stamp, which includes registration with the federal Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP).

Season dates, bag limits and small game hunting regulations are available in the 2023 Michigan Hunting Regulations Summary [ [link removed] ] and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame [ [link removed] ].

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GEMS: A jewel for grouse and woodcock hunting

Michigan is home to some of the best upland game bird hunting in the country. The Grouse Enhanced Management Sites – or GEMS – are swaths of public hunting land across the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula that are managed for prime grouse and woodcock hunting. You'll want to plan your fall hunting season around these destinations, complete with thick aspen stands, young forests and hunter walking paths. 

Find your new favorite hunting spot ► [ [link removed] ]

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Waterfowl hunting

Waterfowl hunting kicks off this month. Visit one of Michigan's managed waterfowl hunt areas [ [link removed] ]for exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities.

*Statewide*

* Early teal season is Sept. 1-15.
* Common gallinule, Virginia rail, sora rail and Wilson's snipe season opens Sept. 1.

*North Zone*

* Duck, coot and merganser season opens Sept. 30.
* Goose season opens Sept. 1.

*Middle and South zones*

* Goose season opens Sept. 1.

Waterfowl hunting information is available in the 2023 Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary [ [link removed] ] and at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl [ [link removed] ].

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Deer hunting

Deer hunting begins with the Liberty Hunt and early antlerless firearm season.

Deer hunting season dates, regulations and more are available in the 2023 Hunting Regulations Summary [ [link removed] ] (see page numbers for specific topics below), available at Michigan.gov/Deer [ [link removed] ].

*Liberty Hunt: Sept. 9-10 – o*pen to youth and hunters with disabilities

* Statewide on public and private lands.
* Youth hunting information can be found on pages 36-40 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.
* Information for hunters with disabilities is available on pages 41-44 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.

*Early antlerless firearm: Sept. 16-17*

* Antlerless deer only.
* Open on private lands in the Lower Peninsula.
* See page 52 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.

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Fur harvesting

Coyote hunting is open year-round.

Find information on fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and seasons in the 2023 Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary [ [link removed] ], available at Michigan.gov/Trapping [ [link removed] ].

Licenses and kill tags

2023 fur harvester licenses are valid May 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024.

Residents with a fur harvester license who intend to harvest bobcat, otter, fisher or marten must request free kill tags for these species.


* Kill tags are available through the last day of the trapping season for fisher, marten and otter.
* Bobcat kill tags are available through Oct. 24.

You can purchase your fur harvester license and request kill tags online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses [ [link removed] ] or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.

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Fall turkey hunting

Fall turkey hunting starts Sept. 15.

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 at Michigan.gov/Turkey [ [link removed] ].

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Hunting regulations on your phone

The free Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ] offers a convenient way for hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts to:


* Buy hunting and fishing licenses and trail permits.
* Report deer or fish harvests.
* Look up hunting and trapping regulations.
* Find their license history, including point and chance balances.
* Check out maps with multiple layers, showing features such as shooting ranges and boat launches.
* Get timely notifications from the DNR.

The Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app is available:


* On the App Store [ [link removed] ]for Apple devices.
* On the Google Play store [ [link removed] ] for Android devices.

If you have any questions about the app, call the DNR licensing customer service staff at 517-284-6057 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Questions? Contact us

Contact the DNR Wildlife Division <[email protected]> at 517-284-WILD (9453).

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Events
[ [link removed] ]

*Sept. 14:* Natural Resources Commission meeting [ [link removed] ]

*Sept. 16-17:* 75th annual Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival [ [link removed] ]

*Sept. 27*: Detroit Tigers - Hunting and Fishing Night [ [link removed] ]





Grants/jobs

DNR grants [ [link removed] ]

DNR jobs [ [link removed] ]




Support

Purchase a Kirtland's warbler wildlife habitat license plate [ [link removed] ] and help protect Michigan’s most vulnerable species.

Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund [ [link removed] ]





"Learn more: Michigan.gov/Hunting [ [link removed] ]"


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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources · Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 · 1-800-439-1420