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 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 and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame.
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 ►
Waterfowl hunting kicks off this month. Visit one of Michigan's managed waterfowl hunt areas 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 and at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.
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 (see page numbers for specific topics below), available at Michigan.gov/Deer.
Liberty Hunt: Sept. 9-10 – open 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.
Coyote hunting is open year-round.
Find information on fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and seasons in the 2023 Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Trapping.
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 or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.
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.
The free Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app 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:
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.
Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-WILD (9453).
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