December 2023 hunting and trapping opportunities

• Small game hunting
• Deer hunting
• Pheasant hunting
• Waterfowl hunting
• Fur harvesting
• Get involved

Small game hunting

Enjoy some winter small game hunting with your base license.

• Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare: open through March 31, 2024.
• Fox and gray squirrel (black phase included): open through March 31, 2024.
• Ruffed grouse: open through Jan. 1, 2024.

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

Deer hunting

Online?harvest reporting?is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer.?Visit?Michigan.gov/Deer?to?learn more.

• Archery deer season: Now through Jan. 1, 2024, statewide on public or private lands.
• Muzzleloader deer season: Now through Dec. 10,?statewide on public or private lands.
  • In Zone 3 (southern Michigan ? see?page 12 in the Hunting Regulations Summary) and the counties of Bay, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana, you can use all legal firearms. If you are hunting in the limited firearm deer zone, you must follow equipment requirements for that zone.
  • In the northern Lower Peninsula (Zone 2) and the Upper Peninsula (Zone 1), only muzzleloading firearms may be used.
  • See?page 50 of the Hunting Regulations Summary?for more muzzleloading equipment information.
• Late antlerless firearm deer season: Dec. 11 - Jan. 1, 2024, on private lands ONLY in the Lower Peninsula (see page 52 of the Hunting Regulations Summary for a map of open deer management units).

Check the?2023 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at?Michigan.gov/Deer, for deer hunting regulations, including information on the types of deer that may be harvested in each season and antler point restrictions.

Pheasant hunting

Select counties in Zone 3 are open to pheasant hunting through Jan. 1, 2024, for the
taking of male pheasants. Find the list of counties on page 69 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.

The final pheasant releases of 2023 will occur this month on 10 state game areas throughout southeast Michigan:

• Cass City (Tuscola County).
• Crow Island (Bay and Saginaw counties).
• Dansville (Ingham County).?
• Erie (Monroe County).?
• Lapeer (Lapeer County).
• Leidy Lake (St. Joseph County).
• Pte. Mouillee (Monroe and Wayne counties).
• Rose Lake (Clinton and Shiawassee counties).
• Stanton (Montcalm County).
• St. Johns Marsh (St. Clair County).

Waterfowl hunting

It?s not too late to get out for some great waterfowl hunting this season.?Visit one of Michigan's?managed waterfowl hunt areas?for exceptional hunting opportunities.?

North Zone

• Goose season: open through Dec. 16.

Middle Zone

• Duck seasons: open Dec. 16-17.
• Goose season: open through Dec. 22.

South Zone

• Duck seasons: open through Dec. 10 and Dec. 30-31.
• Goose season: open through Dec.?10, Dec. 30 - Jan. 7, 2024, and Feb.?3-12, 2024.??
  • Allegan County Goose Management Unit:?open Dec. 16?-?Feb.?12, 2024.?
  • Muskegon County GMU: open through Dec. 23.??

Waterfowl hunting information is available in the?2023 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary?and at?Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.

Fur harvesting

Fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and season dates are available in the?2023 Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary?and at?Michigan.gov/Trapping.

Hunting seasons

• Coyote hunting: open year-round.
• Fox (gray and red) hunting: open through March 1, 2024.
• Raccoon hunting: open through March 31, 2024.

Trapping seasons

• Coyote and fox (gray and red) trapping: open through March 1, 2024.
• Raccoon trapping: open through March 31, 2024.
• Badger, beaver, bobcat, muskrat, mink and otter trapping opportunities are available for some areas; see the Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary for open units, season dates and bag limits.

Learn more: Michigan.gov/Hunting