September 2025 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 2025 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 destination habitats featuring thick aspen stands, young forests and hunter walking paths.
View map of GEMS grouse hunting sites ►
Waterfowl hunting kicks off this month. Visit one of Michigan's managed waterfowl hunt areas for exceptional opportunities at these annual stopovers for migratory birds.
Statewide
- Early teal season is Sept. 1-9.
- Common gallinule, Virginia rail, sora rail and Wilson's snipe season opens Sept. 1.
North Zone
- Duck, coot and merganser season opens Sept. 27.
- Goose season opened Sept. 1.
Middle, South, and Allegan GMU
- Goose season opened Sept. 1.
Waterfowl hunting information is available in the 2025 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 2025 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Deer.
Liberty Hunt: Sept. 13-14 – open to youth and hunters with disabilities
- Statewide on public and private lands.
- Liberty Hunt information begins on page 6 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.
- Information for hunters with disabilities begins on page 21 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.
Early antlerless firearm: Sept. 20-21
- Antlerless deer only.
- Open on public and private lands in Lower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 115, 145, 174 and 245).
- See page 9 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.
Fall turkey hunting starts Sept. 15.
There is no longer a drawing for fall turkey licenses. You can purchase one fall turkey license per year, valid for one bird of either sex on public and private lands within the designated fall turkey management unit.
You can purchase a license over the counter from any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or through the DNR Hunt Fish app. Hunters who purchase a fall turkey license through the DNR Hunt Fish app will receive a digital eHarvest tag on their mobile device immediately.
Find more information at Michigan.gov/Turkey.
Fall marks the start of the furbearer hunting and trapping seasons. Get your fur harvesting license now and be ready when coyote, beaver, fox and other furbearer hunting and trapping seasons open in your area.
Find information on fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and seasons in the 2025 Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Trapping.
Licenses and kill tags
- 2025 fur harvester licenses are valid May 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026.
- Bobcat kill tags are only available through Oct. 31, 2025.
- Kill tags are available through the last day of the trapping season for fisher, marten and otter.
- Residents with a fur harvester license who intend to harvest bobcat, otter, fisher or marten must request free kill tags for these species.
You can purchase your fur harvester license and request kill tags online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.
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.
September is National Tree Stand Safety month and it's the perfect time to brush up on what you need to know about hunting from a tree. A few things to remember:
- Always maintain three points of contact (one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot) when climbing up to or down from the stand.
- Wear a full-body harness that is properly attached above your head.
- Ensure your tree stand is securely attached and stable before using it.
- Use a haul line to get your hunting gear to and from the stand.
Watch this short tree stand safety video for more tips.
Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.
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