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September is the official start of many of Michigan's hunting seasons. Get ready for a great fall in the fields and forests and 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 2022 Hunting Digest and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame.
Waterfowl hunting kicks off in September. Visit one of Michigan's managed waterfowl hunt areas for exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities.
Statewide
- Early teal season is Sept. 1-16.
- Common gallinule, Virginia rail, sora rail and Wilson's snipe season opens Sept. 1.
North Zone
- Duck, coot and merganser season opens Sept. 24.
- Goose season opens Sept. 1.
Middle and South zones
- Goose season opens Sept. 1.
Waterfowl hunting information is available in the 2022 Waterfowl Digest and at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.
Deer hunting begins in September with the Liberty Hunt and early antlerless firearm season.
Liberty Hunt: Sept. 10-11
Early antlerless firearm: Sept. 17-18
Deer hunting season dates, regulations and more are available in the 2022 Hunting Digest, available at Michigan.gov/Deer.
Coyote hunting is open year-round.
Find information on fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and seasons in the 2022 Fur Harvester Digest, available at Michigan.gov/Trapping.
Licenses and kill tags
2022 fur harvester licenses are valid May 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023.
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.
Don’t wait for opening day; register now for a hunter safety education course or a field day. These courses are available in either a traditional classroom setting or an online or take-home study program. The online and take-home study programs are great for busy hunters who want to learn but need a flexible schedule to complete the course at their own pace, followed by a single-session field day.
Check the website daily, as new classes continue to be added. Keep in mind that the closest class or field day might be located outside of your county or postal code.
Participants completing the online or take-home study program must preregister for a field day.
Interested in sharing your hunting knowledge? Consider becoming a volunteer hunter education instructor.
Learn more about hunter safety education or volunteering as a hunter education instructor or search for classes at Michigan.gov/RecreationalSafety.
The new Michigan Department of Natural Resources hunting and fishing app is now available for download to Apple and Android devices.
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 regulations and download guides and digests.
- 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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