Grab your base license and gear up for small game hunting in Michigan.



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Get ready for the 2022 small game seasons in Michigan

Enjoy small game hunting throughout the state with your base license!


* Review regulations in the 2022 Hunting Digest [ #link_6 ]
* Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare [ #link_1 ]
* Squirrel, fox and gray [ #link_2 ]
* Ruffed grouse [ #link_3 ]
* Woodcock [ #link_4 ]
* Pheasant [ #link_5 ]
* Plan a trip out to a GEMS [ #link_9 ]
* Questions? Contact us [ #link_8 ]
* Additional resources [ #link_7 ]
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Review regulations in the 2022 Hunting Digest

Season dates, bag limits and small game hunting regulations are available in the 2022 Hunting Digest [ [link removed] ] and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame [ [link removed] ].

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Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare

Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting seasons are open statewide Sept. 15 - March 31.

The daily bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10.

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Squirrel, fox and gray

Fox and gray squirrel (black phase included) season is open statewide Sept. 15 - March 31.  

The daily bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10.

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Ruffed grouse

Ruffed grouse season dates, statewide, are Sept. 15 - Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1.

In zones 1 and 2, the daily bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10.  In Zone 3, the daily bag limit is three, and the possession limit is six.

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Woodcock

The woodcock season is Sept. 15 - Oct. 29 statewide. 

The daily bag limit is three, and the possession limit is nine. 

All woodcock hunters must have a valid base license and a free woodcock stamp. The woodcock stamp includes registration with the federal Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). Shotguns must be plugged so they are capable of holding no more than three shells. 

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Pheasant

Pheasant (male only) seasons will begin in October. The daily bag limit is two, and the possession limit is four.


* Zone 1:  Oct. 10-31 (see the Hunting Digest for Zone 1 pheasant management unit boundaries.).
* Zones 2 and 3: Oct. 20 - Nov. 14.

Pheasant license

A $25 license is required for all hunters 18 years old and older to hunt pheasants on any public land in the Lower Peninsula or on lands enrolled in the Hunting Access Program.

You *do not* need a pheasant hunting license if you are:


* A private-land pheasant hunter.
* Hunting on public lands in the Upper Peninsula.
* A lifetime license holder.
* 17 years old or younger.
* Only hunting pheasants at a game bird hunting preserve.

Pheasant releases 

There will be a pheasant release program for 2022. Details and locations on the pheasant release program will be available at Michigan.gov/SmallGame [ [link removed] ] in the coming weeks. Release locations similar to last year are expected.

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Plan a trip out to a GEMS

Take a road trip and stop at the six Grouse Enhanced Management Sites [ [link removed] ] throughout the northern Lower Peninsula and the 13 sites across the Upper Peninsula.

We have specifically managed these areas for grouse and woodcock habitat, optimizing your chances of a successful bird season. With mowed walking trails, abundant young forest cover and open parking areas with trail maps, the GEMS provide a quality hunting experience for everyone.

Each site offers a unique hunting trip and hundreds of acres of publicly accessible land. Eighteen sites are equipped with a map, information kiosk and hunter walking trails.

Start planning your GEMS trip and find additional public hunting lands on our Where to Hunt page [ [link removed] ].

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Questions? Contact us

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

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Additional resources


Buy online ► [ [link removed] ]

Buy your licenses online.




DNR app ► [ [link removed] ]

Get the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.




Hunting land ► [ [link removed] ]

Find land open to public hunting near you.



Download the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app [ [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