September hunting and trapping opportunities

• Waterfowl hunting
• Small game hunting
• Deer hunting
• Fur harvesting
• Need a place to hunt?

Waterfowl hunting

Kick off September with waterfowl hunting.

• Dark and light goose hunting seasons opened statewide Sept. 1.
• Early teal season runs through Sept. 16, statewide.
• Common snipe, Virginia rail, sora rail and moorhen (gallinule) seasons are open through Nov. 9, statewide.
• In the North Zone, duck, coot and merganser hunting seasons open Sept. 28. 

Waterfowl hunting dates, bag limits and regulations are available at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.

Small game hunting

Grab your base license and gear up for small game seasons.

• Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare: Sept. 15 - March 31.
• Squirrel (fox and gray): Sept. 15 - March 31.
• Ruffed grouse: Sept. 15 - Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1.
• Woodcock: Sept. 21 - Nov. 4.
• Crow: Aug. 1 - Sept. 30 and Feb. 1 - March 31
• Pheasant (male only): Zone 1 starts Oct. 10; Zones 2 and 3 start Oct. 20.

Visit Michigan.gov/Hunting to plan your trip.

Fall turkey hunting

Fall turkey hunting is open Sept. 15 - Nov. 14. 

Any limited-quota licenses that remain may be purchased by any hunter with a current base license or mentored youth license, including those who did not apply for a fall turkey license. Hunters may purchase one license a day until quotas are met.

Find drawing results and leftover license availability at Michigan.gov/Turkey.

Deer hunting

Deer hunting begins in September. Make sure you are up-to-date with the 2019 regulations. The 2019 Hunting Digest has all deer hunting regulations, season dates and bag limits.  Upcoming deer seasons: Liberty Hunt (youth and hunters with disabilities) is Sept. 14-15. Early antlerless firearm season is open Sept. 21-22 in select deer management units. Archery deer season starts Oct. 1 statewide. Important changes: Deer baiting and feeding is banned in the entire Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula Core Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area. New regulations in the Upper Peninsula Core CWD Surveillance Area. New antler point restrictions.  Visit Michigan.gov/Deer for more deer hunting details.

Fur harvesting

• Coyote hunting is open year-round, statewide.
• 2019 kill tags for bobcat, fisher, marten and otter are available to licensed fur harvesters.
• Bobcat kill tags are available only through Nov. 30.
• Get your licenses and kill tags online at MDNR-eLicense.com or anywhere licenses are sold.

Need a place to hunt?

Questions? Contact DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-WILD (9453).