2022 Michigan pheasant hunting

• Pheasant seasons
• Pheasant license
• Pheasant releases for 2022
• Questions? Contact us
• Get involved

Pheasant seasons

• Oct. 10-31 in the Upper Peninsula in Menominee County and portions of Iron, Marquette, Dickinson and Delta counties.
• Oct. 20 - Nov. 14 in the Lower Peninsula.
• Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 in selected areas of Zone 3.

The bag limit is two male pheasants daily, with four in possession.

Season dates, bag limits, maps of open hunting zones and regulations are available in the 2022 Hunting Digest and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame.

Pheasant license

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

People who do not need a pheasant license:

• Private-land pheasant hunters.
• Hunters on public lands in the Upper Peninsula.
• Lifetime license holders.
• Hunters 17 years of age and younger.
• Those only hunting pheasant at a game bird hunting preserve.

Buy your base and pheasant licenses online at eLicense, through the DNR Hunt Fish app or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.

Pheasant releases for 2022

This year, pheasants will be released during the Oct. 20-Nov. 14 regular pheasant season on nine state game areas throughout southern Michigan:

• Cornish (Van Buren County).
• Crow Island (Bay and Saginaw counties).
• Erie (Monroe County).
• Lapeer (Lapeer County).
• Leidy Lake (St. Joseph County).
• Pinconning Township (Bay County).
• Pointe Mouillee (Monroe and Wayne counties).
• Rose Lake (Clinton and Shiawassee counties).
• St Johns Marsh (St. Clair County).

Find additional updates and information on the pheasant release program.

Questions? Contact us

Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Get involved