Are Canada Geese Protected in Michigan? Permits, Hunting, and Penalties

Yes, Canada geese are protected in Michigan. Both federal law and Michigan state law make it illegal to kill, capture, or possess a Canada goose, its eggs, nest, or feathers without authorization. That protection is not absolute: Michigan runs a regulated hunting season with a daily bag limit, issues nuisance permits for nest and egg destruction, and allows a range of non-lethal deterrents on your own property. Acting outside those channels carries state misdemeanor penalties and, in serious cases, federal charges.

The Laws That Protect Them

The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is the main source of protection. It implements conservation treaties the United States signed with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia, and it covers every migratory bird that crosses international borders, including Canada geese.¹ Under 16 U.S.C. § 703, it is unlawful to hunt, capture, kill, or possess any migratory bird, or any part, nest, or egg of one, without federal authorization.² The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces the Act and issues the permits that make otherwise prohibited activity legal.

Michigan layers its own rules on top through Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994. That statute gives the Michigan Department of Natural Resources authority to set hunting seasons, issue nuisance permits, and enforce wildlife violations.³ State rules can tighten federal protections but cannot loosen them.

What You Cannot Do Without a Permit

The simple test: if your action harms a goose, its eggs, or its nest, you need authorization. How much damage the birds are doing to your lawn does not change that. The following are illegal without a federal or state permit:

Killing or capturing a goose by any method, including shooting, trapping, or poisoning.
Disturbing an active nest. Once eggs are present, the nest must be left alone unless you hold a depredation registration or a state nuisance permit.
Possessing a live or dead goose, or any part of one, including eggs and nests.²
Using deterrents that injure the birds, including projectiles aimed at geese or chemicals that harm them.

Feathers are the quiet trap in that list. The statute’s word “part” is broad enough to cover a feather you find on the ground. Enforcement against a loose feather is unlikely as a practical matter, but it is technically within reach of the law.

Nests are where people most often run into trouble. A goose nesting in an inconvenient spot on your property feels like your problem to solve, but moving or destroying that nest without authorization violates both federal and state law. Even an empty nest from a previous use should be left alone during nesting season unless you have registered through the proper channel.

Non-Lethal Deterrents You Can Use Without a Permit

You do not need any authorization to make your property less attractive to geese, as long as your methods do not injure the birds. These work best before a flock settles in, since nesting geese become far more stubborn.

Visual and auditory scare devices such as mylar tape, eyespot balloons, air horns, and propane cannons. Rotate them, because geese habituate quickly to anything stationary.
Trained herding dogs, particularly border collies, which chase geese without making contact. Repeated harassment convinces a flock to relocate.
Fencing at least 30 inches tall along the waterline, which blocks flightless molting geese from walking onto the lawn. Welded-wire mesh, snow fencing, or two strands of monofilament line staked at 6 and 12 inches can work on smaller areas, but the barrier has to fully enclose the site.
Landscaping changes. Geese prefer short, open grass where they can feed and watch for predators, so dense native shrubs and tall grasses along the shoreline remove both the food and the sight lines.

Water spray devices, remote-controlled boats, and grape-based taste repellents applied to turf are all legal. The line is between making geese uncomfortable and hurting them.

Nuisance Permits for Nests, Eggs, and Relocation

When deterrents are not enough, Michigan offers a permit system that goes beyond what hunting seasons allow. There are two main options, each with deadlines and reporting requirements.

Nest and Egg Destruction

This is the more common permit. The DNR authorizes property owners to destroy nests and oil eggs with 100 percent food-grade corn oil, which prevents embryo development without the need to remove eggs from the nest.⁴ Applications should be postmarked by March 9 and go to the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services office in Okemos. There is no fee for eligible participants, but a representative from each new site must complete DNR-sponsored training before a permit is issued. Lakefront communities must submit either a resolution from a local government official or a petition signed by at least 70 percent of shoreline property owners.

Separately, federal regulations at 50 CFR 21.162 provide a direct registration pathway. Landowners, homeowners’ associations, and local governments can register online with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to destroy resident Canada goose nests and eggs when necessary to prevent injury to people, property, or agricultural crops.⁵ Registrants are expected to try non-lethal management first. Approved methods are egg oiling with corn oil and physical removal of eggs and nest material.

Capture, Transport, and Relocation

Relocation is a last resort, available only to sites that have already participated in the nest and egg destruction program. Applications are due by May 15 and require a Cooperative Service Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. Fees are $100 for single-family residences and $200 for other applicants.⁴ Roundups happen during the summer molt, when geese are flightless. All permit holders submit activity reports to USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services after the season ends.

Hunting Canada Geese Legally

Michigan runs a regulated Canada goose hunting season. The state is divided into multiple waterfowl zones with different season dates, some of them split with closed periods in between. For 2026, seasons open September 1, and parts of the South Zone and certain goose management units run into late January or February.⁶ Check the exact dates for your zone before heading out.

The daily bag limit for dark geese (Canada geese, white-fronted geese, and brant combined) is five, with no more than one brant.⁶

To hunt Canada geese legally in Michigan, you need four things:

A Michigan base hunting license.
A Michigan waterfowl hunting license.
A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (the “duck stamp”), which costs $25 and is valid through June 30, 2026.⁷
A Harvest Information Program (HIP) endorsement, included automatically when you buy your Michigan waterfowl license and required to be carried while hunting.⁶

Penalties for Violations

Illegally killing or possessing waterfowl in Michigan is a misdemeanor. A first offense carries a fine of $250 to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, plus prosecution costs. A second or subsequent waterfowl violation sets the fine at $500 with the same potential jail time.⁸ These apply to violations of Part 401 or any order issued under it, which covers season dates, bag limits, and permit conditions.

Federal penalties under the MBTA run higher. A standard misdemeanor violation carries a fine of up to $15,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Knowingly killing or selling a migratory bird escalates to a felony with a fine of up to $2,000 and up to two years in prison.⁹ A person who shoots a goose out of frustration over lawn damage can face a state misdemeanor and a separate federal prosecution. Most individual enforcement goes through state charges, but the federal option is used for flagrant or repeated violations.

What to Do With a Sick or Injured Goose

Federal regulations at 50 CFR 21.31(a) include a “Good Samaritan” provision that lets you pick up a visibly injured or ill Canada goose for the sole purpose of transporting it immediately to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.¹⁰ You cannot keep the bird at home, treat it yourself, or hold it overnight. The authorization covers only the direct trip to a permitted facility.

If the injuries look like they came from poisoning, a gunshot, or electrocution, you are required to notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. The DNR maintains a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators on its website, and calling one before trying to handle a large, stressed bird is usually the safer move.

1
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 703 – Taking, Killing, or Possessing Migratory Birds Unlawful
3
Michigan Legislature. Senate Bill 965 – Canada Geese: Expand Open Season
4
Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Canada Goose Permit Information
5
eCFR. 50 CFR 21.162 – Depredation Order for Resident Canada Geese Nests and Eggs
6
Department of Natural Resources. 2026 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary
7
United States Postal Service. Spectacled Eiders 2025-2026 Federal Duck Stamp Souvenir Sheet
8
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.40118 – Violation as Misdemeanor; Penalty; Additional Penalties
9
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 707 – Violations and Penalties
10
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Frequently Asked Questions About a Federal Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Permit