Small Game Season in Michigan: Dates, Licenses, and Bag Limits

The Michigan small game season opens September 15 for most species, when hunters can begin pursuing cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, fox and gray squirrel, ruffed grouse, and woodcock across the state. Rabbits and squirrels stay open all the way through March 31. Bird seasons are shorter and vary by zone, and pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse don’t open until October. Dates can shift slightly from year to year, so confirm the current calendar before you head out.

Season Dates by Species

The dates below reflect the most recently published Michigan DNR calendar. Most have held steady for years, but the DNR can adjust them annually.

Michigan’s official small game list also includes red squirrel and woodchuck, both covered by the base license. Cottontail rabbits, all three squirrel species, and woodchucks can also be taken year-round on private property, without a license, if the animals are actively causing or about to cause property damage. The exception applies only on private land and only using legal methods for the species.3State of Michigan. 2025 Small Game Hunting Regulations Summary

Two common assumptions to clear up. Coyote, fox, raccoon, and bobcat are furbearers, not small game, and run on their own seasons and rules. Mourning doves are not a legal game species in Michigan at all, even though they are huntable in many other states.

How Pheasant Zones Work

Pheasant hunting splits into three zones with staggered dates. Zone 1 covers only a small portion of the Upper Peninsula, including all of Menominee County and parts of Delta, Dickinson, Iron, and Marquette counties. The rest of the UP is closed to pheasant hunting. Zone 2 covers the northern Lower Peninsula and Zone 3 the southern Lower Peninsula. The December pheasant management unit overlaps with all of Zone 3, giving southern Michigan hunters an additional month.3State of Michigan. 2025 Small Game Hunting Regulations Summary

Only male pheasants are legal in any zone. If you plan to hunt pheasants on public land in the Lower Peninsula or on land enrolled in the Hunting Access Program, you need a $25 pheasant license on top of your base license. The pheasant license is not required on private land, on public land in the Upper Peninsula, on a game bird hunting preserve, or for hunters 17 or younger. Lifetime license holders are also exempt.4State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Pheasant Release Info

The DNR stocks pheasants at about a dozen release areas during the regular season, including Dansville, Lapeer, Rose Lake, and Pt. Mouillee. These draw heavy pressure on opening weekend.4State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Pheasant Release Info

Licenses and Stamps You Need

Every Michigan hunter, resident or nonresident, needs a base license. It covers all small game species. You can buy it online through the DNR’s eLicense system or in person at authorized retailers such as sporting goods stores and bait shops. Save the PDF if you buy online so you can reprint it.5State of Michigan. Fishing and Hunting License Information

Certain species trigger extra requirements beyond the base license:

If you were born on or after January 1, 1960, you must complete an approved hunter safety course before you can buy a base license. The only workaround is the apprentice license, which lets a new hunter skip hunter education temporarily while hunting with a qualified adult mentor.6Department of Natural Resources. Recreational Safety and Hunter Education7Michigan Legislature. MCL 324-43520 – Hunting License Issuance, Apprentice License, Mentored Hunting License

Bag Limits, Shooting Hours, and Hunter Orange

Most small game species carry daily bag and possession limits. Cottontail rabbits and squirrels have a daily bag limit of five and a possession limit of ten. Limits for pheasant, grouse, and other birds vary and are listed in the DNR’s annual small game regulations summary. Keep a running count in the field; exceeding a limit is one of the easier violations to commit on a good day.

Legal shooting hours for small game run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Between August 15 and April 30, you must wear hunter orange as your outermost layer, visible from all sides, during those daylight hours. A cap, hat, vest, jacket, or rain gear qualifies. Camouflage patterns are fine if at least 50% of the garment is hunter orange.8Michigan Legislature. MCL 324-40116 – Hunter Orange Requirements

Shotguns, rimfire rifles, and archery equipment are the standard legal methods for taking small game. Centerfire rifles face restrictions in certain areas, particularly the southern Lower Peninsula. If you hunt on a federal wildlife refuge in Michigan, non-toxic shot is required for upland game.9eCFR. 50 CFR 32-41 Michigan That rule is specific to federal refuges, not statewide.

Where You Can Hunt

Michigan has millions of acres of public land open to hunting, including state game areas, state forests, and federal lands. The DNR’s Mi-HUNT mapping tool lets you view open lands, overlay vegetation and topography, find parking areas and campgrounds, and print custom maps. It is free and online.10Michigan.org. Find the Perfect Fall Hunting Spot with DNR’s Interactive Online Mapping Tool

The Hunting Access Program opens enrolled private lands to the public under tighter rules. You must register at the property’s headquarters sign before each hunt (even just to scout), hunt only species listed for that property, and check prior registrations to make sure the hunter cap for the day has not been reached. Permanent tree stands, nails or screws in trees, and driving on HAP lands without landowner permission are all prohibited.11State of Michigan: Department of Natural Resources. Hunting Access Program

For private property that is not in HAP, you need the landowner’s consent. On farm property and connected wooded areas, consent is required regardless of whether the land is posted or fenced. On other private property, consent is required when the land is fenced to exclude intruders or posted with signs against entry. Posting signs must be at least 50 square inches with minimum 1-inch lettering, placed so at least one is visible at every entry point.12Michigan Legislature. MCL 324-73102 – Entering or Remaining on Property of Another, Consent, Exceptions

Penalties for Violations

Violating season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, or methods of take carries a fine of $50 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail. Illegal use of artificial light with a firearm or bow raises the floor to $100–$500, adds up to 90 days in jail, and triggers mandatory license revocation for the rest of the year plus the next full year.13State of Michigan / Department of Natural Resources. Mandatory Penalties for Certain Hunting Violations

Recreational trespass while hunting is a separate misdemeanor. A first offense carries a $100–$500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. If you kill protected animals or game while trespassing, the fine range jumps to $250–$750. A second offense within three years raises the fine to $500–$1,500, and the court can revoke your hunting license for up to three years. The property owner can also sue you separately for $750 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.14Michigan Legislature. Recreational Trespass Act – Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act