Small game opener Sept. 15

Small game seasons open statewide Sept. 15 for the following species:

Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare
Fox and gray squirrel (black phase included)
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
- All woodcock hunters must get a free woodcock stamp, which includes registration with the federal Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP).

Season dates, bag limits and small game hunting regulations are available in the 2026 Michigan Hunting Regulations Summary and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame.

Waterfowl hunting

Waterfowl hunting kicks off this month. Visit one of Michigan's managed waterfowl hunt areas for exceptional opportunities at these annual stopovers for migratory birds.

Early teal season is Sept. 1-9.
Common gallinule, Virginia rail, sora rail and Wilson's snipe season opens Sept. 1.
Duck, coot and merganser season opens Sept. 26.
Goose season opens Sept. 1.
Goose season opens Sept. 1.

Waterfowl hunting information is available in the 2026 Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary and at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.

Deer hunting

Deer hunting begins with the Liberty Hunt and early antlerless firearm season.

Deer hunting season dates, regulations and more are available in the 2026 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Deer.

Statewide on public and private lands.
Liberty Hunt information begins on page 6 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.
Information for hunters with disabilities begins on page 7 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.
Antlerless deer only.
Open on public and private lands in Lower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 145 and 245).
See page 9 of the Hunting Regulations Summary.

You can purchase a license over the counter from any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or – new for deer this year – through the DNR Hunt Fish app. Hunters who purchase a deer license through the DNR Hunt Fish app will receive a digital eHarvest tag on their mobile device immediately.

Fall turkey hunting

Fall turkey hunting starts Sept. 15.

There is no longer a drawing for fall turkey licenses. You can purchase one fall turkey license per year, valid for one bird of either sex on public and private lands within the designated fall turkey management unit.

You can purchase a license over the counter from any license agent, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or through the DNR Hunt Fish app. Hunters who purchase a fall turkey license through the DNR Hunt Fish app will receive a digital eHarvest tag on their mobile device immediately.

Find more information at Michigan.gov/Turkey.

Hunting regulations and eHarvest tags on your phone

The free Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app offers a convenient way for hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts to:

Buy hunting and fishing licenses and trail permits (including for deer this year!).
Report deer or fish harvests.
Look up hunting and trapping regulations.
Find their license history, including point and chance balances.
Check out maps with multiple layers, showing features such as shooting ranges and boat launches.
Get timely notifications from the DNR.

The Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app is available:

On the App Store for Apple devices.
On the Google Play store for Android devices.

If you have any questions about the app, call the DNR licensing customer service staff at 517-284-6057 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tree stand safety reminders

September is National Tree Stand Safety Month, and it's the perfect time to brush up on what you need to know about hunting from a tree. A few things to remember:

Always maintain three points of contact (one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot) when climbing up to or down from the stand.
Wear a full-body harness that is properly attached above your head.
Ensure your tree stand is securely attached and stable before using it.
Use a haul line to get your hunting gear to and from the stand.