There are ample opportunities to head into the field this month to enjoy the crisp air and fall foliage while taking part in Michigan's time-honored hunting tradition.

Small game hunting

Grab your base license and head out for some small game hunting! Season dates, bag limits and small game hunting regulations are available in mobile-friendly and desktop PDF versions and at Michigan.gov/SmallGame.

Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare: Sept. 15 - Mar. 31.
Fox squirrels and gray squirrels (black phase included): Sept. 15 - Mar. 31.
Quail: Oct. 20 - Nov. 14.
Ruffed grouse: Sept. 15 - Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1.
Sharp-tailed grouse: Oct. 10-31, select portions of Zone 1. See regulations summary for sharptailed grouse unit boundaries.
Woodcock: Sept. 15 - Oct. 29.
- All woodcock hunters need a free woodcock stamp, which includes registration with the federal Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP).
Pheasant (male only):
- Zone 1: Oct. 10-31 (see Small Game Hunting Regulations Summary for map of open portions).
- Zone 2: Oct. 20 - Nov. 14.
- Zone 3: Oct. 20 - Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1.
- A $25 pheasant license is required for all hunters 18 and older to hunt pheasants on any public land in the Lower Peninsula or on lands enrolled in the Hunting Access Program. See the 2026 Small Game Hunting Regulations Summary for exceptions.
- Pheasant releases: This year, pheasants will be released on 13 state game and wildlife areas throughout southern Michigan. Releases will occur Oct. 20 - Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 - Jan 1.

Waterfowl hunting

Several duck and goose seasons are open or opening this month, along with seasons for other migratory birds, including common gallinule, Virginia rail, sora and Wilson’s snipe. Visit one of Michigan's Wetland Wonders for exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Waterfowl hunting information is available in the mobile friendly and desktop PDF versions of the Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.

North Zone

Coot, duck and merganser: Sept. 26 - Nov. 22 and Nov. 28-29.
Goose season open through Dec. 16.

Middle Zone

Coot, duck and merganser: Oct. 3 - Nov. 29 and Dec. 12-13.
Goose: Oct. 3 - Dec. 18.

South Zone

Coot, duck and merganser: Oct. 17 - Dec. 13 and Dec. 26-27.
Goose: Oct. 17 - Dec. 13, Dec. 26 - Jan. 3 and Feb. 6-15.

Allegan County GMU

Goose: Oct. 17 - Nov. 4 and Dec. 19 - Feb. 14.

Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU

Goose: Oct. 20 - Dec. 19.

Deer hunting

Deer hunting season dates, regulations and more are available in the mobile friendly and desktop PDF versions of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Deer.

Archery deer: Oct. 1 - Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1

Statewide on public or private lands.
Archery deer hunters in the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula have the option to harvest antlerless deer with their deer or deer combo license.
Antlerless deer hunting access permits: Deer management units 351 and 352 have been rescinded and the Upper Peninsula antlerless access permit drawing has been eliminated.
Universal antlerless deer license use limits: Use limits have been implemented by DMUs in the Upper Peninsula and by counties in the Lower Peninsula.
Check the 2026 Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for deer hunting regulations, including information on the types of deer that may be harvested in each season and any antler point restrictions that may be in place.

Independence Hunt: Oct. 15-18

Open to hunters with qualifying disabilities.
Statewide on private lands and some public lands requiring an access permit.

Important! Report your deer harvest online

Report your deer within 72 hours of harvest or before you transfer possession. The easiest way to report a harvest is by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

Once the app is downloaded and you’ve signed in or created an account, you can enter the harvest report information.

The harvest reporting webpage includes more information about how to use the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app or other options for reporting your deer harvest online. If you need assistance, you can call your local DNR customer service center or the main Wildlife Division line at 517-284-WILD (9453) during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Wildlife disease monitoring

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD)

So far in 2026, EHD has been confirmed in deer from Allegan, Branch, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Montcalm, Oakland, Oceana, Saginaw and Washtenaw counties. The viral disease is spread by biting midges and typically occurs in late summer and early fall. Healthy deer harvested in affected areas are safe to eat.

You can report suspected sick or dead deer through the DNR’s Eyes in the Fieldsystem. The DNR must collect a sample within 16 hours of a deer's death to confirm EHD. We are working diligently to collect and test EHD suspects in unconfirmed counties. Additional county confirmations are posted on the EHD webpage as they are received.

Once confirmed in a county, it is not necessary to continue testing for the virus, but we do encourage you to continue reporting suspected cases online to track the full extent of the outbreak. Carcasses can be left to decompose naturally, be buried, or be removed and disposed of in an approved landfill.

Although EHD outbreaks have not been shown to have a significant long-term effect on deer populations in Michigan, deer mortality can be intense in small geographic areas and local impact may persist for a few years.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB)

The DNR asks hunters who have harvested deer from the following counties to submit deer heads for bovine TB testing: Alcona, Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon. Deer can also be submitted for TB testing from anywhere in the state at the hunter’s request.

Bovine TB is a serious bacterial disease that is present in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population in specific areas of northeastern lower Michigan. The disease can be transmitted between deer and cattle, and can affect all mammals, including humans. Deer head submission by hunters is critical for meeting testing goals and protecting both Michigan’s deer herd and cattle farms.

Find locations of drop boxes, staffed sample submission sites, and cooperating game processors on the disease sample submission webpage. Results are posted to the DNR lab results webpage. All successful hunters must complete a deer harvest report before submitting a deer for disease testing.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD)

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has been detected in wild white-tailed deer in the following Michigan counties: Allegan, Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.

In 2026, the DNR is conducting focused testing in Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties. CWD testing is free for deer harvested in these counties when submitted through DNR drop boxes and staffed sample submission sites. All heads tested for CWD are also screened for bovine tuberculosis. Hunters outside of these counties and the TB surveillance counties should utilize the free self-sample kits to obtain CWD testing. Visit the CWD testing webpage for more information.

Fur harvesting

Fur harvesting regulations, bag limits and season dates are available in the mobile friendly and desktop PDF versions of the Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Trapping.

Reminder: Bobcat kill tags are only available through Oct. 31.

Hunting seasons

Coyote and fox (gray and red) hunting: Oct 15 - March 1.
Raccoon hunting: Oct. 1 - March. 31.

Trapping seasons

Coyote and fox (gray and red) trapping: Oct. 15 - March 1.
Raccoon trapping: Oct. 1 - March 31.
Muskrat trapping: Muskrat trapping season has changed. Dates in printed hunting regulations summary are incorrect.
- Zone 1: Oct. 25 - Apr. 23.
- Zone 2: Nov. 1 - Apr. 23.
- Zone 3: Nov. 10 - Apr. 23.
Badger, beaver, muskrat, mink and otter trapping opportunities are open in October for some areas. See the Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary for open units, season dates and bag limits.

Fall turkey hunting

Fall turkey hunting is open through Nov. 14.

Starting this year, all harvested turkeys must be reported through the DNR’s website or mobile app. The successful harvest must be reported within 72 hours of the take or before you transfer possession of the turkey, whichever comes first.

Mandatory harvest reporting gives the DNR a clearer picture of turkey harvest across the state, helps ensure sustainable turkey populations and allows hunters to see near real-time harvest information as the season progresses.

Check out which hunt units have leftover licenses. Buy your turkey license over the counter at a DNR license retailer, online at Michigan.gov/Turkey or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

You can buy one fall turkey license per season.

Find season regulations in the mobile friendly and desktop PDF versions of the Fall Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary, available at Michigan.gov/Turkey.

Hunter appreciation events

Join us for hunter appreciation events at more than 20 locations across the state:

Monday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Looking ahead to November, the DNR Wildlife Division invites hunters to our final hunter appreciation events of the season. Stop by for giveaways, refreshments, deer aging opportunities and more. Find additional information and a complete list of event locations.

We hope to see you there!

October Hunting and Trapping Opportunities