Porch Notes
Small game hunting in Michigan: what your base license already covers
Outdoors
statewide hunting small game dnr
Dates below follow the current season framework and shift slightly each year — confirm in the official DNR small game summary.
The short version
Small game is where most Michigan hunters started — a .22, a beagle, an October afternoon. Your base license alone covers all eleven small game species. A few birds need a free stamp or a special license, flagged below.
Seasons and limits (the framework)
| Species | Season | Daily limit | Extra requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit | Sept. 15 – Mar. 31 | 5 | — |
| Snowshoe hare | Sept. 15 – Mar. 31 | 5 | — |
| Squirrel (fox and gray, incl. black) | Sept. 15 – Mar. 31 | 5 | — |
| Ruffed grouse | Sept. 15 – Nov. 14, then Dec. 1 – Jan. 1 | varies by zone | — |
| Woodcock | mid-Sept. – late Oct. | 3 | Free woodcock stamp (includes HIP) |
| Pheasant (roosters only) | Oct.–Nov. by zone; Zone 3 late season Dec. 1 – Jan. 1 | 2 | $25 pheasant license for hunters 18+ on public land in the L.P. |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Oct. 10–31, eastern U.P. only | 2 | Free sharp-tailed grouse stamp |
| Bobwhite quail | fall season, southern Michigan | 5 | — |
| Crow | split seasons (late summer and winter) | — | — |
| Woodchuck / ground squirrel | year-round | — | — |
Quirks worth knowing
- The pheasant license funds habitat restoration, and the exemption map confuses everyone. The simple test: hunting pheasants on public land in the Lower Peninsula at age 18 or older? You need it. Private land, U.P. public land, and youth hunters are exempt.
- Sharp-tailed grouse exist huntably in exactly one corner of Michigan — the open lands of the eastern U.P. A bucket-list local oddity.
- Shotguns for migratory birds (woodcock, waterfowl) must be plugged to hold three shells max.
- Grouse and woodcock pause for the back half of November so the deer woods stay calm; grouse reopens December 1.
- Drummond Island is a cult-favorite grouse destination.
- Falconry is legal for most small game with a falconry license — yes, you can hunt rabbits with a hawk in Michigan.
The signpost
Rules change every year. The current small game summary and zone maps live at Michigan.gov/SmallGame.
New to hunting, or returning after years away? Start with Hunting in Michigan, explained and the rules of the woods.
Sources
Last reviewed against the listed sources: June 11, 2026.