SMALL GAME HUNTING IN MICHIGAN (BASED ON 2005 DATA & REGULATIONS)

 

In Michigan a small game license entitles you to hunt rabbit, hare, squirrel, pheasant, mourning dove (with a Michigan dove stamp), ruffed grouse, woodcock, quail, woodchuck, crow, skunk, coyote (applies to Michigan residents only) and waterfowl (with a federal waterfowl stamp and Michigan waterfowl hunting license, if age 16 or older) during the open season (Michigan DNR).

 

The season and bag limit (the number you are allowed to hunt) for each animal varies.  

 

Rabbit: Statewide: September 15, 2004-March 31, 2005
Bag Limit: 5 per day, 10 combined possession

 

 

Squirrel: Dates: September 15, 2004-March 1, 2005
Bag Limit: 5 per day, 10 possession
Fox and gray squirrel (including black phase squirrels) may be taken statewide during the open season.

 

Pheasant: Males Only
Zone 1: October 10-31, 2004 (Zone 1 is open only in an area bordered by M-189 on the west and south of M-69 and US-2 from Iron River to Escanaba.)
Zones 2 & 3: October 20 - November 14, 2004
Zone 3: December 1, 2003 - January 1, 2005 (see additional information below)
Bag Limits:    2 per day, 4 possession

 

Mourning Dove: Dates: September 10-October 30, 2004
Bag Limits: 15 per day, 30 possession
Counties open to dove hunting include Berrien, Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties. All other counties are closed. Dove hunting is permitted in state parks and recreation areas in the above counties in designated areas open to hunting. Non-toxic shot is required on the Schoonover Waterfowl Production Area in Lenawee County.
NOTE: Dove hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

 

  

Ruffed grouse: Season Dates
Statewide: September 15-November 14, 2004 and December 1, 2004 - January 1, 2005
Bag Limits
Zones 1 & 2: 5 per day, 10 possession
Zone 3: 3 per day, 6 possession

 

 

 

Woodcock: Statewide
Dates: September 25-November 8, 2004
Bag Limits: 3 per day, 6 possession
Shotguns must be plugged so they are capable of holding no more than three shells. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required to hunt woodcock. Dickinson Woodcock Research Unit is closed to hunting of woodcock (see below).
NOTE: Woodcock hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

 

Quail: Dates: October 20-November 14, 2004
Bag Limits: 5 per day, 10 possession
Quail can be hunted only in Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Montcalm, Oakland, Saginaw, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. All other counties are closed to quail hunting.

 

 

Woodchuck: NO CLOSED SEASON
Woodchuck may be taken year-round with a valid hunting license. Exception: All state parks and recreation areas are closed to hunting from April 1 through September 14.

 

Crow: Zone 1: August 1 - September 30, 2004
Zone 2 & 3: August 1 - September 30, 2004 and February 1 - March 31, 2005

 

  

Skunk: NO CLOSED SEASON
Skunk may be taken year-round with a valid hunting license. Exception: All state parks and recreation areas are closed to hunting from April 1 through September 14.

 

 

Coyote: Fox & Coyote Trapping
Statewide: October 15, 2004 - March 1, 2005
Gray & Red Fox Hunting
Statewide: October 15, 2004 - March 1, 2005
Coyote Hunting
Statewide: July 15, 2004-April 15, 2005
(Closed in Zone 1 during the firearm deer season)

Notes:

 

Waterfowl: North Zone
Regular Season: September 25-November 21, 2004 and November 27-28, 2004
Pintail Season: September 25-October 24, 2004
Canvasback Season: October 25-November 21, 2004 and November 27-28, 2004
Bag Limits: 6 daily (in combination), 12 possession

Middle Zone
Regular Season: October 2-November 28, 2004 and January 1-2, 2005
Pintail Season: October 2-31, 2004
Canvasback Season: November 1-28, 2004 and January 1-2, 2005
Bag Limits: 6 daily (in combination), 12 possession

South Zone
Regular Season: October 9-December 5, 2004 and January 1-2, 2005
Pintail Season: October 9-November 7, 2004
Canvasback Season: November 8-December 5, 2004 and January 1-2, 2005
Bag Limits: 6 daily (in combination), 12 possession

Daily Limit for Ducks and Mergansers

There are daily limit restrictions on some species that are heavily harvested (e.g., mallards) or whose populations have demonstrated long-term decline (e.g., pintails and scaup).

The daily limit for ducks is 6 and may include no more than 4 mallards (no more than 1 of which may be a female), 3 scaup, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 canvasback (only during open season), 1 pintail (only during open season), and 1 black duck. In addition to the duck limit, hunters may take 5 mergansers, only 1 of which may be a hooded merganser. The possession limit is twice the daily limit for ducks and mergansers.

-Info on seasons and bag limits from (2004-2005 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Guide, p.24-25)

 

Small Game Licenses can be purchased through the DNR or at leading retail stores, like Meijer.  This is what a small game hunting license looks like:

License
Number

 License Type

Minimum
Age

Fee

Valid through March 31, 2006 except 3 day licenses

130

Resident Small Game*

17

$15.00

131

Senior Small Game (residents only)

65

$6.00

132

Junior Small Game

12-16

$1.00

133

Nonresident Small Game*

17

$69.00

134

3-Day Nonresident Small Game

17

$30.00

239

Mourning Dove Stamp

 

$2.00

 

*Residents and nonresidents under age 17 may purchase the junior license at reduced price.

There are certain zones that you are allowed to hunt in.  Michigan is divided into Zones 1-2-3.  Zone 1 includes all of the Upper Peninsula. The dividing line between Zones 2 and 3 is: From the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Muskegon Lake easterly on Memorial Drive to Ruddiman Drive to Lake Avenue, easterly on Lake Avenue to M-120 in North Muskegon, northeasterly on M-120 to M-20, easterly on M-20 to US-10, easterly on US-10 to Garfield Road in Bay county, northerly on Garfield Road to Pinconning Road, easterly on Pinconning Road to Seven Mile Road, northerly on Seven Mile Road to Lincoln School Road (County Road 25) in Arenac County, northerly on Lincoln School Road to M-61, easterly on M-61 to US-23, easterly on US-23 to center line of AuGres River, southerly along center line of AuGres River to Saginaw Bay, easterly 90 degrees east for 7 miles into Saginaw Bay, then northerly 78 degrees east to the International Boundary (2004-2005 MI Hunting and Trapping guide, p.7).

This is a map of the zones of Michigan.

Remember:  If you want to go Small Game Hunting in Michigan it is important to take a hunter safety course, purchase a license, and follow all of the rules and regulations listed in the Hunting and Trapping Guide, provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  For a printable version of the 2004-2005 guide click on this link: project..michigan.gov/documents/04_hunt_trap_98042_7.pdf

REFERENCES

2004- 2005 Mighigan Hunting and Trapping Guide. Lansing: MDNR, 2004. 24-25.

2004- 2005 Mighigan Hunting and Trapping Guide. Lansing: MDNR, 2004. 7.

Michigan DNR. 2001. Department of Natural Resources. 25 Apr. 2005 <project..michigan.gov/dnr>.

 

Page created by Amy Birkmeier, a GEO 333 student

This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.