(WWJ) Fall hunting season is officially underway across Michigan on Tuesday, opening the door for hunters targeting turkey along with several popular small game species.
Starting Sept. 15, hunters can head into the field for cottontail rabbit, ruffed grouse, squirrels, and woodcock, alongside the opening of the state's fall turkey season.
New mandatory reporting for turkey hunters
Turkey hunters face a key rule change this year: the Michigan Department of Natural Resources now requires all harvested turkeys to be reported online or through the DNR mobile app.
Successful hunters must report their harvest within 72 hours of the take or before transferring possession of the bird, whichever happens first. DNR officials say mandatory reporting provides clearer harvest data, supports long-term population sustainability, and gives hunters access to near-real-time harvest stats throughout the season.
Fall turkey season details
- Dates: Sept. 15 – Nov. 14 (Statewide)
- Requirements: Annual base license plus a fall turkey license.
- Bag Limit: One turkey of any sex (bearded or beardless).
- Upper Peninsula (Unit M): Capped at a quota of 2,200 licenses, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Covers the entire U.P. except Isle Royale.
- Lower Peninsula (Unit I): No license quota. Covers the entire Lower Peninsula except Monroe County, where fall turkey hunting is closed.
Small game seasons open Sept. 15
The DNR reminds Michiganders that a standard base license is required for all small game hunting, including on private farmland.
Tuesday marks the opening day for several key species:
- Ruffed Grouse: Sept. 15 – Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 – Jan. 1
- Woodcock: Sept. 15 – Oct. 29
- Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, & Gray/Fox Squirrel: Sept. 15 – March 31
Other small game seasons—including sharp-tailed grouse and ring-necked pheasant—will open later this fall. Woodchucks, red squirrels, and ground squirrels remain open to hunting statewide year-round.
Complete bag limits, hunting zones, and full regulatory guides are available in the DNR's 2026 hunting regulation summaries online.
