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Waterfowl

Season information

Reserved waterfowl hunt application period: Aug. 1-28
Drawing results available online: Sept. 15

License requirements to hunt waterfowl:

  • Base license.
  • Waterfowl hunting license.
  • Federal migratory bird hunting stamp (duck stamp).
  • HIP endorsement (included automatically with purchase of the waterfowl hunting license).
Buy an application, license, duck stamp or check drawing results online

2025 waterfowl hunting season dates


Common gallinule
Statewide
Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Coot
North Zone
Sept. 27 – Nov. 23 and Nov. 29–30
Coot
Middle Zone
Oct. 4 – Nov. 30 and Dec. 13–14
Coot
South Zone
Oct. 18 – Dec. 14 and Dec. 27–28
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
North Zone
Sept. 1 – Dec. 16
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
Middle Zone
Sept. 1–30 and Oct. 4 – Dec. 19
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
South Zone
Sept. 1–30, Oct. 18 – Dec. 14, Dec. 27 – Jan. 4 and Jan. 31 – Feb. 9
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
Allegan County GMU
Sept. 1–30, Oct. 18 – Nov. 5 and Dec. 20 – Feb. 15
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU
Oct. 21 – Dec. 20
Duck

North Zone
Sept. 27 – Nov. 23 and Nov. 29–30
Duck
Middle Zone
Oct. 4 – Nov. 30 and Dec. 13–14
Duck
South Zone
Oct. 18 – Dec. 14 and Dec. 27–28
Early teal
Statewide
Sept. 1–9
Light goose (snow, blue and Ross’s)
North Zone
Sept. 1 – Dec. 16
Light goose (snow, blue and Ross’s)
Middle Zone
Sept. 1–30 and Oct. 4 – Dec. 19
Light goose (snow, blue and Ross’s)
South Zone
Sept. 1–30, Oct. 18 – Dec. 14, Dec. 27 – Jan. 4 and Jan. 31 – Feb. 9
Light goose (snow, blue and Ross’s)
Allegan County GMU
Sept. 1–30, Oct. 18 – Nov. 5 and Dec. 20 – Feb. 15
Light goose (snow, blue and Ross’s)

Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU
Oct. 21 – Dec. 20
Merganser
North Zone
Sept. 27 – Nov. 23 and Nov. 29–30
Merganser
Middle Zone
Oct. 4 – Nov. 30 and Dec. 13–14
Merganser
South Zone
Oct. 18 – Dec. 14 and Dec. 27–28
Veterans and Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days
Statewide
Sept. 20–21
Virginia rail and sora rail
Statewide
Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Wilson’s snipe
Statewide
Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend
Statewide
Sept. 20–21

Hunting regulations

Read more about the complex process of how waterfowl regulations are set.

A promotional poster for the hunt fish app with a nature scene.

Hunt fish app

Download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app today! With it, you can store and access regulations, report your harvests, purchase applications, licenses and permits, check drawing results and much more.

Wildlife Conservation Order Thumbnail

Wildlife conservation order

The Waterfowl hunting regulations are a condensed summary of the full regulations and legal descriptions found in this wildlife conservation order, issued by the Natural Resources Commission.

Species information

An American coot floating in the water.
A pair of Canada geese
A common moorhen in the water.
American wigeon on the water.
Ross's goose on the water.
A Virginia rail in the water.
Two Wilson's snipe in a wetland along the shore.