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Fox and Gray Squirrel Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Fox and gray squirrels are open statewide Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027, and a private-land management season fills the rest of the year, Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026. In one place: the squirrel calendar, limits, licenses, legal weapons and public land.
Photo: grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The daily bag is five fox and gray squirrels, black phase included, possession 10. The management season is hunting only on private land, private land only. Dogs may not be used April 16-July 7. Firearm, bow, crossbow and falconry are legal in the regular season.
Fox and Gray Squirrel in the DNR summary
- Dates and gear: Sept. 15-March 31; private-land management season April 1-Sept. 14.
- What you may keep: 5/day, 10 possession.
- Keep in mind: Black phase included.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Fox and Gray Squirrel calendar, 2026-27
2 dated rows for fox and gray squirrels from the DNR 2026 summaries; the strip lays them on one axis and the table adds the unit, method and a live status.
| Season | Area | How | From | Through | Days | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management season (private land only) | Statewide | Hunting only; no dogs April 16-July 7 | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | 167 | |
| Regular | Statewide | Firearm, bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 198 |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary, checked October 22, 2026.
Fox and Gray Squirrel take and what to buy
Bag limits first, then the paperwork for fox and gray squirrels.
Squirrel (fox, gray, black phase included)
Daily 5; possession 10
Paperwork for fox and gray squirrels
| What to buy | Resident | Senior | Youth | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base license | $11 | $5 | $6 | $151 |
| Small game 3-day nonresident license | – | – | – | $50 |
| Small game 7-day nonresident license | – | – | – | $80 |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
Legal requirements for fox and gray squirrels
The squirrel rules below cover what happens before and after the shot.
Check it in
Reporting rules do not name fox and gray squirrels.
Daily hours
For fox and gray squirrels, legal time starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset.
Hunter orange
The orange law covers fox and gray squirrels from mid-August to the end of April, daylight hours only, and orange camouflage qualifies at 50% orange.
Sunday status
Sundays are legal for fox and gray squirrels. The deer summary notes posted township restrictions in 24 counties, which apply to all hunting there.
Management season
Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026: Hunting only; no dogs April 16-July 7. Private land only.
Legal light for the squirrel dates
| Day | Opener or close | In A | In B | In C | In D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | Regular opens | 6:42 a.m. to 8:12 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summaries: harvest reporting, MCL 324.40116 hunter orange, baiting, hunting hours tables, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours by zone · Michigan hunting laws.
Harvest leaders and public ground for fox and gray squirrels
Fox and gray squirrels are rarely named alone in the land records, so the 11 with small game or the species itself are shown.
| Property | Type | Counties | Size, acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Forest System | State Forest | Alcona, Alger, Alpena… | 3,954,811 |
| Ottawa National Forest | National Forest | Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton… | 1,000,750 |
| Huron-Manistee National Forest | National Forest | Alcona, Crawford, Iosco… | 979,067 |
| Hiawatha National Forest | National Forest | Alger, Chippewa, Delta… | 899,499 |
| Hunting Access Program | Hunting Access Program | Alcona, Alpena, Arenac… | 20,076 |
| Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (11,182 acres) | Managed waterfowl area | Muskegon | 11,182 |
| Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Saginaw | 10,000 |
| Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area (6,684 acres) | Federal WMA | Ogemaw, Clare, Oscoda… | 6,684 |
| Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (6,200 acres) | National Wildlife Refuge | Wayne, Monroe | 6,200 |
| Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge (720 acres) | National Wildlife Refuge | Chippewa | 720 |
| Michigan Wetland Management District | Wetland Management District | Jackson, Barry, Van Buren… | 629 |
Properties and their game lists from DNR, USFS, FWS and NPS pages and the DNR land layers, retrieved 2026-10-22. Michigan public land directory · County guides.
Fox and Gray Squirrel: weapon rows and method rules
Read the weapon rows with the season table: the legal method depends on the segment.
| Season | Legal weapons | Off limits |
|---|---|---|
| Pistol carry | CPL holders (or those exempt) may carry a loaded pistol while hunting; does not authorize taking game except as provided by law. | Carrying a firearm, bow or crossbow in areas frequented by wild animals without the required license (MCL 324.43510(1)). |
Fox and Gray Squirrel: what the method rules say
Safety zones
No hunting with a firearm within 150 yards (450 ft) of an occupied building, dwelling, cabin or farm building without written permission of the owner/occupant.
Hunting in Michigan state parks and recreation areas
State parks closed to hunting unless opened by law; recreation areas open unless closed (about 92% of land open); no centerfire rifle/pistol at night; target shooting only at designated ranges; Recreation Passport for vehicle entry.
Trespass (Recreational Trespass Act)
Written or verbal permission required to hunt farmland, connected woodlots and fenced or posted property (MCL 324.73102); posting signs at least 50 sq. in. with 1-in. letters; may enter on foot without a firearm to retrieve a hunting dog unless told not to; no right to follow wounded game onto private land without permission. Owners may sue for $750 or actual damages (MCL 324.73109).
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
Fox and Gray Squirrel questions, answered from the summaries
When is squirrel season in Michigan?
Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 statewide. A private-land management season runs Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026.
Can landowners take fox and gray squirrels doing damage?
Cottontails, fox and gray squirrels, red and ground squirrels and woodchucks may be taken without a license on private property when doing or about to do damage (WCO 5.56).
Is there public land open for fox and gray squirrels?
The land records name fox and gray squirrels on 11 properties; Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest are the biggest. The land records often file this animal under a group heading.
What paperwork covers fox and gray squirrels in Michigan?
Squirrel hunters need (resident price): Base license ($11).
Is hunter orange required for fox and gray squirrels in Michigan?
The orange law covers fox and gray squirrels from mid-August to the end of April, daylight hours only, and orange camouflage qualifies at 50% orange.
What hours does the DNR table give for fox and gray squirrels?
For fox and gray squirrels, legal time starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset.
Is Sunday a legal day for fox and gray squirrels?
Sundays are legal for fox and gray squirrels. The deer summary notes posted township restrictions in 24 counties, which apply to all hunting there.
Must fox and gray squirrels be reported or sealed?
Reporting rules do not name fox and gray squirrels.
What bag limit does Michigan put on fox and gray squirrels?
Daily 5; possession 10.
How long is the Michigan squirrel season in 2026-27?
The squirrel dates are management season (private land only) Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026; regular Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027.
Before the squirrel trip
The DNR summaries and the Wildlife Conservation Order are the final word on fox and gray squirrels; this page was checked against them on October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: LandBetweentheLakesKYTN (Public Domain Mark 1.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); ShebleyCL (CC BY 2.0); alexfiles (CC BY-SA 2.0).