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American Woodcock Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Woodcock season runs Sep 15 to Oct 29, 2026 statewide, three birds a day and nine in possession. In one place: the woodcock calendar, limits, licenses, legal weapons and public land.
Photo: acryptozoo (CC BY 2.0)
Every woodcock hunter needs the free woodcock stamp and the HIP endorsement with the base license. Only shotguns and falconry are legal, and the hunting day is sunrise to sunset, not the half hour before. Woodcock are the one migratory bird for which hunter orange is required.
American Woodcock in the DNR summary
- Dates and gear: Sept. 15-Oct. 29.
- What you may keep: 3/day, 9 possession.
- Keep in mind: Free woodcock stamp and HIP.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
American Woodcock calendar, 2026-27
1 dated row for woodcock 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Statewide | Shotgun, falconry | Sep 15, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 | 45 |
American Woodcock: notes by row
- 3/day, 9 possession; free woodcock stamp and HIP required.
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary, checked October 22, 2026.
American Woodcock take and what to buy
Bag limits first, then the paperwork for woodcock.
Woodcock
Daily 3; possession 9
Paperwork for woodcock
| 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 |
| Woodcock stamp | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Harvest Information Program endorsement | Free | Free | Free | Free |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
Legal requirements for woodcock
The woodcock rules below cover what happens before and after the shot.
Check it in
Woodcock need HIP, not a harvest report.
Daily hours
WCO 2.5 sets sunrise to sunset for woodcock.
Hunter orange
The orange law covers woodcock from mid-August to the end of April, daylight hours only, and orange camouflage qualifies at 50% orange. Migratory birds are exempt, except woodcock.
Hunting over bait
No feed may draw woodcock; wait 10 days after any bait is cleared.
Sunday status
Sundays are legal for woodcock. The deer summary notes posted township restrictions in 24 counties, which apply to all hunting there.
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 woodcock
26 properties list woodcock, from Michigan State Forest System down.
| 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 |
| Seney National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Schoolcraft | 95,238 |
| Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore | National Lakeshore | Alger | 73,235 |
| Lame Duck Grouse Enhanced Management Site (11,369 acres) | GEMS | Gladwin, Arenac | 11,369 |
| Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Saginaw | 10,000 |
| Blue Bill Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (9,491 acres) | GEMS | Gogebic | 9,491 |
| Bill Rollo Memorial Grouse Enhanced Management Site (6,874 acres) | GEMS | Marquette | 6,874 |
| Garden Grade Grouse Enhanced Management Site (6,403 acres) | GEMS | Delta, Schoolcraft | 6,403 |
| Ralph Grouse Enhanced Management Site (5,290 acres) | GEMS | Dickinson | 5,290 |
| Norwich Grouse Enhanced Management Site (4,400 acres) | GEMS | Ontonagon | 4,400 |
| Backus Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (4,339 acres) | GEMS | Roscommon | 4,339 |
| Little Betsie River Grouse Enhanced Management Site (4,183 acres) | GEMS | Benzie | 4,183 |
The rest of the woodcock list
Mark Knee Memorial Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Cedar Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Drummond Island Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Halifax Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Lee Grand Ranch Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Hazel Swamp Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Strickler Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Melstrand Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Mosinee Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site · Gold Mine Grouse Enhanced Management Site
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.
American Woodcock: 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)). |
American Woodcock: what the method rules say
Afield outside hunting hours
Firearms unloaded in the barrel and arrows in a quiver (WCO 2.5(7)); may load only at the point of kill of a downed big-game animal.
Commercial Forest lands
Foot access for hunting/trapping; no permanent stands or blinds, tree steps, nails or cutting; motor vehicles at owner discretion.
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
American Woodcock questions, answered from the summaries
Do I need a woodcock stamp in Michigan?
Yes. The woodcock stamp is free, and HIP is required too.
What are woodcock shooting hours?
Sunrise to sunset (WCO 2.5).
Do woodcock hunters wear hunter orange?
Yes. Migratory bird hunters are exempt from hunter orange except woodcock hunters.
What does Michigan law say about bait and woodcock?
No feed may draw woodcock; wait 10 days after any bait is cleared.
Is hunter orange required for woodcock in Michigan?
The orange law covers woodcock from mid-August to the end of April, daylight hours only, and orange camouflage qualifies at 50% orange. Migratory birds are exempt, except woodcock.
Is Sunday a legal day for woodcock?
Sundays are legal for woodcock. The deer summary notes posted township restrictions in 24 counties, which apply to all hunting there.
Must woodcock be reported or sealed?
Woodcock need HIP, not a harvest report.
What bag limit does Michigan put on woodcock?
Daily 3; possession 9.
How long is the Michigan woodcock season in 2026-27?
The woodcock dates are fall Sep 15 to Oct 29, 2026.
Is there public land open for woodcock?
The land records name woodcock on 26 properties; Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest are the biggest.
What paperwork covers woodcock in Michigan?
Woodcock hunters need (resident price): Base license ($11); Woodcock stamp (Free); Harvest Information Program endorsement (Free).
What hours does the DNR table give for woodcock?
WCO 2.5 sets sunrise to sunset for woodcock.
Before the woodcock trip
The DNR summaries and the Wildlife Conservation Order are the final word on woodcock; this page was checked against them on October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: robin_ottawa (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); David A Mitchell (CC BY 2.0).