Small game hunting michigan 2013

Rabbit and squirrel are also abundant for those looking for small-game opportunities. Clear-cuts and rotational timber harvests are tools used in the area to help trees produce hard mast beech and oak and browse, young forests particularly aspen and jack pine. For late season hunts, the game area is managed by maintaining and expanding thermal cover in high snow areas by selecting for conifers, particularly white cedar and hemlock. This acre state game area is actively managed through timber harvest.

Management efforts for cottontails include establishing brush through timber harvesting practices and constructing brush piles with treetops and remaining woody materials after timber harvests. Other management tools include planting food plots and maintaining grasslands and forest openings.

This 4,acre game area is actively managed for wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, white-tailed deer and cottontail rabbit. Cottontail habitat efforts include maintaining grasslands; planting shrubs; and encouraging the growth of brush and constructing brush piles; and providing a steady supply of young forests through short rotation of timber harvests.

While portions of the game area are still in agricultural production, or are maintained as open grass lands, much of the land that was previously farmed has grown into shrubland or forested land. At approximately 4, acres, the game area is actively managed for wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, white-tailed deer and cottontail rabbit.

A variety of vegetation types can be found including extensive second growth upland forests mostly mixed stands of aspen, oak, red maple and white pine , lowland forests silver maple, red maple, green ash, elm and old fields and red pine plantations that are remnants of agricultural activities.

Compared to other southern Michigan game areas, the Stanton State Game Area provides a significant amount of aspen and other early successional forest cover. The recreation area is open to hunting for all species following regular state regulations. This area boasts excellent deer, turkey and small-game hunting; and It is also open to trapping.

The terrain is a mixture of open brush land and mature hardwood forest, with some pockets of open meadows mixed with several large areas of wetland habitat. Browsers that can not handle javascript will not be able to access some features of this site. Some functions of this site are disabled for browsers blocking jQuery. Close Search Box. Official Website of Michigan. You are here DNR. We have multiple license options for non-Michigan residents! Map of Hunting Areas Up until March 31, head to Michigan and visit one of our southern state game areas or recreation areas for prime cottontail rabbit habitat and hunting.

Rabbits are plentiful and readily found when hunting with beagles. Upland bird and small game hunters may need to walk more this fall and look further afield for their favorite quarry. Heavy spring rains produced plenty of fruiting plants and acorns. The woods and swales are full of natural foods. This year the hunting will be pretty good.

They are going to be spread out. But state officials say the seasons continue to draw hunters who enjoy working their hunting dogs, parents who want to introduce sons and daughters to hunting, and those who enjoy putting unique, wild foods on the table. There is lots of good food to be had off those animals.

Hunters should have no problem finding rabbits or squirrels on the landscape this year. There is no shortage of either. Look for squirrels in mature stands of mixed hardwoods and conifers, or small, mature oak woodlots. Brushy fields are more typically home for rabbits. It looks like rabbits did very well producing young this spring. Hunters will want to focus on high-quality habitat, lowland areas with conifer cover, areas where branches go right to the ground, the edges along aspen stands and other hardwood stands.

Bird hunters should have a good season too. Coyote may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee all year if they are doing or about to do damage on private property - a license or written permit is not needed.

Note: The use of. Nighttime take with centerfire rifles is prohibited on all state parks and recreation areas statewide, and all state game areas within the limited firearm deer zone. See Hunting and Trapping Digest for more information. Bag Limit: 5 daily , 10 possession Zones 1 and 2 and 3 daily , 6 possession Zone 3. Pheasant unit boundaries can be found in the Michigan Hunting Digest.

Gray Squirrel and Fox Squirrel. Notes: Shotguns must be plugged so they are capable of holding no more than three shells. All woodcock hunters must obtain a free woodcock stamp in addition to a valid base license, available from all license agents or online.

A current-year HIP endorsement must be carried when hunting migratory birds.