Michigan hunters face a crowded September slate, with multiple seasons opening and key licensing reminders in effect. Small game seasons opened statewide on Sept. 15 for cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare; fox and gray squirrels (including the black phase); ruffed grouse; and woodcock. Waterfowl opportunities vary by region and species. Statewide, common gallinule, Virginia rail, sora rail, and Wilsons snipe opened Sept. 1. In the North Zone, duck, coot, and merganser open Sept. 27, while goose season began Sept. 1 in the North Zone and in the Middle, South, and Allegan GMU. Deer hunters have a narrow window for the early antlerless firearm hunt on Sept. 2021. This hunt is antlerless-only and is open on public and private lands in Lower Peninsula Deer Management Units, except DMUs 115, 145, 174, and 245. Fall turkey season begins Sept. 15, with a notable change: there is no longer a drawing for fall turkey licenses. Hunters may purchase one fall turkey license per year, valid for one bird of either sex on public and private lands within the designated fall turkey management unit. Licenses are available over the counter from license agents, online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, or through the DNR Hunt Fish app. Several fur-harvest timelines also arrive with fall. Hunting and trapping seasons for species such as coyote, beaver, fox, and other furbearers begin this period. The 2025 fur harvester license is valid May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. Bobcat kill tags are available only through Oct. 31, 2025, and kill tags for fisher, marten, and otter are available through the last day of each species trapping season. Residents with a fur harvester license who intend to harvest bobcat, otter, fisher, or marten must request free kill tags for those species to remain compliant. To simplify planning and compliance, the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app combines several tools in one place. Users can purchase hunting and fishing licenses and trail permits; report deer or fish harvests; look up current hunting and trapping regulations; and view their license history, including point and chance balances. The app also provides maps with layered information such as shooting ranges and boat launches and can deliver timely notifications from the DNR. It is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play; for support, DNR licensing customer service is available at 517-284-6057 during weekday business hours. The state is also emphasizing safety as more hunters return to elevated positions. September is National Tree Stand Safety Month, and the DNR highlights simple, high-yield practices: maintain three points of contact when climbing or descending; wear a properly attached full-body harness; confirm a secure, stable stand before use; and use a haul line to raise and lower gear. For broader wildlife and season questions, the DNR Wildlife Division can be reached at 517-284-9453. Given the number of moving parts, the agency directs hunters to the 2025 Michigan Hunting Regulations Summary and species-specific pages such as Michigan.gov/SmallGame and Michigan.gov/Turkey for exact dates, unit boundaries, and bag limits. Digital license purchases and eHarvest tags via the DNR Hunt Fish app enable same-day readiness for fall turkey and other seasons, while the antlerless-only firearm weekend provides a focused opportunity for herd management in the Lower Peninsula. With waterfowl dates staggered by zone and additional small game already open, aligning location, species, and licensing ahead of time will reduce last-minute surprises.