6
Daily duck limit
8
Daily goose limit
6
Teal limit (early)
$15.00
Waterfowl license (res.)
Season Information
Season DatesEarly Teal: Sept 1–16; North Zone: Sept 28–Nov 17; South Zone: Oct 5–Dec 1; Late Goose: Dec–Jan
FlywayMississippi Flyway
Zone InformationMichigan has North Zone (Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula) and South Zone (southern Lower Peninsula), each with different season dates. Lake Erie marshes, Saginaw Bay, Lake St. Clair, and Whitefish Bay in the Upper Peninsula are premier zones.
Species NotesDucks: 6/day; mallard 4 (2 hens); pintail 2; canvasback 2; redhead 2; scaup 2; wood duck 3. Geese: Canada 8/day; snow/blue/Ross's 20/day. Sea ducks (Lake Superior): 7/day (scoter, eider, long-tailed combined).
License & Permit Requirements
State Hunting License
✅ Required
Federal Duck Stamp
✅ Required
HIP Registration
✅ Required
State Waterfowl Stamp
✅ Required ($5.00)
HIP Registration Info
HIP registration required annually for all waterfowl hunters at no cost. Register online at michigan.gov/dnr or at any DNR license agent. Michigan also requires a state waterfowl hunting license stamp ($5.00). Both are required in the field.
How to Get Licensed for Waterfowl Hunting
1
Purchase a Michigan hunting license ($26.00 resident) from Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
2
Complete HIP Registration (free) — available when purchasing your hunting license or through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website.
3
Purchase the Federal Duck Stamp ($25) — required for all waterfowl hunters age 16+. Available at USPS offices or online.
4
Purchase the Michigan Waterfowl Stamp ($5.00) — required in addition to your hunting license.
Additional Notes: Michigan's Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River are among the most productive diver duck habitats in the entire Mississippi Flyway, historically producing exceptional canvasback, scaup, and redhead hunting. Lake Erie's western basin marshes near Monroe draw large mallard concentrations during October and November. The Upper Peninsula's Whitefish Bay and Lake Superior shoreline offer Great Lakes sea duck hunting for scoter and long-tailed duck. Saginaw Bay is another storied diver destination that attracts hunters from across the Midwest each fall.
Buy MI License — Michigan Department of Natural Resources