Young Aspen
Old cuts grown back into thick aspen and birch, too dense to see far into. Work the edges and any openings inside them, where birds feed.
906-214-2308
906-265-9100
40 E Adams St
Iron River, MI 49935
Michigan Grouse Season
Iron County • Michigan
Plan an Iron County grouse hunt: the cover birds use, a managed walk-in grouse area north of Iron River, public land, and the current Michigan season dates.
SEPT. 15
Ruffed grouse season opens statewide
5 A DAY
Daily limit in the U.P., 10 in possession
DEC. 1
Late season reopens and runs to Jan. 1
425,000+
Acres of public land open to hunters
Start With The Cover
Where Do Grouse Live in Iron County?
Ruffed grouse follow young forest. In Iron County that means aspen and birch growing back after a timber cut, alder thickets along creeks, and the edges where those meet older woods.
The county has more than 425,000 acres of public land, most of it working forest that is logged on a rotation. That keeps a steady supply of the young, thick cover grouse need for food and protection.
State forest land, the Ottawa National Forest and private forest land enrolled in Michigan's Commercial Forest Program are all open to hunting on foot.
DNR Where to HuntRead The Woods
What Kind of Cover Should You Hunt?
Grouse hunting is mostly walking. These three kinds of cover are where Iron County hunters spend their miles.
Alder & Creek Bottoms
Alder thickets along creeks and low ground hold grouse, and they are classic woodcock cover too. Wear boots that can take water.
Old Logging Roads
Grassy two-tracks and gated forest roads let you walk quietly through good cover. Grouse come out to them to pick up grit and clover.
Managed For Grouse
Gold Mine: Iron County's Grouse Walking Area
Michigan's Grouse Enhanced Management Sites, called GEMS, are walk-in areas where the forest is cut on a schedule to grow grouse and woodcock cover. Old logging roads are kept open as hunter walking trails.
Gold Mine, north of Iron River, covers more than 550 acres with nearly 3 miles of walking trails. It opened in 2015 as the first GEMS on private land in Michigan.
- From US-2 west of Iron River, turn north on Gibbs City Road.
- Go 9.2 miles, then 0.4 miles past Ponozzo Road.
- Turn left on Forest Road 3470 (Gold Mine Road).
- Drive 1.7 miles to the kiosk and parking on the left.
Build Your Plan
Plan More Than One Walk
Cover changes every few years as cuts grow up, so a spot that was good once may not be now. Mark several areas on MiHunt before you arrive and move on when one is quiet.
Before You Go
Woodcock, Questions and Local Help
Many grouse hunters carry a woodcock stamp too, since both birds use the same wet, young cover in early fall.
Woodcock
Adding Woodcock to the Hunt
Woodcock season runs Sept. 15 – Oct. 29, with a daily limit of 3. Woodcock are migratory birds, so you need a woodcock stamp and HIP registration on top of your base license.
Woodcock RulesOttawa National Forest
Forest Roads and Federal Land
For Ottawa National Forest land, roads and closures in this part of the county, contact the Watersmeet-Iron River Ranger District at 906-358-4551.
Ottawa National ForestStay In Iron County
Where Can You Stay?
Iron River and Crystal Falls both sit close to grouse cover, with hotels, motels, cabins and resorts to come back to after a day on the trails.
Find Lodging in Iron CountyGrouse Season
Grouse Season Information for Iron County
Dates below are from the Michigan DNR's 2026 small game regulations. Season dates can change from year to year, so check the current rules before your trip.
Ruffed Grouse
September 15 – November 14
Late Grouse
December 1 – January 1, 2027
Woodcock
September 15 – October 29
Limits
Grouse 5 a day, 10 in possession. Woodcock 3 a day.
Hunter orange:
Small game hunters must wear a hunter orange cap, hat, vest,
jacket or rain gear as their outer layer, visible from all sides.
Grouse season is closed November 15–30, during the firearm
deer season.
Start Planning
Start Planning Your Iron County Grouse Hunt
Pick a few areas of young cover on MiHunt, start with the Gold Mine walking trails, and book a room close to the woods.
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Iron County Michigan Visitors Guide
Iron County is one of the Upper Peninsula’s best kept secrets. From camping to fishing, hunting to canoeing, mountain biking to forest bathing – no matter your interests, the great outdoors and clear crisp air await you here.