National Wildlife Refuge · Ohio · FWS Region 3

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge is located in Lucas County, Ohio, with about 2,593 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations, covering about 2,593 huntable acres.

3 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
2.6Khuntable acres
2.6KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Cedar Point NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Cedar Point NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Located along the western basin of Lake Erie, Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge draws large concentrations of both dabbling and diving ducks to its extensive marshes and shoreline.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Ohio regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,593 (100%)2.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,593 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Controlled Big Game
1,541 ac
Open
903 ac
Daily Permit Area
148 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Controlled Big Game
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,541 —
Daily Permit Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 148 —
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 903 —

Cedar Point NWR by the numbers

With about 2,593 huntable acres, Cedar Point NWR ranks #3 of 3 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Ohio and #311 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Controlled Big Game (1,541 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Daily Permit Area, covers 148 acres.

When to hunt Cedar Point NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Ohio sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Ohio hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Ohio Division of Wildlife
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Cedar Point NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is permitted in two borrow ponds from May 1–August 31. Non-motorized boats are permitted. Primary species include channel catfish, largemouth bass and sunfish. Ohio state regulations apply.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Cedar Point NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.68714, -83.32037
DMS
41°41′13.7″N 83°19′13.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Toledo, OH12 mi E of town
  • Sandusky, OH36 mi NW of town
  • Detroit, MI47 mi S of town
  • Cleveland, OH85 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • DTW Detroit Metro36 mi
  • CLE Cleveland Hopkins78 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Cedar Point NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in New York local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM8:09 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM7:45 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM7:17 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM6:53 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:29 PM10h 25m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM5:14 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM5:04 PM9h 24m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM5:03 PM9h 11m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:30 AM8:00 AM5:12 PM9h 12m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM5:25 PM9h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:16 AM7:46 AM5:46 PM10h 01m

Computed for 41.687, -83.320 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Cedar Point NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Cedar Point NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cedar Point NWR?

Yes. Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (2,593 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Cedar Point NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Cedar Point NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Cedar Point NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Cedar Point NWR located?

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge is in Lucas County, Ohio, about 12 miles E of Toledo, OH (straight-line). GPS: 41.68714, -83.32037.

What are legal shooting hours at Cedar Point NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Ottawa NWR

Ottawa County, OH · 6.9 mi SE

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7K huntable acres

West Sister Island NWR

OH · 12 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

Monroe County, MI · 21 mi N

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Michigan WMD

Ingham County, MI · 96 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

659 huntable acres

Shiawassee NWR

Saginaw County, MI · 121 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.9K huntable acres

Erie NWR

Crawford County, PA · 172 mi E

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9K huntable acres

All refuges in Ohio →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.