National Wildlife Refuge · Wisconsin · FWS Region 3

Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Wisconsin, Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,802 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Michigan. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 4 closed, covering about 459 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs4 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
459huntable acres
1.8KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Green Bay 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 Green Bay NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Hunters can pursue big game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of Hog Island, Plum Island, Pilot Island, St. Martin Island, Rocky Island and a parcel on Detroit Island.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammals

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

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Open: 149 (8%)Special regulations: 310 (17%)Closed: 1,343 (75%)459huntable acres
  • Open149 ac 8%
  • Special regulations310 ac 17%
  • Closed1,343 ac 75%
Units by size (acres)
St. Martin
1,311 ac
Plum
310 ac
Detroit
149 ac
Rocky
24 ac
Pilot
6.6 ac
Hog
2.2 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Detroit
Show on map · Directions		 Open 149 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit
Plum
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 310 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit
Hog
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2.2 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit
Pilot
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 6.6 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit
Rocky
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 24 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit
St. Martin
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,311 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit

Green Bay NWR by the numbers

With about 459 huntable acres, Green Bay NWR ranks #8 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Wisconsin and #383 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 25% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Plum (310 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Detroit, covers 149 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

4 units totaling 1,343 acres are closed to hunting (Hog, Pilot, Rocky, and St. Martin). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Green Bay NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Wisconsin 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Deer Hunting on Plum Island Unit

Type: Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Wisconsin hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Green Bay NWR

    Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of Hog Island, Plum Island, Pilot Island, St. Martin Island, Rocky Island and a parcel on Detroit Island.

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

    How to get to Green Bay NWR

    Navigate

    Destination: Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

    Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
    Decimal
    45.49569, -86.77029
    DMS
    45°29′44.5″N 86°46′13.0″W

    Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

    Nearest towns

    • Seney, MI71 mi SW of town
    • Traverse City, MI76 mi NW of town
    • Marquette, MI78 mi SE of town
    • Green Bay, WI91 mi NE of town

    Closest airports

    • GRB Green Bay Austin Straubel96 mi
    • MKE Milwaukee Mitchell185 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 Green Bay NWR

    Legal light*–
    Sunrise–
    Sunset–

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

    Full season calculator →

    2026–2027 season sun table

    DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
    Tue, Sep 1, 20265:37 AM6:07 AM7:27 PM13h 20m
    Tue, Sep 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM7:00 PM12h 37m
    Thu, Oct 1, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM6:29 PM11h 46m
    Thu, Oct 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:03 PM11h 02m
    Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM4:36 PM10h 11m
    Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:18 PM9h 33m
    Tue, Dec 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:06 PM9h 00m
    Tue, Dec 15, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM4:04 PM8h 44m
    Fri, Jan 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:13 PM8h 46m
    Fri, Jan 15, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM4:27 PM9h 04m
    Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM4:51 PM9h 42m

    Computed for 45.496, -86.770 (CDT / 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 Green Bay 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…

    Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

    What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

    Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

    Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

    How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

    What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

    Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

    The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

    Green Bay NWR FAQ

    Is hunting allowed at Green Bay NWR?

    Yes. Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (459 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

    Do I need a permit to hunt Green Bay NWR?

    Yes — Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained mail or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

    Can you fish at Green Bay NWR?

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

    Where is Green Bay NWR located?

    Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge is in Wisconsin, about 71 miles SW of Seney, MI (straight-line). GPS: 45.49569, -86.77029.

    What are legal shooting hours at Green Bay 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

    Gravel Island NWR

    Door County, WI · 22 mi SW

    1 closed
    No hunting listed

    Michigan Islands NWR

    MI · 47 mi E

    1 closed
    No hunting listed

    Seney NWR

    Schoolcraft County, MI · 62 mi NE

    3 special1 closed
    🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

    86.1K huntable acres

    Jordan River NFH

    Antrim County, MI · 94 mi E

    2 special1 closed
    🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

    74 huntable acres

    Sullivan Creek NFH

    Chippewa County, MI · 110 mi NE

    1 closed
    No hunting listed

    Pendills Creek NFH

    Chippewa County, MI · 114 mi NE

    1 open1 closed
    🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

    64 huntable acres

    All refuges in Wisconsin →

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