National Wildlife Refuge · Michigan · FWS Region 3

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in Chippewa County, Michigan, with about 736 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 736 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
736huntable acres
736FWS-owned acres
6game categories

Harbor Island 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 Harbor Island NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Lake Huron’s Potagannissing Bay, north of Drummond Island. Access is by boat or over the ice during the winter.

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 Michigan regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 736 (100%)736huntable acres
  • Special regulations736 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 736 —

Harbor Island NWR by the numbers

With about 736 huntable acres, Harbor Island NWR ranks #5 of 8 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Michigan and #370 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 Refuge (736 acres, special regulations).

When to hunt Harbor Island NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Michigan 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 Michigan hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  • 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 Harbor Island NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge is in Lake Huron’s Potagannissing Bay, north of Drummond Island. Access is by boat or over the ice during the winter. Lake Huron offers abundant opportunities for recreational fishing.

— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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

How to get to Harbor Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.04671, -83.75848
DMS
46°02′48.2″N 83°45′30.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI42 mi SE of town
  • Alpena, MI70 mi N of town
  • Seney, MI107 mi E of town
  • Traverse City, MI127 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • GRR Grand Rapids Ford235 mi
  • GRB Green Bay Austin Straubel238 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 Harbor Island NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM8:16 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM7:49 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM7:17 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:20 AM7:50 AM6:51 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:22 PM10h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM5:04 PM9h 30m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:26 AM7:56 AM4:52 PM8h 56m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:39 AM8:09 AM4:50 PM8h 40m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:46 AM8:16 AM4:58 PM8h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:43 AM8:13 AM5:13 PM9h 01m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:28 AM7:58 AM5:37 PM9h 39m

Computed for 46.047, -83.758 (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 Harbor Island 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…

Harbor Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Harbor Island NWR?

Yes. Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (736 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 Harbor Island NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Harbor Island 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 Harbor Island NWR?

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

Where is Harbor Island NWR located?

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Chippewa County, Michigan, about 42 miles SE of Sault Ste. Marie, MI (straight-line). GPS: 46.04671, -83.75848.

What are legal shooting hours at Harbor Island 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

Sullivan Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 53 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pendills Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 57 mi NW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

64 huntable acres

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

Oscoda County, MI · 91 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

6.6K huntable acres

Jordan River NFH

Antrim County, MI · 91 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

74 huntable acres

Michigan Islands NWR

MI · 103 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Seney NWR

Schoolcraft County, MI · 113 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

86.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Michigan →

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