National Fish Hatchery · Wisconsin · FWS Region 3

Iron River National Fish Hatchery Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Iron River National Fish Hatchery is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, with about 1,142 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 1,087 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
1.1Khuntable acres
1.1KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Iron River NFH 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 Iron River NFH

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Iron River National Fish Hatchery is open for hunting in accordance with Wisconsin hunting regulations. All land is open to hunting except for the areas surrounding hatchery buildings, residences, play areas, roadways and parking lots.

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 Wisconsin regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,087 (95%)Closed: 55 (5%)1.1Khuntable acres
  • Open1,087 ac 95%
  • Closed55 ac 5%
Units by size (acres)
Open
1,087 ac
Closed
55 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,087 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 55 —

Iron River NFH by the numbers

With about 1,087 huntable acres, Iron River NFH ranks #6 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Wisconsin and #353 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 95% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open (1,087 acres).

1 unit totaling 55 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Iron River NFH

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, 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 Wisconsin hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Wisconsin 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 Iron River NFH

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Iron River NFH.

How to get to Iron River NFH

Navigate

Destination: Iron River National Fish Hatchery (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.65206, -91.34730
DMS
46°39′07.4″N 91°20′50.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Ashland, WI23 mi W of town
  • Superior, WI36 mi E of town
  • Duluth, MN37 mi E of town
  • Rice Lake, WI81 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • DLH Duluth Intl42 mi
  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul152 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 Iron River NFH

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, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM7:47 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:19 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM6:47 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM6:20 PM10h 60m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:52 PM10h 06m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:33 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM4:20 PM8h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:18 PM8h 36m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:19 AM7:49 AM4:26 PM8h 37m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:15 AM7:45 AM4:42 PM8h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:00 AM7:30 AM5:06 PM9h 36m

Computed for 46.652, -91.347 (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 Iron River NFH

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…

Iron River NFH FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Iron River NFH?

Yes. Iron River National Fish Hatchery offers hunting in 1 unit (1,087 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 Iron River NFH?

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

Where is Iron River NFH located?

Iron River National Fish Hatchery is in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, about 23 miles W of Ashland, WI (straight-line). GPS: 46.65206, -91.34730.

What are legal shooting hours at Iron River NFH?

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

Whittlesey Creek NWR

Bayfield County, WI · 19 mi E

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

243 huntable acres

Rice Lake NWR

Aitkin County, MN · 96 mi W

1 special2 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Mille Lacs NWR

Mille Lacs County, MN · 109 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

St. Croix WMD

St. Croix County, WI · 122 mi SW

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.9K huntable acres

Sherburne NWR

Sherburne County, MN · 139 mi SW

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

28K huntable acres

Crane Meadows NWR

Morrison County, MN · 147 mi W

1 open2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

2.2K huntable acres

All refuges in Wisconsin →

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