National Wildlife Refuge · Michigan · FWS Region 3

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area is located in Oscoda County, Michigan, with about 6,616 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 under general rules, covering about 6,616 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
6.6Khuntable acres
6.6KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area 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 Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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
Open: 6,616 (100%)6.6Khuntable acres
  • Open6,616 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
KW Open 6,616 —

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 Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area.

How to get to Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

Navigate

Destination: Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.79038, -84.34636
DMS
44°47′25.4″N 84°20′46.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Alpena, MI49 mi W of town
  • Traverse City, MI63 mi E of town
  • Saginaw, MI97 mi N of town
  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI118 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • GRR Grand Rapids Ford144 mi
  • DTW Detroit Metro185 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 Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

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, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM8:16 PM13h 18m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:50 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM7:20 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:21 AM7:51 AM6:54 PM11h 04m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:27 PM10h 14m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM5:10 PM9h 37m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM4:59 PM9h 05m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:37 AM8:07 AM4:57 PM8h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:44 AM8:14 AM5:05 PM8h 51m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:41 AM8:11 AM5:20 PM9h 09m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM5:43 PM9h 46m

Computed for 44.790, -84.346 (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.

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area?

Yes. Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area offers hunting in 1 unit (6,616 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area?

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

Where is Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area located?

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area is in Oscoda County, Michigan, about 49 miles W of Alpena, MI (straight-line). GPS: 44.79038, -84.34636.

What are legal shooting hours at Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area?

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

Jordan River NFH

Antrim County, MI · 34 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

74 huntable acres

Harbor Island NWR

Chippewa County, MI · 91 mi N

1 special
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736 huntable acres

Michigan Islands NWR

MI · 96 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Shiawassee NWR

Saginaw County, MI · 101 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.9K huntable acres

Sullivan Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 107 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pendills Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 116 mi N

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

64 huntable acres

All refuges in Michigan →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.