National Wildlife Refuge · Michigan · FWS Region 3

Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is located in Michigan, with about 834 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
834FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Michigan Islands 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 Michigan Islands NWR

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

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 834 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed834 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
MI Islands Closed 834 —

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
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Michigan Islands NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Michigan Islands NWR.

How to get to Michigan Islands NWR

Navigate

Destination: Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
45.70139, -85.83829
DMS
45°42′05.0″N 85°50′17.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Seney, MI45 mi S of town
  • Traverse City, MI66 mi N of town
  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI90 mi SW of town
  • Marquette, MI95 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • GRB Green Bay Austin Straubel140 mi
  • GRR Grand Rapids Ford196 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 Michigan Islands 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, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM8:24 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:57 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:09 AM7:39 AM7:25 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:28 AM7:58 AM6:59 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM5:31 PM10h 10m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM5:14 PM9h 32m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:33 AM8:03 AM5:02 PM8h 59m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:47 AM8:17 AM4:59 PM8h 43m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:53 AM8:23 AM5:08 PM8h 45m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:50 AM8:20 AM5:23 PM9h 03m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:35 AM8:05 AM5:47 PM9h 41m

Computed for 45.701, -85.838 (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.

Michigan Islands NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Michigan Islands NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Michigan Islands NWR?

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

Where is Michigan Islands NWR located?

Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is in Michigan, about 45 miles S of Seney, MI (straight-line). GPS: 45.70139, -85.83829.

What are legal shooting hours at Michigan Islands 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

Seney NWR

Schoolcraft County, MI · 40 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

86.1K huntable acres

Green Bay NWR

WI · 47 mi W

1 open1 special4 closed
🦌🎣

459 huntable acres

Jordan River NFH

Antrim County, MI · 63 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

74 huntable acres

Gravel Island NWR

Door County, WI · 65 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sullivan Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 65 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pendills Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 70 mi NE

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.