National Fish Hatchery · Michigan · FWS Region 3

Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery lies in Chippewa County, Michigan, with about 84 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 64 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
2hunt units
64huntable acres
84FWS-owned acres
7game categories

Pendills Creek 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 Pendills Creek NFH

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

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 (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 64 (76%)Closed: 20 (24%)64huntable acres
  • Open64 ac 76%
  • Closed20 ac 24%
Units by size (acres)
Unit A
64 ac
Closed
20 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Unit A
Show on map · Directions		 Open 64 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 20 —

Pendills Creek NFH by the numbers

With about 64 huntable acres, Pendills Creek NFH ranks #8 of 8 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Michigan and #412 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 76% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Unit A (64 acres).

1 unit totaling 20 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Pendills Creek NFH

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, Feral & Exotic
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
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

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 Pendills Creek NFH

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Public use opportunities at Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery and its sister hatcher, Sullivan Creek, include fishery education, hatchery tours and a Lake Superior public access site. Activities include fishing, ice fishing and swimming.

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

How to get to Pendills Creek NFH

Navigate

Destination: Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.43156, -84.81776
DMS
46°25′53.6″N 84°49′03.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI23 mi W of town
  • Seney, MI54 mi E of town
  • Alpena, MI116 mi NW of town
  • Traverse City, MI122 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • GRB Green Bay Austin Straubel209 mi
  • GRR Grand Rapids Ford248 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 Pendills Creek NFH

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 AM8:21 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:53 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:06 AM7:36 AM7:21 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM6:54 PM11h 00m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM5:26 PM10h 07m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM5:08 PM9h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:31 AM8:01 AM4:55 PM8h 54m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:45 AM8:15 AM4:52 PM8h 37m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:52 AM8:22 AM5:01 PM8h 39m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:48 AM8:18 AM5:16 PM8h 58m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:33 AM8:03 AM5:41 PM9h 37m

Computed for 46.432, -84.818 (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 Pendills Creek 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…

Pendills Creek NFH FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pendills Creek NFH?

Yes. Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery offers hunting in 1 unit (64 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 Pendills Creek NFH?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Pendills Creek NFH. 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 Pendills Creek NFH?

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

Where is Pendills Creek NFH located?

Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery is in Chippewa County, Michigan, about 23 miles W of Sault Ste. Marie, MI (straight-line). GPS: 46.43156, -84.81776.

What are legal shooting hours at Pendills Creek 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

Sullivan Creek NFH

Chippewa County, MI · 8.3 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Harbor Island NWR

Chippewa County, MI · 57 mi SE

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

736 huntable acres

Seney NWR

Schoolcraft County, MI · 62 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

86.1K huntable acres

Michigan Islands NWR

MI · 70 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Jordan River NFH

Antrim County, MI · 97 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

74 huntable acres

Green Bay NWR

WI · 114 mi SW

1 open1 special4 closed
🦌🎣

459 huntable acres

All refuges in Michigan →

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