National Wildlife Refuge · Michigan · FWS Region 3

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge lies in Saginaw County, Michigan, with about 10,259 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 9,875 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
9.9Khuntable acres
10.3KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee NWR

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. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Known locally as the “Shiawassee Flats,” the refuge lies within the Saginaw Bay watershed, historically one of the largest wetland areas in Michigan.

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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 9,875 (96%)Closed: 385 (4%)9.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations9,875 ac 96%
  • Closed385 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit B
4,444 ac
Hunt Unit C
3,531 ac
Hunt Unit A
1,900 ac
Closed
385 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit A
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,900 Required
Other		 Migratory birds obtained from refuge and deer obtained from the state
Hunt Unit B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,444 Required
Other		 Migratory birds obtained from refuge and deer obtained from the state
Hunt Unit C
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,531 Required
Other		 Migratory birds obtained from refuge and deer obtained from the state
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 385 Required
Other		 Migratory birds obtained from refuge and deer obtained from the state

Shiawassee NWR by the numbers

With about 9,875 huntable acres, Shiawassee NWR ranks #2 of 8 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Michigan and #195 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 96% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Unit B (4,444 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Hunt Unit A, covers 1,900 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 385 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 10,259 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,901 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Shiawassee 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, 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

Required

Migratory birds obtained from refuge and deer obtained from the state

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

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 Shiawassee NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Major species of fish include white bass, walleye, channel catfish and carp. Fishing is allowed on navigable waters accessed from off-refuge launch sites. No fishing is permitted within enclosed (diked) waters.

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

How to get to Shiawassee NWR

Navigate

Destination: Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.35576, -84.00979
DMS
43°21′20.7″N 84°00′35.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Saginaw, MI5.4 mi SW of town
  • Lansing, MI51 mi NE of town
  • Detroit, MI86 mi NW of town
  • Grand Rapids, MI88 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • GRR Grand Rapids Ford83 mi
  • DTW Detroit Metro86 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 Shiawassee 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, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM8:13 PM13h 15m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:48 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM7:19 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM6:54 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM5:29 PM10h 19m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM5:13 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM5:02 PM9h 14m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:31 AM8:01 AM5:00 PM8h 60m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:38 AM8:08 AM5:09 PM9h 01m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:35 AM8:05 AM5:23 PM9h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:22 AM7:52 AM5:45 PM9h 53m

Computed for 43.356, -84.010 (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 Shiawassee 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…

Shiawassee NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Shiawassee NWR?

Yes. Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (9,875 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 Shiawassee NWR?

Yes — Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Shiawassee NWR?

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

Where is Shiawassee NWR located?

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge is in Saginaw County, Michigan, about 5 miles SW of Saginaw, MI (straight-line). GPS: 43.35576, -84.00979.

What are legal shooting hours at Shiawassee 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

Michigan WMD

Ingham County, MI · 48 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

659 huntable acres

Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

Oscoda County, MI · 101 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

6.6K huntable acres

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

Monroe County, MI · 102 mi S

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Cedar Point NWR

Lucas County, OH · 121 mi S

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.6K huntable acres

West Sister Island NWR

OH · 121 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Jordan River NFH

Antrim County, MI · 125 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

74 huntable acres

All refuges in Michigan →

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