National Wildlife Refuge · Wisconsin · FWS Region 3

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 309 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: 1 open under general rules, 2 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 243 huntable acres.

1 open unit2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
243huntable acres
309FWS-owned acres
2game categories

Whittlesey Creek 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 Whittlesey Creek NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game and waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge conserves wetlands along Lake Superior as well as a beautiful trout stream that provides habitat for spawning fish from the lake.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Wisconsin regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Open: 31 (10%)Special regulations: 213 (69%)Closed: 65 (21%)243huntable acres
  • Open31 ac 10%
  • Special regulations213 ac 69%
  • Closed65 ac 21%
Units by size (acres)
A
194 ac
Closed
65 ac
B
31 ac
C
19 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
B Open 31 —
A Special regs 194 —
C Special regs 19 —
Closed Closed 65 —

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 Whittlesey Creek NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge provides aquatic habitat that supports fishable populations of game fish in lower Whittlesey Creek, in Little Whittlesey Creek and along the shore of Lake Superior. Little if any game fishing opportunity is available in Terwilliger Creek.

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

How to get to Whittlesey Creek NWR

Navigate

Destination: Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.59470, -90.96186
DMS
46°35′40.9″N 90°57′42.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Ashland, WI3.9 mi W of town
  • Superior, WI55 mi E of town
  • Duluth, MN56 mi E of town
  • Rice Lake, WI84 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • DLH Duluth Intl61 mi
  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul161 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 Whittlesey Creek NWR

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, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM7:45 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:18 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:46 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM6:19 PM10h 60m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:50 PM10h 06m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:32 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM4:19 PM8h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM4:16 PM8h 36m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM4:25 PM8h 38m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:14 AM7:44 AM4:40 PM8h 57m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:05 PM9h 37m

Computed for 46.595, -90.962 (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.

Whittlesey Creek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Whittlesey Creek NWR?

Yes. Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (243 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Whittlesey Creek NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Whittlesey Creek NWR. 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 Whittlesey Creek NWR?

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

Where is Whittlesey Creek NWR located?

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge is in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, about 4 miles W of Ashland, WI (straight-line). GPS: 46.59470, -90.96186.

What are legal shooting hours at Whittlesey Creek 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

Iron River NFH

Bayfield County, WI · 19 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

1.1K huntable acres

Rice Lake NWR

Aitkin County, MN · 114 mi W

1 special2 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Mille Lacs NWR

Mille Lacs County, MN · 126 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

St. Croix WMD

St. Croix County, WI · 129 mi SW

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.9K huntable acres

Huron NWR

MI · 144 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sherburne NWR

Sherburne County, MN · 153 mi SW

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

28K huntable acres

All refuges in Wisconsin →

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