Michigan WMD
Ingham County, MI
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659 huntable acres
County guide · Michigan · MI WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Jackson County, MI
Jackson County has 2 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 298 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Schlee WPA at 160 acres; the average tract is about 149 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Michigan Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 723 square miles and has roughly 160,366 residents. WPAs make up about 0.1% of its land area.
2named WPAs
298acres of WPA land
160largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Jackson County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Jackson County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schlee WPA | 160 | 38 mi SE of Lansing | 42.23605, -84.23860 |
Map · Directions |
| Malan WPA | 138 | 30 mi SE of Lansing | 42.39728, -84.17294 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Jackson County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Michigan regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Jackson County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Lansing, MI34 mi — county center is S of town
- Kalamazoo, MI59 mi — county center is E of town
- Toledo, OH62 mi — county center is NW of town
- Detroit, MI71 mi — county center is W of town
Shooting hours in Jackson County
Today at Jackson County
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 8:14 PM | 13h 12m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:46 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:49 PM | 12h 33m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 7:21 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:57 PM | 11h 09m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 5:32 PM | 10h 23m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:17 PM | 9h 50m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:07 PM | 9h 21m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:06 PM | 9h 07m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:14 PM | 9h 09m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 5:28 PM | 9h 25m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:49 PM | 9h 58m |
Computed for 42.251, -84.429 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Jackson County
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Jackson County
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.