Known locally as the “Shiawassee Flats,” the refuge lies within the Saginaw Bay watershed, historically one of the largest wetland areas in Michigan. Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge is designated as a United States Important Bird Area for its global significance to migratory waterfowl. Each fall migratory birds, including Canada geese and mallard ducks, are hunted through a high-quality lottery hunt. The refuge offers a multitude of scramble zones that are hunted four days of the week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The refuge can accommodate 16 parties with up to 4 hunters each. The refuge also hosts a thriving deer population, making for a popular lottery hunt (archery, limited firearm and muzzleloader). The deer hunt offers opportunity hunts for youth and disabled hunters. Upland game hunting can be enjoyed at the refuge. The refuges offers hunting of turkey (spring only), small game (eastern fox squirrel, eastern cottontail, ring-necked pheasant, American woodcock, and American crow) and furbearers (raccoon, coyote and red fox) on designated areas, in accordance with State regulations. The refuge honors the heritage of hunting for current and future generations of Americans.
For more information on the 2026 Reserved Deer Hunt, please refer to the Michigan DNR website for RESERVED DEER HUNTS
For information on permits and lotteries, please refer to Michigan DNR eLicense
Open house days are an opportunity for ALL VISITORS to explore off trails and traditionally closed areas of the refuge. Hunters typically use this as a scouting weekend. You may access the refuge at any access point (including hunter parking lots). The following dates are open house days in 2026:
- Sept. 5th - Sept. 7th
- Sept. 25th - Sept. 27th
Dates for the 2026 Deer Hunting Season:
- Sept. 12-13th (Youth Hunt)
- Oct. 1-7th
- Oct. 15-16th (Lottery-based Accessibility Hunt)
- October 17-18th (Lottery-based Accessibility Hunt)
- Oct. 30- Nov. 5th
- Nov. 15-19th
- Nov. 20-24th
- Nov. 25-29th
- Dec. 4-6th
- Dec. 17-23rd
Hunters must follow all State of Michigan hunting regulations.
Click here for more information about the Lottery-based Accessibility Hunt.
Click here to access the Lottery-based Accessibility Hunt application permit.
2026 Shiawassee Waterfowl Lottery Hunt
Information on the upcoming 2026 Waterfowl Hunt at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge will be posted here soon.
Youth Preference (non-reserved):
The Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend is a statewide waterfowl season that takes place on public and private lands open to waterfowl hunting September 20-21st, 2025. Youth 16 years old or younger can participate in this season. The drawing for the Youth Waterfowl Hunt will be held on September 17th, 2025. Results will be available by 2:00pm by calling 989-996-1412.
- Hunters 9 years old and younger must be licensed through the Mentored Hunting Program and accompanied by a qualified mentor. A migratory bird youth endorsement (includes HIP) is also required.
- Hunters 10-15 years old must have a base license, base apprentice license or an inclusive mentored license. A migratory bird youth endorsement (includes HIP) is also required.
- Hunters who are 16 years old must have a Michigan waterfowl license and a federal duck stamp in addition to their base license, base apprentice license or inclusive mentored license. A HIP endorsement is also required.
For Specific Hunting Rules and Policies
| Activity | Season/Access | Hunting Area | Special Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Youth | State Regulations Access permitted 2 hours before/after legal hunting hours (See MI hunting Digest) | White-tailed Deer Hunting Area | Reserved hunt only. Lottery administered through MDNR. Hunters must possess the appropriate access permit AND appropriate deer license(s) to harvest deer in DMU 273. |
| Deer Lottery-based Accessibility Hunt | State Regulations Access permitted 2 hours before/after legal hunting hours (See MI hunting Digest) | White-tailed Deer Hunting Area | Reserved hunt only. Lottery administered through Shiawassee NWR. Hunters must possess a Permit to Hunt from a Standing Vehicle issued by the MDNR AND appropriate deer license(s) to harvest deer in DMU 273. Special hunt administered October 15-18th. |
| Archery Deer | State Regulations Access permitted 2 hours before/after legal hunting hours (See MI hunting Digest) | White-tailed Deer Hunting Area | Reserved hunt only. Lottery administered through MDNR. Hunters must possess the appropriate access permit AND appropriate deer license(s) to harvest deer in DMU 273. |
| Muzzleloader Deer | State Regulations Access permitted 2 hours before/after legal hunting hours (See MI hunting Digest) | White-tailed Deer Hunting Area | Reserved hunt only. Lottery administered through MDNR. Hunters must possess the appropriate access permit AND appropriate deer license(s) to harvest deer in DMU 273. |
| Limited Firearms Deer | State Regulations Access permitted 2 hours before/after legal hunting hours (See MI hunting Digest) | White-tailed Deer Hunting Area | Reserved hunt only. Lottery administered through MDNR. Hunters must possess the appropriate access permit AND appropriate deer license(s) to harvest deer in DMU 273. |
| Migratory Bird | (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday) during regular goose season after September 30th. Access permitted 2-hours before legal shooting time. Legal shooting time starts ½-hour before sunrise. | Waterfowl Hunting Areas | Self-registered reserved hunt, by lottery only. You may possess no more than 25 shotgun shells while hunting migratory birds. Must possess and use only non-toxic shot. We allow hunting with dogs |
| Small Game and Furbearers | ½-hour before legal sunrise to ½-hour after legal sunset | Small Game and Furbearer Hunting Areas | We allow hunting with dogs in accordance with State regulations. Training of dogs is not allowed. For raccoon hunting dogs must wear GPS or radio collars |
| Turkey Hunting | State spring season Only 2-hour before legal shooting time | Spring Turkey Hunt Area | Must possess and carry a State of Michigan license. No refuge permit is required. |
| Fishing(boat) | State Regulations | Navigable waterways (boat) | Must possess and carry a State of Michigan license. |
| Fishing (bank) | ) State Regulations Legal sunrise to legal sunset only | Tittabawassee and Cass Rivers - designated areas | Must possess and carry a State of Michigan license. |
