The refuge is open to migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.
Lottery hunts and special hunting permits are managed in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division. Hunters may apply for permit and licenses through www.mdnr-elicense.com.
Unit | Big Game: (White-tailed deer and Wild turkey) | Big Game: White-tailed deer -archery -antlerless | Upland/ Small Game | Migratory Bird | Migratory Bird below the ordinary high watermark | Season | Special Regulations | Boat Access ONLY | Access with special hunt permit |
| Humbug Marsh Open Water (from water’s edge to the Detroit River) | -- | -- | -- | -- | X | State Season | State regulations apply. | X | -- |
| Humbug Marsh Mainland (from water’s edge west to W. Jefferson Ave.) | -- | X | -- | -- | -- | October 1 and December 15 | Special Permit Required (see special hunting permit section for details) | -- | X |
| Humbug Island | X | -- | X | X | -- | State Season | State regulations apply | X | -- |
| Calf Island | X | -- | X | X | -- | State Season | State regulations apply | X | -- |
| Sugar Island | X | -- | X | X | -- | State Season | State regulations apply | X | -- |
| Strong Unit Northern Portion (from Estral Beach protection dike to unit boundary) | X | -- | X | X | X | State Season | -- | -- | -- |
| Strong Unit Southern Portion (from Estral Beach protection dike south into Village of Estral Beach) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Closed to ALL hunting | -- | -- | -- |
| Brancheau Unit Diked Portion (managed areas inside dikes) | -- | -- | -- | X | -- | Opening day of state waterfowl season then every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in conjunction with Pointe Mouillee State Game Area managed waterfowl hunts | Special Permit Required (see special hunting permit section for details) | -- | X |
| Brancheau Unit Coastal Wetlands (area outside dikes and open to Swan Creek and Lake Erie) | -- | -- | -- | X | X | State Season | State regulations apply | X | -- |
| Fix Unit | X | -- | X | X | -- | State Season | State regulations apply | -- | -- |
| Plum Creek Bay Unit | -- | -- | -- | X | -- | State Season | State regulations apply | X | -- |
| North Maumee Bay | -- | -- | -- | X | -- | State Season | State regulations apply | X | -- |
State regulations apply for bag limits.
Do Not Shoot!
- Opossum
- porcupine
- Weasels (including mink)
- Skunk
- Ground squirrel,
- Woodchuck
- Muskrat
- Beaver
- American crow
- European starlings
- House sparrows
- Northern bobwhite (quail)
- and feral pigeons may NOT be hunted or trapped on the refuge at any time
Welcome
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (DRIWR) was established in2001 top reserve the Lower Detroit River and Western Lake Erie. DRIWR is within an hour’s drive of nearly seven million people in the Detroit, Michigan; Windsor, Ontario; and Toledo, Ohio metropolitan areas. The refuge’s acquisition boundary stretches along 48 miles of Detroit River and western Lake Erie shoreline and today, consists of more than 2,000 owned acres divided into 19 separate units located in Wayne and Monroe counties. An additional 5 units totaling nearly 4,000 acres are managed under cooperative management agreements between the refuge and outside landowners.
Firearms
Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32.)
All State-approved hunting weapons are permissible on refuge lands. This includes firearms, archery bows, and crossbows. In accordance with State regulations, handguns will be permitted for hunting deer, fox, coyote, and raccoon.
Permissible Shot
Only approved non-toxic shot is permitted while in the field with the following exception: While hunting fox, coyotes, and raccoons in units where it is allowed, the use of single projectile shot such as bullets, slugs, or muzzleloader bullets containing lead will be permitted. For deer hunting, only single projectile shot may be used. The useof buckshot will notbe permitted on refuge lands.
Accessibility Information Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental ability. For more information please contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, https://www.doi. gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights
Hunting and Fishing Regulations
The hunting regulations specific to Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge are set forth in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations. This brochure may not be a complete list of regulations. Individuals accessing the refuge are subject to inspections of permits, licenses, hunting equipment, bag limits, boats, vehicles and their contents by federal and state officers.
Michigan state regulations and refuge specific regulations will be enforced. Refuge specific regulations supersede state regulations. Hunting is allowed only on refuge units described in this brochure. Only the species listed in this brochure may be hunted.
Refuge hunting season is open from September 1 – May 31. All refuge hunting seasons will coincide with state hunting seasons. For authorized hunting, refuge is open 1½ hours before legal shooting time to 1 hour after legal shooting time.
Big Game Hunting
Huntable species: White-tailed deer, Wild turkey
Small/Upland Game
Huntable species: Ring-necked pheasant, gray, fox and, red squirrel, cottontail rabbit, raccoon; gray and red fox, and coyote.
Migratory Bird Hunting
Huntable species: Goose, duck, merganser, coot, gallinule, woodcock, sora, rail, and Wilson’s snipe. Migratory bird hunting is allowed at least 450’ away from an occupied building, and in accordance with State laws and regulations.
Special Hunting Permit Required Brancheau Unit Waterfowl Hunts Managed in cooperation with Michigan DNR, Wildlife Division. A lottery drawing will assign special permits along with designated zones to hunters at the SGA headquarters each morning at 5:30 a.m. All hunt zones are accessed by walking from the Brancheau Unit parking lot; no boats allowed. Each hunter is allowed a maximum of 25 shells containing approved non-toxic shot. No shot size larger than #1 shot is permitted. Waterfowl area permits are required and may be purchased at the SGA. Permits are $4 daily or $13 annually.
Humbug Marsh Unit (Mainland) White-tailed Deer Hunts
Random lottery draw managed in cooperation with the Michigan DNR, Wildlife Division. Hunters may apply for one deer reserved hunting permit from July 15 – August 15 at any license agent, DNR Customer Service Center, or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com. It costs $5 to apply. Selected applicants will be assigned a refuge installed ground hunting blind.
Access
Hunters must park in designated parking areas, as identified on the map, to access the refuge for hunting.
Access to the refuge from private property is prohibited.
Humbug Marsh (Mainland) Access: Access is permitted only with special hunting permit distributed via lottery with Michigan DNR.
Humbug Marsh (Openwater), Calf Island, Sugar Island and Humbug Island Access: The closest boat launch is Elizabeth Park Marina or Lake Erie Metropark.
Northern Portion Strong Unit Access: From I-75, take Exit 21 (Swan Creek Rd.) east to North Dixie Hwy. Turn left (northeast) and take North Dixie Highway/ US Turnpike to Port Sunlight Rd. Turn right (south) and
follow Port Sunlight Rd. about 1 mile to the Strong Unit. Hunter parking area is on left. Boat access is available from Lake Erie.
Brancheau Unit (Diked Portion): From I-75, take Exit 21 (Swan Creek Rd.) east to North Dixie Hwy. Turn left (northeast) and take North Dixie Hwy. to Strong Rd. Turn right (south) and follow Strong Rd. to Trombley Rd. Turn left (northeast) and take Trombley Rd. to Blanchett Rd. Turn right (southeast) and take Blanchett Rd. past the curve to Brancheau Rd. Turn left (southeast) and follow Brancheau Rd. to the Brancheau Unit parking area on left.(Coastal Wetlands): Closest boat launch is Michigan DNR launch located at Dixie Hwy. & Swan Creek Rd
Fix Unit Access: From I-75, take Exit 21 (Swan Creek Rd.) east to North Dixie Hwy. Turn right (south) and take North Dixie Hwy. to Post Rd. Turn left (east) and take Post Rd. about 1 mile to Leroux Rd. Turn right (southwest) and take Leroux Rd. to Langton Rd. Turn left (southeast) and take Langton Rd. to Toll Rd./Fisher St. Turn left (northeast) and follow to Fix Unit. Hunter parking area is on left.
Plum Creek Access: Closest boat launch is Bolles Harbor or River Raisin.
North Maumee Bay Unit Access: Closest boat launch is Halfway Creek on Algonquin Street off of Summit Street, Erie, MI.
Portable Tree Stands
We prohibit construction of permanent blinds, stands, platforms, or scaffolds. Only one tree stand per hunt unit per person. Portable tree stands are permitted for deer hunters. Tree stands do not need to be removed at the end of each day’s hunt. However, State regulations on the use of tree stands on public land will be strictly enforced. Personal tree stands are not allowed during the Humbug Marsh (Mainland) white-tailed deer hunt.
Equipment Removal
All items, including blinds, boats, and decoys must be removed from the refuge at the end of each day’s hunt. Discarded shells are considered litter.
Hunting Dogs
The use of hunting dogs, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter, is permitted. Dogs are permitted to hunt specified furbearers during daylight hours.
Do Not Shoot!
Opossum, porcupine, weasels (including mink), skunk, ground squirrel, woodchuck, muskrat, beaver, American crow, European starlings, house sparrows, northern bobwhite (quail), and feral pigeons may NOT be hunted or trapped on the refuge at anytime.
Prohibited Activities
- By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted
- We prohibit construction of permanent blinds, stands, platforms, or scaffolds. Portable tree stands are permitted for deer hunters
- Cutting of woody vegetation on the refuge for blinds or shooting lanes
- The use of paint, flagging, reflectors, tacks, or other human-made materials to mark trails or hunting locations
- Hunting over bait and the distribution of bait, including salt licks, mineral blocks, or any chemical substance applied to the ground or vegetation
- Camping and fires on refuge lands are prohibited
- All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other motorized vehicles
- The use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting
- Access to the refuge from private property
