These voluntary avoidance areas within the Waterfowl Hunting Closed Areas help reduce disturbance to resting and feeding waterfowl during fall migration. Waterfowl are sensitive to human activity occurring near their resting and feeding areas. Even distant boating activity may be enough to cause birds to flush and burn-up valuable energy reserves. Boaters, who voluntarily throttle down and avoid concentrations of waterfowl, wherever they occur, will help birds by allowing them to spend their time feeding, accumulating fat reserves, which is critical for surviving their migration.

These areas are:

Voluntary Avoidance Areas:

Pool 4 - Big Lake, WI
Pool 5 - Weaver, MN/Lost Island, WI
Pool 5A - Polander Lake, MN & WI
Pool 7 - Lake Onalaska, WI
Pool 8 - Wisconsin Islands, MN   
Pool 9 Harpers Slough, WI
Pool 11 - 12 Mile Island, WI 
Pool 13 - Pleasant Creek, Iowa
Pool 13 - Elk River, Iowa

 

Voluntary Avoidance and No Motors allowed:
Pool 4 - Rieck’s Lake, WI
Pool 4 - Peterson Lake, MN
Pool 5 - Spring Lake, WI
Pool 5A - Fountain City Bay
Pool 10 Sturgeon Slough
Pool 11 John Deer Marsh, Iowa
Pool 12 Kehough Slough, Illinois
Pool 14 Beaver Island, Illinois




Voluntary Avoidance and No Hunting Zone
Pool 8 - Goose Island No Hunting Zone