Return to Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

Hunting

At Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

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.

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.

Downloadable and Printable brochure

Unit	Big Game: (White-tailed deer and Wild turkey	Big Game: White-tailed deer archery	Upland/Small Game	Migratory Bird	Migratory Bird below the ordinary high watermark	Season	Special Regulations	Boat Access ONLY	Acceswith special hunt permit
Humbug Marsh Open Water (from water’sedge to the Detroit River)					X	State Season	State regulations apply.	X
HumbugMarsh Mainland (from water’s edge west to W. Jefferson Ave.)		X				permit specified	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 Beachprotection dike to unit boundary)	X		X	X		State Season
Strong Unit Southern Portion (from EstralBeach protection dike south into Village of Estral Beach)						Closed to ALL hunting
Brancheau Unit Diked Portion (managed areas inside dikes)	X		X	X		Opening day of statewaterfowl 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	State Season	State regulations apply.	X
Fix Unit		X	X	X		State Season	Closed to firearm deer hunting.
Plum Creek Bay Unit		X	X	X		State Season	State regulations apply. Closed to firearm deer humting	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

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.

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. The refuge will NOT allow hounding, baiting or night hunting.

Big Game Hunting

Huntable species: White-tailed deer, Wild turkey

Small/Upland Game

Huntable species: State listed species

We prohibit night hunting of upland game from ½ hour after legal sunset until ½ hour before legal sunrise the following day.

Migratory Bird Hunting

Migratory bird hunting is allowed at least 450’ away from an occupied building, and in accordance with State laws and regulations.

Brancheau Unit - Diked Portion Waterfowl Hunts

Managed in cooperation with Michigan DNR, Wildlife Division. All hunt zones are accessed by walking from the Brancheau Unit parking lot; non-motorized 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

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 (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.

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
We prohibit the use of electronic or photographic trail monitoring devices such as game cameras.

Detroit River Hunting Map

Detroit River Interanational Wildlife Refuge hunt map, for more inforamtion on specific units please email detroitriver@fws.gov or phone 734-365-0219. The visitor center is located at 5437 West Jefferson Ave Trenton, MI 48183.

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Activities

Fishing

Hiking

Osprey Holding fish in talon about to land in nest

Birding

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

5437 West Jefferson Avenue
Trenton, MI 48183

(734) 365-0219

detroitriver@fws.gov

Volunteer Coordinator Email: driwr_volunteer@fws.gov

Law Enforcement (TIPs Line): 1-844-397-8477