Rules and Policies

The district’s waterfowl production areas are managed in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. If you witness or suspect a wildlife or district violation contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s hotline at 1-844-697-8477 or contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources “Report All Poaching” hotline by calling 1-800-292-7800.

Welcome to your wetland management district. District lands are open every day for you to discover new places to hunt, fish, take pictures, watch wildlife, walk, bike, cross-country ski and snowshoe.

Access to the district lands are half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset unless otherwise posted. Do not enter areas that are signed as closed.

Hunting, fishing and trapping seasons generally follow state seasons and regulations. Please consult the district manager at 517-351-6236 if you have questions. We may post additional site-specific regulations.

To ensure your safety and protect wildlife and habitat, please be aware of these regulations.

Special use permits may be issued for compatible secondary uses upon approval of the district manager. Contact the district office for application information at 517-351-4230.

General Restrictions

On all waterfowl production areas, we prohibit:

• Target shooting
• Training pets and allowing pets off leash
• All types of motorized watercraft (including gasoline and electric)
• Camping, open fires and overnight parking including designated parking areas
• Abandoning, discarding or otherwise leaving any personal property. All property brought onto a refuge must be removed at the end of each day. This includes all common items like vehicles, boats, decoys, trail cameras, blinds, geocaching items, photography equipment, portable stands and climbing equipment.
• Destructing, defacing, disturbing or unauthorized removal of any natural object, artifact, cultural resource or government property with the exception of mushroom and berry picking for personal consumption
• Introducing, liberating or placing plants or animals, or their parts, taken elsewhere and introducing it to waterfowl production areas lands or waters
• Disposing of animal carcasses, trash, refuse, rocks, wood or other debris
• Cutting, mowing, sawing, digging, collecting, injuring or removing vegetation without a permit
• Commercial enterprise without a special use permit
• Use or possession of any illegal drug or drug paraphernalia is prohibited
• Drones (UAVs) taking off, landing and/or flying on or over district lands
• Launching, landing or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (includes drones) on the district. This includes for recreational or commercial purposes.

Hunting

• Waterfowl production areas are open to hunting per state regulations unless specifically prohibited
• Small and upland game hunters using shotguns are required to use and possess only non-toxic shot
• Turkey and deer hunters may use slugs and shot containing lead to hunt these species, however we are asking hunters to consider using non-toxic ammunition for all hunting. Birds and other animals that feed on gut piles can suffer from lead poisoning.
• During upland game and migratory bird seasons, hunting dogs must be under the immediate control of the hunter
• Hunters must wear of blaze orange consistent with state regulations
• We prohibit constructing or occupying permanent stands or blinds. We also prohibit the use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree or hunting from a tree, into which a metal object has been driven to support a hunter. Portable hunting stands must be set up and removed each day.
• We prohibit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting
• We prohibit distribution of feed or bait or hunting over bait. This includes salts and minerals.
• You may not use a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light to spot, locate or take any wild animal in a waterfowl production area

Trapping

Waterfowl production areas are open to trapping per state regulations.

Fishing

• Waterfowl production areas are open to fishing per state regulations; however, the water is not deep enough on any waterfowl production areas to provide habitat for this activity
• We prohibit all types of motorized vehicles on frozen water bodies