5402946
Temporary Hunting Closure on Portion of Fox River Refuge September 1 through November 1, 2026

A temporary hunting closure will be in place on a small section of Fox River refuge between September 1 through November 1 for a whooping crane reintroduction project. The section is located on the northeastern corner of the refuge adjacent to the Muir waterfowl production area waterfowl production area
Waterfowl production areas are small natural wetlands and grasslands within the National Wildlife Refuge System that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for millions of waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife. Virtually all waterfowl production areas are in the Prairie Pothole Region states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Learn more about waterfowl production area . 

The remainder of the refuge will be open for all state deer seasons.

Please see map for closure area Hunting at Fox River National Wildlife Refuge | FWS.gov

Visit Us

The refuge is closed to the public with the exception of licensed deer hunters.

Driving Directions

  • From Portage, take Highway 33 east to County Highway F north
  • From Montello, take Highway 22 south to County Highway F south
  • The refuge is located on the west side of County Highway F, across from John Muir County Park

Fees

There is no charge to visit. State deer licenses apply.

Restrooms

No facilities are located on the refuge. Nearby Muir County Park has pit toilets available.

What To Do

Deer hunting.

Know Before You Go

The refuge is closed to the public with the exception of licensed deer hunters in accordance with state-wide seasons and regulations set by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Activities

Hunting

Other Facilities in the Complex

Wetlands at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Welcome to Horicon Marsh! At more than 33,000 acres, Horicon Marsh is one of the largest freshwater marshes in the United States and is a critical rest stop for thousands of migrating ducks and Canada geese. It is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance, as both Globally and State...
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Three dark gray, spotted bird eggs lie on a bed of broken mussel shells
Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge
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purple blooms on dwarf lake iris flower
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge is made up of several islands located in Lake Michigan, between Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula and Michigan’s Garden Peninsula. Spanning two states, the refuge is made up of a collection of islands, including Plum, Hog and Pilot islands, as well as a parcel of...
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orange and black monarch butterfly on yellow stiff goldenrod flower
Leopold Wetland Management District
Welcome to the Leopold Wetland Management District! Named after Aldo Leopold, who is widely acknowledged as the father of wildlife conservation in America, the district encompasses approximately 13,500 acres of waterfowl production areas in 17 southeastern Wisconsin counties, covering some of the...
National Wildlife Refuge
Portage,WI

Locations

Fox River National Wildlife Refuge
(920) 387-2658
C/O Horicon National Wildlife RefugeW4279 Headquarters RoadMayville,WI53050-1931

Fox River Refuge General Contact

FoxRiver@fws.gov