DNR announces adjusted hours at four managed waterfowl areas

Increased costs, reduced staffing result in changes for fall 2026 season

Decreasing revenues, increasing costs from inflation and years of deferred maintenance on critical infrastructure have prompted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to adjust hours at four managed waterfowl areas this fall.

The change will mean fewer daily draw opportunities for hunters. Reserved hunts will continue as planned, and all changes will take effect after the 2026 duck season opening weekends.

“We have shielded our managed waterfowl areas from the impact of budget constraints over the last several years because of the value of these places, but we can’t afford to do that anymore,” DNR Director Scott Bowen said. “Highly engaged hunting communities often help steward these areas, and their contributions have driven our commitment to maintain services at a time of revenue declines. However, the truth is that we can no longer sustain the same amount of service with reduced staffing levels statewide.”

Bowen said the changes are also driven by a priority for staff to address critical infrastructure needs on these public lands and across the state.

“We are looking at the DNR budget as a whole, reassessing our priorities to accommodate decreasing revenues and declining purchasing power, while addressing emergencies such as fires and floods,” Bowen said. “Our goal this fall is to provide the most opportunity for hunters as staffing and funding levels allow.”

Declining revenues, increasing costs threaten Michigan's wildlife conservation legacy

With flat or declining revenues and increased costs due to inflation, the DNR Wildlife Division has restricted hiring, eliminated positions, scaled back routine maintenance, and postponed critical repairs to dams, wetland infrastructure and buildings that directly support hunting access and habitat quality.

In a Jan. 14, 2026 presentation to the Natural Resources Commission, Wildlife Division staff outlined the impact of declining funding: a loss of $12.5 million in annual purchasing power over seven years — equal to 21% of the division’s total budget. Rising costs for things like gravel, fuel, electricity, seed and fertilizer have forced a 40% reduction in other areas of the budget, such as infrastructure maintenance and staff to do the work.

“We’re doing what we can to maintain high-quality hunting opportunities and meet our wildlife stewardship responsibilities,” said Sara Thompson, DNR Wildlife Division chief. “But we don’t have the level of resources and staffing to deliver the same amount of services we provided five years ago.”

What to expect at managed waterfowl areas this fall

Changes are coming to managed hunting operations at the following premier state game and wildlife areas:

• Fish Point in Tuscola County
• Nayanquing Point in Bay County
• Shiawassee River in Saginaw County
• Harsens Island Unit at St. Clair Flats in St. Clair County

These areas have traditionally held daily morning and afternoon draws for free waterfowl hunting permits, valid for specific zones. For the 2026 waterfowl season, draw opportunities will be reduced to five days per week, Tuesday through Saturday, with one draw per day at 5:30 a.m. Permits will be valid until the close of shooting hours.

Leftover zones will be available until 8 a.m. only, when check stations will close to the public. Self-registration for leftover zones will not be available after the draw. If there are no leftover zones, the check station will post a notice on the door and close immediately following the draw.

Managed hunting zones at Fish Point, Nayanquing Point, Shiawassee River and Harsens Island at St. Clair Flats will be closed to waterfowl hunting on Sundays and Mondays, with no draws and no self-registration. This will provide a 48-hour quiet period each week, a practice that has been successfully implemented at managed waterfowl areas in other states.

Opening weekend reserved hunts are Oct. 3-4 at Fish Point and Nayanquing Point, and Oct. 17-18 at Harsens Island, Shiawassee River and Pointe Mouillee. The application period for reserved hunts is Aug. 1-28.

Three more prized state wildlife and game areas have already implemented reduced draw schedules and will continue without further reductions this fall: 

• Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Monroe and Wayne counties
• Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center
• Fennville Farm Unit at Allegan State Game Area in Allegan County

Pointe Mouillee will continue to operate four draws per week, with 5:30 a.m. draws on Sundays and Thursdays, and 11 a.m. draws on Sundays and Tuesdays. Thursday morning permits are valid until the close of shooting hours. There will be no self-registration after the draws. Leftover zones will be available until 8 a.m. for morning draws and until 1 p.m. for afternoon draws. If there are no leftover zones, the check station will post a notice on the door and close immediately following the draw. 

Muskegon County Resource and Recovery Center will continue to operate four draws per week, with 5:30 a.m. draws on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. draws on Thursdays and Saturdays. Tuesday morning permits are valid until close of shooting hours.

Fennville Farm Unit at Allegan State Game Area will continue to operate three draws per week, with 5:30 a.m. draws on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 17-18, and Dec. 19-Feb. 14. Permits are valid until 4:30 p.m. Self-registration is available for duck hunting outside of drawing dates during the South Zone duck season. Self-registration is available for goose hunting Sept. 1-30 and Oct. 19- Nov. 4.

About managed waterfowl areas

Michigan’s managed waterfowl areas, also known as the Wetland Wonders, are public lands stewarded by the DNR Wildlife Division to create wildlife habitat and opportunities for hunting. These areas are used by approximately one out of every four waterfowl hunters in Michigan. They also provide a variety of other recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers and birders.

The wetland habitats attract thousands of migratory birds every spring and fall and foster a rich biodiversity of plant and animal species. They also absorb floodwater to protect surrounding communities, and filter and clean groundwater before it flows into river systems and the Great Lakes.

Waterfowl hunters support the conservation of public lands through hunting license fees, federal and state duck stamps, and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. These “hunter dollars” are used to protect and restore wildlife habitat and provide hunting access and opportunity on public lands, as well as habitat stewardship and services at parks, forests and fisheries across Michigan. 

For more information about managed waterfowl areas, visit Michigan.gov/WetlandWonders.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Waterfowl hunting at Fish Point: Fish Point State Wildlife Area is one of Michigan's Wetland Wonders — public lands where waterfowl hunters can participate in free drawings for permits to hunt specific zones. These areas offer pristine habitat for migratory birds, as well as ideal conditions for hunters.

Family waterfowl hunting: A family participates in the youth hunt at Shiawassee River State Game Area.

Pointe Mouillee: On the western shores of Lake Erie, Pointe Mouillee is one of the largest freshwater marsh restoration projects in the world.