DMU 273 reserved deer hunting information

Deer Management Unit (DMU) 273 is a cooperatively managed public hunting area in Saginaw County comprised of both the Shiawassee River State Game Area (SRSGA) and Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR). DMU 273 is defined in the Michigan Wildlife Conservation Order, Chapter 12, Sec. 12.73b, available at Michigan.gov/Hunting.

Detailed descriptions of the boundaries for DMU 273 can be found online at Michigan.gov/DNRLaws or by contacting a DNR Customer Service Center.

Map

Figure 1: DMU 273 Hunt Area Map. Additional information and detailed maps (including parking lot locations) are available online at Shiawassee River State Game Area and Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, or try the DNR’s interactive mapping application, available at Michigan.gov/MiHunt.

Shiawassee River State Game Area (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

* Non-Ambulatory hunts at Shiawassee NWR are subject to special restrictions and requirements.

Yes. Antlerless-only hunts are offered on both Shiawassee River State Game Area and Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge throughout the season. Refer to the hunt table on this web page to identify which hunt periods and hunt numbers are antlerless-only hunts.

Yes, you may have up to one non-hunting person accompany you on your hunt during the period your access permit is valid.

Yes. Follow State of Michigan guidelines.

Yes. DMU 273 has reserved deer hunts for the September youth deer/Liberty Hunt weekend. Youth that apply for the Liberty Hunt are also eligible to apply for one access permit during the regular deer season. Youth hunters 10-16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. Youth under 10 years old who are hunting under the Mentored Youth Hunting License must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. Additional restrictions apply; see Michigan.gov/MentoredHunting for details.

Yes. Non-ambulatory hunts are offered at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge for hunters with permanent mobility impairment whose disability requires use of a personal assistive mobility device, such as a wheelchair. If you apply for a non-ambulatory hunt, the Refuge will reach out prior to the hunt to corroborate non-ambulatory status.

Non-ambulatory hunt participants must contact hunt coordinators prior to September 15. Contact information and details can be found at FWS.gov. 

There are no non-ambulatory hunts offered at Shiawassee River State Game Area.

Yes. A hunter applying for the non-ambulatory hunt at Shiawassee NWR will need to hold a permit to hunt from a standing vehicle to be eligible.

A hunter applying for the non-ambulatory hunt will need to hold a permit to hunt from a standing vehicle to be eligible.

From July 15 – August 15, you can purchase one reserved deer application valid for a specific reserved deer management unit during specific hunt period. You may only purchase one application per year.

A limited number of reserved deer hunt access permits are available for specific areas and dates. Hunt applicants will be selected by random drawing.

You are responsible for obtaining your drawing results. They will be available at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses on August 26 or you can call 517-284-9453.

If you’re selected in the drawing, you may obtain a deer hunt access permit for the area and season dates for which you were selected.

Non-ambulatory hunts at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge are subject to eligibility restrictions and requirements (non-ambulatory hunt numbers: 0207, 0208, 2009, and 0210). Hunters may apply for other DMU 273 hunts without restriction.

Youth up to 16 years of age may apply for the youth hunt (Liberty Hunt) as well as one regular season hunt choice. Adults are not eligible to apply for the youth hunt but may accompany a successful youth applicant during the hunt.

You will need to have a valid Michigan driver’s license OR a State of Michigan ID card (issued by the Secretary of State) OR a DNR Sportcard (issued by license agents or at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

Yes, you may apply in a hunt party with up to one other applicant. All applicants in a hunt party will receive an access permit if the party is selected, except for those who submit an invalid application.

You may acquire your access permit online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or from any license agent. Prior to acquiring your access permit, you must first have purchased or have a current base license in your virtual shopping cart on the DNR’s online license system before the access permit shows as available.

You can harvest one deer with your access permit.  

All firearm, bow and arrow, and crossbow use in DMU 273 must follow statewide regulations for the current season in the Limited Firearm Deer Zone. Legal weapons follow statewide regulations for the season in which a hunt period occurs in. For more information, refer to the Michigan Hunting Regulations, available at Michigan.gov/Hunting under “Rules and Regulations”. Hunters are also encouraged to review the Wildlife Conservation Order for complete hunting regulations and legal descriptions.

Shiawassee River State Game Area (SRSGA), 225 East Spruce Street, St. Charles, MI 48655. For assistance, contact the Bay City DNR Customer Service Center, 3580 State Park Drive, Bay City, MI 48706. Phone 989-684-9141.

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR), 6975 Mower Road, Saginaw, MI 48601; Phone 989-777-5930 opt. 3. SNWR hunting information is available online at FWS.gov. Contact local office with questions about pre-hunt scouting or other area-specific concerns.