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November 22-30, 2025.
The week started out with temperatures about average for this time of year, with daytime highs in the mid to upper 40s. As the week progressed, two storms passed over the area. The first brought a major dip in temperatures with some snow. The second brought more than 6 inches of snow and frigid temperatures to end our regular waterfowl season. Winds were strong most of the week, primarily from the west-northwest. We experienced light icing conditions midweek but froze up solid to end the season.
The refuge held around 5,000 birds most of the week, with birds holding on the western shore of Saginaw Bay and then coming into the area midday to feed during the warmer part of the day. As the week went on, numbers declined steadily as the cold weather set in. All refuge units are now completely frozen over. Mallards and black ducks made up 98 percent of the count, with a few pintails, gadwall and wigeon scattered in as well.
2–3: Corn cover averages 8 feet; water depth varies in zone 3 (8–10 inches), with zone 2 having sheet water throughout.
4–6: Corn cover averages 8 feet; water depth varies 6–10 inches, with zone 4 the driest at the north end.
7: Corn cover 6–8 feet; water depth 12–14 inches.
8: Corn cover 5–8 feet, planted in two blocks; shortest on the north end. Water depth 12–14 inches.
10–12: Corn cover averages 8 feet; zone 10 driest at the north end; 8–12 inches in zones 11–12.
13–15: Corn cover averages 8 feet; water depth 12–16 inches.
16–18: Corn cover very spotty in 16–17; blinds available in 16 and 17; water depth 8–18 inches.
19–20: Corn cover averages 7 feet; some thin spots; water depth 8–12 inches.
21–22: Corn cover averages 6–8 feet; some thin spots; water depth 4–6 inches, with zone 21 driest at the north end.
23: Corn cover averages 8 feet; thin spots on south end; water 6–12 inches.
24: Sparse corn cover 4–7 feet; 5 feet at blind; south of blind has no corn; water depth 8–14 inches.
25: Corn cover averages 8 feet; thin spots; water depth 8–14 inches.
26: Sparse corn cover 5–8 feet; 5 feet at blind; south of blind no corn; water depth 12–14 inches.
The north marsh will remain at low pool or drawn down to complete a winter burn in 2025–2026. Water has been added to the east marsh, with more to come after field flooding nears completion. All marshes will remain lower than full pool due to drought and falling Great Lakes water levels.
We experienced an uptick in hunter numbers this week with 280 hunter trips. We averaged six parties per draw, with weather days seeing more participation. Our busiest draw was Wednesday, Nov. 26, with 18 parties in the afternoon. Hunter trips increased 26 percent over the same week in 2024. For the season from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, Nayanquing had 3,191 hunter trips.
Hunters harvested 215 ducks and two geese this week, averaging 24 ducks a day. With icy conditions, afternoon hunts were more successful. This week saw a 165 percent increase in harvest compared with the same week in 2024. Mallards made up the majority of the harvest. Season totals from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 are 3,217 ducks and 87 geese, putting the area at 1.01 ducks per hunter trip.
Sunday marked the end of the regular waterfowl season for zone 2. Pheasant and deer hunters will begin using the area starting Dec. 1. The area now has roughly 99 percent ice coverage.
We have muzzleloading and late antlerless opportunities coming up. Permits can be obtained through a series of draws hosted throughout December. For more information, stop in or call the office at 989-697-5101. Fields will remain fully flooded at least through Dec. 13–14 for the late-season waterfowl split; however, if ice persists, de-watering of cropped fields may begin sooner.
