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December 27 - January 2, 2026
Daytime temperatures were in the high 30s to low 40s, with nighttime temperatures below freezing leading up to the late split. Rain and mid-40s arrived Sunday, the 28th, for the last day of the split.
Nothing was in the refuge. Large numbers of puddle ducks and divers were on the confluence of the Detroit River, Huron River and Lake Erie.
Below are the normal hunting conditions. Currently, all units are locked up with ice.
Long Pond (zones 2–10)
Marsh unit. Another great year of healthy vegetation throughout the unit, with open small pockets and larger openings throughout. Water depth is mostly knee-deep but between knee and waist-deep throughout the unit, allowing for walk-in hunting and small boat use. The bottom is firm like last year, but it is still a marsh with submerged cattail mounds, so caution is needed. The rollers for this unit are accessible but will require pulling the boat on dry land some distance before reaching them. Zones 2, 5 and 7 still have areas to hide and hunt, but those units were hit hard by muskrats, so vegetation is less than normal.
Nelson (zones 11–14)
Cropped unit. All zones are flooded and ready at hunting depth. Corn and buckwheat are great, with plenty of food and cover.
Walpatich (zones 15, 19, 21)
Cropped units. Corn grew well, standing around 6 feet. Buckwheat production is marginal but still providing food. Water was added this past week to provide better water in 15 and 21.
Walpatich (zones 16–18, 20, 22)
Marsh/moist-soil units. Zone 16 is not cropped this year but will provide shallow-water hunting and cattail cover. Zones 17, 18, 20 and 22 are cattail marsh units with plenty of good cover. All zones had good vegetation response, and openings were maintained to provide open water. Water was added to the Walpatich Unit, making 16, 20 and 22 waist-deep with some spots a little deeper. We would keep them shallower, but we need to get more water into 15, 19 and 21.
Brancheau (zone 23), managed by USFWS
Located about 5 miles south of Pointe Mouillee. This unit will be part of the 2025 draw. It will also be reduced to one zone for an individual or a party of 2–4.
Vermet
Public hunting unit. This unit will look similar to last year but with a little more vegetation growth and some taller cattails. Mud motors and flat-bottom boats are recommended. The lower water level should also encourage more dabbler use. It is recommended to use the middle causeway (launch at Roberts Road, south end of Humphries Unit) rollers for this unit rather than the north causeway because of the sediment deposit forming in front of the north causeway rollers, plus low water on the Huron River and west winds.
Humphries
Public hunting unit. The west end has excellent shallow-water habitat, while the east end is deep with cattail mats. Walk-in hunting is along the west, while a boat is needed for the east. Water levels should be somewhat lower than previous years.
Bad Creek/Cripple Point units
Public hunting units. Walk-in units. Units were maintained for openings, but water is shallower than previous years. Most water will be concentrated on the east end of the units.
Week hunter trips: 44
Season hunter trips: 1,259
Draw sizes:
Saturday (a.m.) had 7 parties with 7 zones selected; Saturday (p.m.) had 4 parties with 4 zones selected and 2 leftover zones.
Sunday (a.m.) had 6 parties with 4 zones selected and 2 leftover zones; Sunday (p.m.) had 3 parties with 3 zones selected.
Ducks: 9
Geese: 0
Top species: Mallard
Ducks per hunter trip: 0.20
Ducks: 1,334
Geese: 35
Top species: Mallard, then wood duck and green-winged teal, then gadwall
Ducks per hunter trip: 1.06
End of season.
All preferred draws are over.
