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December 6-14, 2025
Cold, cold, cold and ice. Temperatures stayed below freezing, with nighttime lows in the teens and single digits over the weekend. A couple of precipitation events brought light rain, but not enough to melt anything. The marsh was locked up with ice.
Very little activity in the refuge. During a brief rain event, a few birds were present in Bloody Run, but it was short-lived.
Below are the normal hunting conditions; currently, all units are locked up with ice.
Long Pond (Zones 2–10)
Marsh unit. Another strong year of healthy vegetation throughout the unit, with small pockets and larger openings. Water depth is mostly knee deep, ranging to waist deep in some areas, allowing for walk-in hunting and small boat use. The bottom is firm, similar to last year, but submerged cattail mounds remain, so caution is advised. Rollers are accessible but require pulling boats over dry land for some distance. Zones 2, 5 and 7 still have areas to hide and hunt, though muskrat activity reduced vegetation more than normal.
Nelson (Zones 11–14)
Cropped unit. All zones are flooded to hunting depth. Corn and buckwheat are in great condition, providing ample food and cover.
Walpatich (Zones 15, 19, 21)
Cropped units. Corn grew well, standing about 6 feet tall. Buckwheat production is marginal but still providing food. Water was added this past week to improve conditions in Zones 15 and 21.
Walpatich (Zones 16–18, 20, 22)
Marsh and moist soil units. Zone 16 is not cropped this year but provides shallow water hunting with cattail cover. Zones 17, 18, 20 and 22 are cattail marsh units with good cover. All zones had strong vegetation response, with openings maintained for open water. Water was added, making Zones 16, 20 and 22 waist deep in some areas. Depth is maintained to help move more water into Zones 15, 19 and 21.
Brancheau (Zone 23), managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Located about 5 miles south of Pointe Mouillee. This unit will be part of the 2025 draw and will be reduced to one zone for an individual or a party of two to four.
Vermet
Public hunting unit. Conditions are similar to last year, with slightly more vegetation growth and taller cattails. Mud motors and flat-bottom boats are recommended. Lower water levels should encourage more dabbling duck use. The middle causeway rollers are recommended, launching at Roberts Road on the south end of the Humphries Unit, due to sediment buildup at the north causeway and low water on the Huron River combined with west winds.
Humphries
Public hunting unit. The west end offers excellent shallow water habitat, while the east end is deeper with cattail mats. Walk-in hunting is available on the west end, while boats are required on the east end. Water levels are expected to be somewhat lower than in previous years.
Bad Creek and Cripple Point units
Public walk-in hunting units. Openings were maintained, but water is shallower than in previous years. Most water is concentrated on the east end of the units.
Week hunter trips: 35
Season hunter trips: 1,215
Draw sizes: Sunday morning had 17 parties with 12 zones selected and two leftover zones chosen. Sunday afternoon had 15 parties with 11 zones selected. Tuesday afternoon had five parties with five zones selected. Thursday all day had six parties with five zones selected.
Week total: Ducks, 1; geese, 1. Top species was wood duck. Ducks per hunter trip averaged 0.03.
Season total: Ducks, 1,325; geese, 35. Top species were mallard, followed by wood duck, green-winged teal and gadwall. Ducks per hunter trip averaged 1.09.
End of season.
For the late split, if open water is available, a draw will be held. If there is no open water, a self-serve board will be provided. By conservation order, the game area is closed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Starting at 4 a.m. on Dec. 27, hunters may obtain a self-serve zone. All preferred draws are complete.
