Iron County is river, pond and lake country, and the ducks and geese come through it every fall. Here's the water to hunt, the 2026 Upper Peninsula dates and limits, the licenses you need and a place to stay.
Iron County is forest and water, with rivers like the Brule and the Paint winding through it, beaver flowages and wetlands tucked back in the woods, and lakes and reservoirs of every size.
Hunt the small wooded water and forested wetlands for wood ducks and mallards, and work the bigger lakes as the season goes on. Early in the fall the same wet cover holds grouse and woodcock, so pack a woodcock stamp along with your license.
The whole Upper Peninsula is in Michigan's North Zone, so the North Zone dates and limits are the ones that count here.
DNR Where to HuntMost of the duck hunting here happens on three kinds of water, and each one wants its own plan.
Slip a canoe down a slow stretch of river and jump ducks off the bends and back eddies. Know where you'll take out before you put in. Stick to stretches with public land on the banks when you can, and get the landowner's OK before you set foot on private shoreline.
Wood ducks and mallards work small wooded water with standing timber. A handful of decoys and a quiet walk in is often all it takes.
As the season wears on, the open water holds diving ducks like bluebills. Watch the wind, and bring the gear for big water.
Some duck water is hard to miss. Peavy Pond is a big reservoir on the Michigamme River, about 2,800 acres. A good many of the best spots, though, are small ponds back in the woods that you'll only find on a map.
Duck mornings up here start cold and wet, so dress for both. Lead-free shot is the rule for waterfowl anywhere in Michigan, and your shotgun has to be plugged to hold no more than three shells. After that, it comes down to decoys, a way onto the water and a good dog.
Goose season is the long one. In the Upper Peninsula it opens September 1 and runs through December 16, the longest waterfowl season of the fall.
Geese feed in hayfields and farm fields and rest on open water. Most of that field hunting is on private land, so ask the landowner first.
You can take five dark geese a day (Canada, white-fronted and brant), with no more than one brant, and 20 light geese.
Goose RulesDucks and geese are migratory birds, so a base hunting license won't cover you on its own.
If you're 16 or older, you need a Michigan base license, a waterfowl license (HIP registration comes with it) and a federal duck stamp. Nonresidents can buy a 3-day or 7-day small game license instead of the base license. Electronic duck stamps are good from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Buy it all at the DNR license store.
License RulesShoot lead-free shot only, and plug your shotgun to three shells. Legal hours run from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset. Iron County is on Central time, so subtract an hour from the state's printed tables.
Waterfowl RegulationsThese are the 2026 North Zone dates, and they cover the whole Upper Peninsula. Duck dates move a little every year. The proposed North Zone duck opener for 2027 is September 25.
In 2026, September 26 to November 22, plus November 28–29. The whole U.P. is in the North Zone.
September 1 to December 16, the longest waterfowl season of the fall.
Yes. A statewide teal-only season runs in early September, with shooting from sunrise.
A 3-day or 7-day small game license (or a base license), a Michigan waterfowl license with HIP, and a federal duck stamp.
A half hour before sunrise, until sunset. Iron County is on Central time, so subtract an hour from the state's printed tables.
Six ducks, with species limits inside that: no more than 4 mallards (2 of them hens), and 2 scaup a day through November 9, then 1.
Yes, a canoe float is a classic way to jump ducks here. Stick to stretches with public land on the banks when you can, and get the landowner's permission before you go ashore on private land.
Duck hunting starts in the dark, so do your planning before you come north. Mark a few rivers, ponds and lakes on MiHunt, get your licenses and duck stamp in order, and book a room close to the water. Between hunts, fish the same water (fall is musky time), or see every season on our Iron County hunting guide.
Plan an Iron County duck and goose hunt: 2026 Upper Peninsula season dates and limits, the rivers, ponds and lakes birds use, the licenses you need, and where to stay.
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906-214-2308
906-265-9100
40 E Adams St
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-9244
1700 County Road 424
Gaastra, MI 49917
906-265-3611
1257 W Ice Lake Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
800-362-7853
373 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
800-DO-BRULE
906-265-4957
397 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
906-822-7713
1968 US 141 Highway
Amasa, MI 49903
Iron County is one of the Upper Peninsula’s best kept secrets. From camping to fishing, hunting to canoeing, mountain biking to forest bathing – no matter your interests, the great outdoors and clear crisp air await you here.
