Featured Managed Waterfowl Hunt Area: Nayanquing Point
Oct. 13, 2016
 Looking for a new place to hunt waterfowl this fall? Take a trip to Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area for a quality hunting experience.
Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, just north of Linwood, Michigan, on the western shore of the Saginaw Bay, has a family feeling. The hunters there take great pride in this local resource and appreciate the natural beauty and abundant waterfowl in the area.
A mix of dabbling and diving ducks, as well as Canada geese, can be found at Nayanquing Point and on the adjoining waters of Saginaw Bay. Mallards are the most commonly harvested duck, with a good number of wood ducks (early in the season), green-winged teal and widgeon taken as well.
Waterfowl hunters wishing to hunt at Nayanquing Point must enter the managed hunt drawing. Drawings occur every day of the waterfowl hunting season at 5:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. There are 26 flooded field zones and 40 marsh zones on the area, most with easy walk-in access.
The wildlife area encompasses 1,505 acres and consists of cattail marsh, farmed upland fields and shrubby lowlands. Water-control structures allow for the flooding of farm fields for excellent waterfowl habitat during fall migration. Waterfowl hunters aren’t the only ones who benefit from the habitat management at Nayanquing Point – it is also a popular destination for pheasant, small game and deer hunters.
Nayanquing Point is one of the top birding spots in Michigan, and many birders come each year to see the large yellow-headed blackbird colony in the marsh. Wildlife viewers, birders and hunters appreciate the observation tower overlooking the cattail marsh and Saginaw Bay. In addition to the yellow-headed blackbirds, red-winged blackbirds, marsh wrens and swamp sparrows build their nests among the cattails in the spring and summer months.
“Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area provides a unique experience, particularly for novice hunters, due to its size, location and ease of access.” said Brandy Berger, wildlife technician at Nayanquing Point. “Its proximity to coastal wetlands, flooded woods and agricultural fields provides the opportunity to hunt around a diversity of habitat, to harvest a mixed bag that may include mallards, green winged teal, pintail, widgeon, redheads and ring- necks, and to easily access Saginaw Bay by foot.”
To learn more about Nayanquing Point and to see a video outlining its managed waterfowl hunt drawing, visit www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders or contact the Nayanquing Office at 989-697-5101.
We look forward to seeing you at Nayanquing Point this fall!
Don't forget that the Wetland Wonders Challenge, sponsored by Consumers Energy, runs until Feb. 12, 2017. Youth and adult hunters that hunt at three managed waterfowl hunt areas can be entered in the contest. Seven winners will be chosen to win ultimate waterfowl hunting prize packages valued at $1,500, including a "golden ticket" that's good for one first-choice pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area for the 2017-18 season (non-reserved). Check out www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders for contest terms and conditions.
The Wetland Wonders Challenge is part of the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy, a 10-year, cooperative partnership to restore, conserve and celebrate Michigan's waterfowl, wetland and waterfowl hunting community. The initiative is a "call to action" to honor yesterday, engage today and build for tomorrow. To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/mwl or look for Michigan Waterfowl Legacy on Facebook.
/Editors’ note: Contact: Brandy Dybas-Berger, 989-697-5101 or Holly Vaughn Joswick, 313-396-6863. An accompanying photo is available below for download. Suggested caption:
Sunset over Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area near Linwood, Michigan, which offers a unique waterfowl hunting and birding experience./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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