Guide · Updated September 2026
Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply
Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.
By the WildlifeChase Editorial Team · Based on USFWS 2026–2027 data
Your state license is always required, but on 187 refuges and stations you'll also need a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permits help refuges manage crowding, distribute limited opportunities fairly and make sure hunters know the rules. Here's how the system works.
Permit types
USFWS data groups refuge permits into a handful of types (a refuge may use more than one):
| Type | Refuges | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Signed Brochure or Similar | 90 | A free general permit — you print or pick up the refuge hunt brochure, sign it and carry it while hunting. |
| Other | 61 | A refuge-specific system — see the refuge's hunt page. |
| Other OMB-Approved Permit | 36 | A federally approved application or permit form, often used for quota hunts, lotteries or harvest reporting. |
| Special Use Permit | 23 | An individually issued permit, typically for special hunts, guides or activities outside the normal program. |
How to get one
| Method | Refuges |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Visitor center or office | 109 |
| 💻 Online through FWS | 94 |
| 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge | 63 |
| ✉️ By mail | 60 |
| 📋 Other | 59 |
| 💻 Online elsewhere (often Recreation.gov) | 58 |
Lotteries and quota hunts
Popular hunts — youth deer hunts, draw blinds for waterfowl, limited-entry elk or turkey — are often allocated by lottery. Application windows can close months before the season, sometimes in late summer for fall hunts. Some lotteries charge a small application fee. Tips:
- Put application deadlines in your calendar as soon as the refuge posts them.
- Apply for less-popular dates or units to improve your odds.
- Check whether leftover or standby permits are issued on hunt mornings.
Carry it — and read it
Most refuge permits must be signed and carried while hunting. The brochure isn't just paperwork: it's where you'll find unit maps, shooting-hour exceptions, blind rules and closed areas. Reading it before you hunt is the easiest way to stay legal.
See every refuge that requires a permit on the permit finder.