Hunting by game · 2026–2027

Upland Birds Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

265 refuges and stations list upland birds hunting — pheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridge. 79 of them require a refuge-specific permit, and 42 offer youth hunts. Use the map and state list below to find a spot, then check the refuge page for units, rules and directions.

Map upland birds refugesFull list
265refuges & stations
46states & territories
79need a refuge permit
42offer youth hunts
Refuges with upland birds hunting, by state
North Dakota
27
Montana
20
Minnesota
18
Alaska
16
California
14
South Dakota
9
Illinois
9
Washington
9
Arizona
8
Michigan
8
Arkansas
7
Idaho
7
Maine
7
Nebraska
7
Nevada
6

When is upland birds season?

Typical U.S. season windows (varies widely by state, zone and refuge)
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

General guidance only. Exact dates are set by each state and refuges may open fewer days. Always check the current 2026–2027 regulations.

Where to hunt upland birds: all 265 refuges

RefugeStateOpen unitsHuntable acresPermitYouth
Cahaba River National Wildlife RefugeAL1/24,738Yes🧒
Key Cave National Wildlife RefugeAL1/11,060Yes
Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife RefugeAL2/33,348Yes🧒
Sauta Cave National Wildlife RefugeAL1/1266Yes
Wheeler National Wildlife RefugeAL3/527,628Yes
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeAK1/24,481,063—
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife RefugeAK1/13,525,283—
Arctic National Wildlife RefugeAK1/119,637,697—
Becharof National Wildlife RefugeAK1/11,166,075—
Innoko National Wildlife RefugeAK1/14,049,856—
Izembek National Wildlife RefugeAK1/1315,329—
Kanuti National Wildlife RefugeAK1/11,316,244—
Kenai National Wildlife RefugeAK4/51,938,387Yes
Kodiak National Wildlife RefugeAK2/21,635,318—
Koyukuk National Wildlife RefugeAK1/13,988,153—
Nowitna National Wildlife RefugeAK1/11,900,516—
Selawik National Wildlife RefugeAK1/12,718,909—
Tetlin National Wildlife RefugeAK1/1728,114—
Togiak National Wildlife RefugeAK1/14,297,282—
Yukon Delta National Wildlife RefugeAK1/120,531,068—
Yukon Flats National Wildlife RefugeAK1/19,052,525—
Bill Williams River National Wildlife RefugeAZ2/32,911—
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife RefugeAZ5/6850,329Yes
Cibola National Wildlife RefugeAZ5/912,242Yes
Havasu National Wildlife RefugeAZ9/1138,730Yes
Imperial National Wildlife RefugeAZ2/422,353—
Kofa National Wildlife RefugeAZ3/4663,400—
Leslie Canyon National Wildlife RefugeAZ1/2813—
San Bernardino National Wildlife RefugeAZ1/21,303—
Bald Knob National Wildlife RefugeAR4/415,436Yes
Big Lake National Wildlife RefugeAR2/310,446Yes
Cache River National Wildlife RefugeAR10/1075,215Yes
Felsenthal National Wildlife RefugeAR2/377,289Yes
Holla Bend National Wildlife RefugeAR2/35,982Yes
Overflow National Wildlife RefugeAR3/413,421Yes
Wapanocca National Wildlife RefugeAR2/25,653Yes
Colusa National Wildlife RefugeCA3/41,340—
Delevan National Wildlife RefugeCA5/61,983—
Grasslands Wildlife Management AreaCA6/73,002—
Kern National Wildlife RefugeCA3/43,217—
Lower Klamath National Wildlife RefugeCA3/531,277Yes
Modoc National Wildlife RefugeCA2/52,294Yes🧒
North Central Valley Wildlife Management AreaCA3/5741—
Sacramento National Wildlife RefugeCA4/53,545—🧒
Sacramento River National Wildlife RefugeCA22/396,083—
San Diego National Wildlife RefugeCA1/2161—
San Luis National Wildlife RefugeCA6/710,145—
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife RefugeCA5/1710,430—
Sutter National Wildlife RefugeCA3/41,222—
Tule Lake National Wildlife RefugeCA3/420,405Yes
Arapaho National Wildlife RefugeCO2/515,387Yes🧒
Leadville National Fish HatcheryCO1/13,071Yes
Bombay Hook National Wildlife RefugeDE7/89,076Yes🧒
Prime Hook National Wildlife RefugeDE8/106,979Yes🧒
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife RefugeFL2/321,837Yes
Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation AreaFL4/57,040—
Bond Swamp National Wildlife RefugeGA1/28,570Yes
Okefenokee National Wildlife RefugeGA4/63,821Yes🧒
Piedmont National Wildlife RefugeGA1/238,218Yes
Bear Lake National Wildlife RefugeID4/147,316—
Camas National Wildlife RefugeID3/48,092—
Deer Flat National Wildlife RefugeID5/63,064Yes
Grays Lake National Wildlife RefugeID2/34,911—
Kootenai National Wildlife RefugeID3/61,546Yes
Minidoka National Wildlife RefugeID6/75,468—
Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production AreaID1/11,865—
Chautauqua National Wildlife RefugeIL1/2810—
Crab Orchard National Wildlife RefugeIL5/644,377Yes🧒
Cypress Creek National Wildlife RefugeIL2/316,436—
Emiquon National Wildlife RefugeIL1/2894—
Great River National Wildlife RefugeIL5/511,348—
Hackmatack National Wildlife RefugeIL2/3655—
Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation AreaIL1/166—
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife RefugeIL9/108,249—
Two Rivers National Wildlife RefugeIL8/89,009—
Muscatatuck National Wildlife RefugeIN2/35,202—
Patoka River National Wildlife RefugeIN2/412,601—
Driftless Area National Wildlife RefugeIA1/2798—
Iowa Wetland Management DistrictIA4/527,523—
Neal Smith National Wildlife RefugeIA1/24,645Yes
Port Louisa National Wildlife RefugeIA4/515,355—
Union Slough National Wildlife RefugeIA3/42,755—
Flint Hills National Wildlife RefugeKS2/411,621—
Kirwin National Wildlife RefugeKS3/55,817Yes
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife RefugeKS1/24,958—
Quivira National Wildlife RefugeKS1/28,158—
Clarks River National Wildlife RefugeKY8/911,669Yes
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife RefugeLA2/319,052Yes
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife RefugeLA2/33,804Yes
Bogue Chitto National Wildlife RefugeLA3/636,383Yes
Red River National Wildlife RefugeLA1/210,921Yes
Upper Ouachita National Wildlife RefugeLA2/343,755Yes🧒
Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production AreaME1/11,034—
Craig Brook National Fish HatcheryME1/287—
Green Lake National Fish HatcheryME1/255—
Moosehorn National Wildlife RefugeME4/527,627Yes
Petit Manan National Wildlife RefugeME51/565,064—
Rachel Carson National Wildlife RefugeME17/284,109Yes🧒
Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife RefugeME1/111,615—
Assabet River National Wildlife RefugeMA4/62,273Yes
Mashpee National Wildlife RefugeMA1/2301—
Oxbow National Wildlife RefugeMA6/71,672Yes
Parker River National Wildlife RefugeMA5/64,450Yes🧒
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife RefugeMA22/2850,194—
Detroit River International Wildlife RefugeMI5/61,676Yes
Harbor Island National Wildlife RefugeMI1/1736—
Jordan River National Fish HatcheryMI2/374—
Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management AreaMI1/16,616—
Michigan Wetland Management DistrictMI1/1659—
Pendills Creek National Fish HatcheryMI1/264—
Seney National Wildlife RefugeMI3/486,071—
Shiawassee National Wildlife RefugeMI3/49,875Yes
Agassiz National Wildlife RefugeMN3/458,042—🧒
Big Stone National Wildlife RefugeMN2/39,574—
Big Stone Wetland Management DistrictMN1/14,442—
Crane Meadows National Wildlife RefugeMN3/32,195Yes
Detroit Lakes Wetland Management DistrictMN1/250,199—
Fergus Falls Wetland Management DistrictMN1/249,393—
Glacial Ridge National Wildlife RefugeMN2/317,405—
Litchfield Wetland Management DistrictMN1/238,587—
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMN12/1712,620Yes🧒
Minnesota Valley Wetland Management DistrictMN2/28,695—
Morris Wetland Management DistrictMN1/256,610—
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife RefugeMN4/56,677—
Rice Lake National Wildlife RefugeMN1/310,377—
Rydell National Wildlife RefugeMN2/31,836—🧒
Sherburne National Wildlife RefugeMN3/628,027—
Tamarac National Wildlife RefugeMN6/742,008—
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish RefugeMN10/16237,328—
Windom Wetland Management DistrictMN1/217,831—
Coldwater River National Wildlife RefugeMS2/32,306Yes🧒
Dahomey National Wildlife RefugeMS1/210,276Yes
Panther Swamp National Wildlife RefugeMS5/641,448Yes🧒
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife RefugeMS2/544,706Yes🧒
Tallahatchie National Wildlife RefugeMS1/23,639Yes🧒
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife RefugeMO1/121,929—
Clarence Cannon National Wildlife RefugeMO3/33,924—
Swan Lake National Wildlife RefugeMO7/811,672Yes
Benton Lake National Wildlife RefugeMT4/105,026—🧒
Benton Lake Wetland Management DistrictMT2/312,792—
Black Coulee National Wildlife RefugeMT1/1643—
Bowdoin National Wildlife RefugeMT3/415,375Yes
Bowdoin Wetland Management DistrictMT2/38,275—
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeMT1/3931,398—🧒
Charles M. Russell Wetland Management DistrictMT2/26,605—
Creedman Coulee National Wildlife RefugeMT1/184Yes
Grass Lake National Wildlife RefugeMT1/21,712—
Hailstone National Wildlife RefugeMT1/1156—
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife RefugeMT1/1720—
Lake Mason National Wildlife RefugeMT3/48,823—
Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife RefugeMT1/124—
Lost Trail National Wildlife RefugeMT1/23,244Yes🧒
Medicine Lake National Wildlife RefugeMT3/422,000—🧒
Northeast Montana Wetland Management DistrictMT1/112,073—
Northwest Montana Wetland Management District-Flathead CountyMT2/37,219—
Northwest Montana Wetland Management District-Lake CountyMT1/13,557—
UL Bend National Wildlife RefugeMT1/155,790—
War Horse National Wildlife RefugeMT3/32,853—
Crescent Lake National Wildlife RefugeNE2/341,906—
Desoto National Wildlife RefugeNE4/66,836Yes
Fort Niobrara National Wildlife RefugeNE1/25,065Yes
John W. and Louise Seier National Wildlife RefugeNE1/12,403—
North Platte National Wildlife RefugeNE2/41,507—🧒
Rainwater Basin Wetland Management DistrictNE1/224,936—
Valentine National Wildlife RefugeNE2/370,865—🧒
Ash Meadows National Wildlife RefugeNV5/622,906—
Desert National Wildlife RangeNV3/41,367,248—
Fallon National Wildlife RefugeNV1/118,075—
Pahranagat National Wildlife RefugeNV3/72,728—
Sheldon National Wildlife RefugeNV4/6535,895—
Stillwater National Wildlife RefugeNV1/253,900—
Umbagog National Wildlife RefugeNH2/236,146—
Cape May National Wildlife RefugeNJ4/612,039—
Wallkill River National Wildlife RefugeNJ3/54,932Yes🧒
Bitter Lake National Wildlife RefugeNM3/414,285—
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife RefugeNM5/647,619—
Sevilleta National Wildlife RefugeNM4/4227,772—
Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery CenterNM1/2449—
Great Thicket National Wildlife RefugeNY2/4192—
Iroquois National Wildlife RefugeNY3/410,140Yes
Alligator River National Wildlife RefugeNC7/8153,178Yes
Pee Dee National Wildlife RefugeNC4/67,888Yes
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife RefugeNC4/5107,257Yes
Arrowwood National Wildlife RefugeND1/212,720—
Arrowwood Wetland Management DistrictND1/16,260—
Audubon National Wildlife RefugeND1/23,236—
Audubon Wetland Management DistrictND2/226,242—
Chase Lake Prairie Project Wetland Management DistrictND1/139,984—
Crosby Wetland Management DistrictND1/118,799—
Des Lacs National Wildlife RefugeND3/414,012—
Devils Lake Wetland Management DistrictND1/252,728—
Florence Lake National Wildlife RefugeND1/21,560—
J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife RefugeND3/458,943—
J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management DistrictND1/134,021—
Kulm Wetland Management DistrictND1/145,133—
Lake Alice National Wildlife RefugeND2/212,070—
Lake Nettie National Wildlife RefugeND1/22,070—🧒
Lake Zahl National Wildlife RefugeND1/23,260—🧒
Long Lake National Wildlife RefugeND2/223,197—
Long Lake Wetland Management DistrictND1/223,662—🧒
Lostwood National Wildlife RefugeND1/226,154—
Lostwood Wetland Management DistrictND1/111,032—
Mclean National Wildlife RefugeND1/2342—
Slade National Wildlife RefugeND1/12,999—🧒
Stewart Lake National Wildlife RefugeND1/2638—
Tewaukon National Wildlife RefugeND3/46,852—
Tewaukon Wetland Management DistrictND1/115,988—
Upper Souris National Wildlife RefugeND3/432,026—
Valley City Wetland Management DistrictND1/119,691—
White Lake National Wildlife RefugeND1/11,037—
Cedar Point National Wildlife RefugeOH3/32,593—
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife RefugeOH22/302,925Yes
Ottawa National Wildlife RefugeOH4/57,014—🧒
Optima National Wildlife RefugeOK1/14,341—
Salt Plains National Wildlife RefugeOK11/129,555—🧒
Tishomingo National Wildlife RefugeOK6/89,484—🧒
Washita National Wildlife RefugeOK4/65,878Yes🧒
Cold Springs National Wildlife RefugeOR5/53,124—
Hart Mountain National Antelope RefugeOR1/2260,339—
Malheur National Wildlife RefugeOR4/867,809—
Mckay Creek National Wildlife RefugeOR1/2620Yes
Umatilla National Wildlife RefugeOR5/915,358Yes🧒
Cherry Valley National Wildlife RefugePA3/55,027Yes
Erie National Wildlife RefugePA2/29,008—
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife RefugeSC5/845,064Yes🧒
Bear Butte National Wildlife RefugeSD1/1402—
Huron Wetland Management DistrictSD1/217,522—
Lacreek National Wildlife RefugeSD7/811,419—
Lake Andes National Wildlife RefugeSD1/42,184—
Lake Andes Wetland Management DistrictSD1/215,054—
Madison Wetland Management DistrictSD2/244,033—
Sand Lake National Wildlife RefugeSD2/319,546—🧒
Sand Lake Wetland Management DistrictSD1/144,493—
Waubay Wetland Management DistrictSD1/141,098—
Chickasaw National Wildlife RefugeTN3/426,714Yes🧒
Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeTN5/611,154Yes
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeTN6/812,514Yes🧒
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife RefugeTX3/56,719Yes
Muleshoe National Wildlife RefugeTX3/42,831Yes
Bear River Migratory Bird RefugeUT2/330,166—
Fish Springs National Wildlife RefugeUT3/412,670—
Ouray National Wildlife RefugeUT2/36,785—
Missisquoi National Wildlife RefugeVT12/134,131Yes🧒
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife RefugeVA3/41,144Yes
Columbia National Wildlife RefugeWA3/413,489—
Hanford Reach National MonumentWA3/656,487—
Leavenworth National Fish HatcheryWA1/21,269—
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife RefugeWA4/839,582—
Little White Salmon National Fish HatcheryWA1/2114—
Mcnary National Wildlife RefugeWA13/1813,051—🧒
Spring Creek National Fish HatcheryWA1/238—
Toppenish National Wildlife RefugeWA8/9881—
Willapa National Wildlife RefugeWA9/1014,490—
Canaan Valley National Wildlife RefugeWV4/518,757Yes
Horicon National Wildlife RefugeWI3/421,628Yes
Iron River National Fish HatcheryWI1/21,087—
Leopold Wetland Management DistrictWI1/313,841—
Necedah National Wildlife RefugeWI2/339,111—🧒
St. Croix Wetland Management DistrictWI2/28,909—
Trempealeau National Wildlife RefugeWI2/26,938Yes
Bamforth National Wildlife RefugeWY2/21,171—
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife RefugeWY3/35,986—
Hutton Lake National Wildlife RefugeWY2/31,650—
Pathfinder National Wildlife RefugeWY1/116,851—
Seedskadee National Wildlife RefugeWY3/325,985—

Other game

Big GameDeer, elk & other big gameWaterfowlDucks & geeseWild TurkeySpring & fall turkeyMigratory BirdsDove, woodcock & snipeSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit & hareFeral & ExoticFeral hogs & exoticsFishingFreshwater, tidal & shellfish