Hunting by game · 2026–2027

Waterfowl Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

336 refuges and stations list waterfowl hunting — ducks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots. 136 of them require a refuge-specific permit, and 62 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 waterfowl refugesFull list
336refuges & stations
49states & territories
136need a refuge permit
62offer youth hunts
Refuges with waterfowl hunting, by state
Montana
22
Louisiana
20
California
20
Minnesota
18
Alaska
16
Oregon
15
North Dakota
13
Mississippi
13
Washington
12
Texas
10
Maine
9
Illinois
9
North Carolina
8
South Dakota
8
Virginia
8

When is waterfowl 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 waterfowl: all 336 refuges

RefugeStateOpen unitsHuntable acresPermitYouth
Choctaw National Wildlife RefugeAL2/33,913—
Eufaula National Wildlife RefugeAL9/1210,588Yes
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—
Buenos Aires National Wildlife RefugeAZ1/2104,975—
Cibola National Wildlife RefugeAZ5/912,242Yes
Havasu National Wildlife RefugeAZ9/1138,730Yes
Imperial National Wildlife RefugeAZ2/422,353—
Bald Knob National Wildlife RefugeAR4/415,436Yes
Cache River National Wildlife RefugeAR10/1075,215Yes
Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife RefugeAR13/17153,578Yes
Felsenthal National Wildlife RefugeAR2/377,289Yes
Overflow National Wildlife RefugeAR3/413,421Yes
Pond Creek National Wildlife RefugeAR2/328,428Yes🧒
Clear Lake National Wildlife RefugeCA2/39,970—
Colusa National Wildlife RefugeCA3/41,340—
Delevan National Wildlife RefugeCA5/61,983—
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife RefugeCA20/2110,375Yes
Grasslands Wildlife Management AreaCA6/73,002—
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife RefugeCA9/121,686—
Kern National Wildlife RefugeCA3/43,217—
Lower Klamath National Wildlife RefugeCA3/531,277Yes
Merced National Wildlife RefugeCA2/31,902—
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—
Salinas River National Wildlife RefugeCA1/260—
San Luis National Wildlife RefugeCA6/710,145—
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife RefugeCA5/1710,430—
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife RefugeCA2/5827—
Stone Lakes National Wildlife RefugeCA1/2174Yes🧒
Sutter National Wildlife RefugeCA3/41,222—
Tule Lake National Wildlife RefugeCA3/420,405Yes
Alamosa National Wildlife RefugeCO2/36,809—🧒
Arapaho National Wildlife RefugeCO2/515,387Yes🧒
Browns Park National Wildlife RefugeCO2/310,793—
Leadville National Fish HatcheryCO1/13,071Yes
Monte Vista National Wildlife RefugeCO2/311,167—🧒
Stewart B. Mckinney National Wildlife RefugeCT5/13496Yes
Bombay Hook National Wildlife RefugeDE7/89,076Yes🧒
Prime Hook National Wildlife RefugeDE8/106,979Yes🧒
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife RefugeFL4/5144,641Yes
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife RefugeFL2/321,837Yes
Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation AreaFL4/57,040—
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife RefugeFL4/549,638Yes🧒
Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeFL3/440,016Yes
St. Marks National Wildlife RefugeFL6/749,991Yes
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife RefugeFL1/25,632Yes
Bond Swamp National Wildlife RefugeGA1/28,570Yes
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—
Boyer Chute National Wildlife RefugeIA11/113,970—
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
Atchafalaya National Wildlife RefugeLA2/215,768Yes
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife RefugeLA6/715,064Yes🧒
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife RefugeLA1/211,112Yes
Bayou Teche National Wildlife RefugeLA7/89,770Yes🧒
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife RefugeLA2/319,052Yes
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife RefugeLA2/33,804Yes
Bogue Chitto National Wildlife RefugeLA3/636,383Yes
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife RefugeLA2/49,206Yes🧒
Cat Island National Wildlife RefugeLA1/29,725Yes
Catahoula National Wildlife RefugeLA2/324,717Yes
D'Arbonne National Wildlife RefugeLA3/317,639Yes
Delta National Wildlife RefugeLA1/318,142Yes
Grand Cote National Wildlife RefugeLA3/43,384Yes
Lacassine National Wildlife RefugeLA3/433,240Yes🧒
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife RefugeLA4/512,301Yes
Mandalay National Wildlife RefugeLA2/34,296Yes🧒
Red River National Wildlife RefugeLA1/210,921Yes
Sabine National Wildlife RefugeLA1/234,140Yes
Tensas River National Wildlife RefugeLA4/575,113Yes🧒
Upper Ouachita National Wildlife RefugeLA2/343,755Yes🧒
Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production AreaME1/11,034—
Craig Brook National Fish HatcheryME1/287—
Franklin Island National Wildlife RefugeME1/118—
Green Lake National Fish HatcheryME1/255—
Moosehorn National Wildlife RefugeME4/527,627Yes
Petit Manan National Wildlife RefugeME51/565,064—
Pond Island National Wildlife RefugeME1/117—
Rachel Carson National Wildlife RefugeME17/284,109Yes🧒
Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife RefugeME1/111,615—
Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeMD37/3919,972Yes🧒
Patuxent Research RefugeMD7/812,611Yes🧒
Assabet River National Wildlife RefugeMA4/62,273Yes
Great Meadows National Wildlife RefugeMA12/143,377Yes
Mashpee National Wildlife RefugeMA1/2301—
Monomoy National Wildlife RefugeMA1/23,224—
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—
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—
Hamden Slough National Wildlife RefugeMN3/33,408—
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—
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
Grand Bay National Wildlife RefugeMS2/310,092Yes
Hillside National Wildlife RefugeMS3/415,444Yes
Holt Collier National Wildlife RefugeMS3/32,981Yes
Mathews Brake National Wildlife RefugeMS2/22,363Yes🧒
Morgan Brake National Wildlife RefugeMS4/47,569Yes
Panther Swamp National Wildlife RefugeMS5/641,448Yes🧒
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife RefugeMS2/544,706Yes🧒
St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife RefugeMS5/621,271Yes🧒
Tallahatchie National Wildlife RefugeMS1/23,639Yes🧒
Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife RefugeMS2/34,744—
Yazoo National Wildlife RefugeMS3/412,784Yes🧒
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife RefugeMO1/121,929—
Clarence Cannon National Wildlife RefugeMO3/33,924—
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife RefugeMO1/27,442Yes
Mingo National Wildlife RefugeMO6/716,357Yes
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—
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife RefugeMT4/62,304—
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—
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife RefugeMT3/535,151—
Swan River National Wildlife RefugeMT2/21,933—
UL Bend National Wildlife RefugeMT1/155,790—
War Horse National Wildlife RefugeMT3/32,853—
Crescent Lake National Wildlife RefugeNE2/341,906—
Fort Niobrara National Wildlife RefugeNE1/25,065Yes
John W. and Louise Seier National Wildlife RefugeNE1/12,403—
Rainwater Basin Wetland Management DistrictNE1/224,936—
Valentine National Wildlife RefugeNE2/370,865—🧒
Ash Meadows National Wildlife RefugeNV5/622,906—
Fallon National Wildlife RefugeNV1/118,075—
Pahranagat National Wildlife RefugeNV3/72,728—
Ruby Lake National Wildlife RefugeNV1/38,592—
Sheldon National Wildlife RefugeNV4/6535,895—
Stillwater National Wildlife RefugeNV1/253,900—
Great Bay National Wildlife RefugeNH1/11,103Yes
Umbagog National Wildlife RefugeNH2/236,146—
Cape May National Wildlife RefugeNJ4/612,039—
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife RefugeNJ4/724,526Yes
Great Swamp National Wildlife RefugeNJ2/36,763Yes
Supawna Meadows National Wildlife RefugeNJ1/41,434—🧒
Wallkill River National Wildlife RefugeNJ3/54,932Yes🧒
Bitter Lake National Wildlife RefugeNM3/414,285—
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife RefugeNM5/647,619—
Las Vegas National Wildlife RefugeNM5/67,261Yes
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
Montezuma National Wildlife RefugeNY28/339,757Yes
Alligator River National Wildlife RefugeNC7/8153,178Yes
Cedar Island National Wildlife RefugeNC1/2463—
Currituck National Wildlife RefugeNC4/53,777Yes
Mackay Island National Wildlife RefugeNC3/48,723Yes
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife RefugeNC3/448,845Yes
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife RefugeNC4/5107,257Yes
Roanoke River National Wildlife RefugeNC8/821,313—
Swanquarter National Wildlife RefugeNC1/36,384—
Arrowwood Wetland Management DistrictND1/16,260—
Audubon Wetland Management DistrictND2/226,242—
Chase Lake Prairie Project Wetland Management DistrictND1/139,984—
Crosby Wetland Management DistrictND1/118,799—
Devils Lake Wetland Management DistrictND1/252,728—
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—
Long Lake Wetland Management DistrictND1/223,662—🧒
Lostwood Wetland Management DistrictND1/111,032—
Tewaukon Wetland Management DistrictND1/115,988—
Valley City Wetland Management DistrictND1/119,691—
Cedar Point National Wildlife RefugeOH3/32,593—
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife RefugeOH22/302,925Yes
Ottawa National Wildlife RefugeOH4/57,014—🧒
Deep Fork National Wildlife RefugeOK2/38,307Yes
Little River National Wildlife RefugeOK6/714,083Yes
Salt Plains National Wildlife RefugeOK11/129,555—🧒
Sequoyah National Wildlife RefugeOK13/1616,484Yes🧒
Tishomingo National Wildlife RefugeOK6/89,484—🧒
Washita National Wildlife RefugeOK4/65,878Yes🧒
Wichita Mountains Wildlife RefugeOK10/1153,301Yes
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife RefugeOR2/4537—
Baskett Slough National Wildlife RefugeOR2/31,068Yes🧒
Cold Springs National Wildlife RefugeOR5/53,124—
Hart Mountain National Antelope RefugeOR1/2260,339—
Klamath Marsh National Wildlife RefugeOR1/211,681—
Lewis and Clark National Wildlife RefugeOR20/2411,988—
Malheur National Wildlife RefugeOR4/867,809—
Mckay Creek National Wildlife RefugeOR1/2620Yes
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife RefugeOR2/3131—
Siletz Bay National Wildlife RefugeOR2/4205—
Tualatin River National Wildlife RefugeOR1/2232—🧒
Umatilla National Wildlife RefugeOR5/915,358Yes🧒
Upper Klamath National Wildlife RefugeOR1/216,399—
Wapato Lake National Wildlife RefugeOR1/2270—
William L. Finley National Wildlife RefugeOR4/65,550Yes
Cherry Valley National Wildlife RefugePA3/55,027Yes
Erie National Wildlife RefugePA2/29,008—
Block Island National Wildlife RefugeRI5/5129Yes
John H. Chafee National Wildlife RefugeRI6/7440Yes
Trustom Pond National Wildlife RefugeRI3/4368—🧒
Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife RefugeSC7/117,903Yes
Savannah National Wildlife RefugeSC9/1129,750Yes🧒
Waccamaw National Wildlife RefugeSC6/933,580Yes🧒
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 Wetland Management DistrictSD1/144,493—
Waubay Wetland Management DistrictSD1/141,098—
Chickasaw National Wildlife RefugeTN3/426,714Yes🧒
Cross Creeks National Wildlife RefugeTN4/58,181Yes
Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeTN5/611,154Yes
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeTN6/812,514Yes🧒
Tennessee National Wildlife RefugeTN5/649,473Yes🧒
Aransas National Wildlife RefugeTX3/654,646Yes🧒
Big Boggy National Wildlife RefugeTX2/31,266—
Brazoria National Wildlife RefugeTX6/710,905Yes
Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife RefugeTX3/412,900Yes
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife RefugeTX11/1280,315Yes
McFaddin National Wildlife RefugeTX4/521,559Yes
Neches River National Wildlife RefugeTX7/89,778—
San Bernard National Wildlife RefugeTX4/56,965—🧒
Texas Point National Wildlife RefugeTX1/23,552Yes
Trinity River National Wildlife RefugeTX7/128,765Yes🧒
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🧒
Chincoteague National Wildlife RefugeVA5/79,895Yes
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife RefugeVA3/41,144Yes
Featherstone National Wildlife RefugeVA2/34.1—
Fisherman Island National Wildlife RefugeVA1/2752Yes
James River National Wildlife RefugeVA2/33,937Yes
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife RefugeVA1/2213Yes
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife RefugeVA18/206,802Yes
Wallops Island National Wildlife RefugeVA1/1365Yes
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife RefugeWA2/6571—🧒
Columbia National Wildlife RefugeWA3/413,489—
Conboy Lake National Wildlife RefugeWA1/32,122—
Hanford Reach National MonumentWA3/656,487—
Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed DeerWA6/113,879—
Leavenworth National Fish HatcheryWA1/21,269—
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife RefugeWA4/839,582—
Mcnary National Wildlife RefugeWA13/1813,051—🧒
Ridgefield National Wildlife RefugeWA1/6920Yes🧒
Toppenish National Wildlife RefugeWA8/9881—
Turnbull National Wildlife RefugeWA6/88,654Yes🧒
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
Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife RefugeWI3/4243—
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 gameWild TurkeySpring & fall turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail & grouseMigratory BirdsDove, woodcock & snipeSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit & hareFeral & ExoticFeral hogs & exoticsFishingFreshwater, tidal & shellfish