National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in North Slope Borough, Alaska, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 19,637,696 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 19,637,697 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
19.6Mhuntable acres
19.6MFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Arctic NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Arctic NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a vast, remote and untrammeled wilderness, may be as far as you can get from human civilization in the United States.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Alaska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 19,637,697 (100%)19.6Mhuntable acres
  • Open19,637,697 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge Open 19,637,697 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Arctic NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

The refuge is especially noted for wilderness fishing on rivers from the Brooks Range Mountains, north to the Beaufort Sea. Species include Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, Arctic char, lake trout and Arctic cisco.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Arctic NWR

Navigate

Destination: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
68.51287, -147.29057
DMS
68°30′46.3″N 147°17′26.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Fort Yukon, AK145 mi N of town
  • Fairbanks, AK254 mi N of town
  • Utqiagvik, AK296 mi SE of town
  • Galena, AK370 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • FAI Fairbanks Intl256 mi
  • BRW Utqiagvik Wiley Post–Will Rogers295 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Arctic NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Anchorage local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:39 AM6:09 AM9:29 PM15h 20m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM8:27 PM13h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:28 AM7:58 AM7:18 PM11h 20m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:21 AM8:51 AM6:18 PM9h 27m
Sun, Nov 1, 20268:30 AM9:00 AM4:04 PM7h 04m
Sun, Nov 15, 20269:35 AM10:05 AM3:02 PM4h 56m
Tue, Dec 1, 202611:10 AM11:40 AM1:36 PM1h 57m
Dec 15, 2026Polar night
Jan 1, 2027Polar night
Fri, Jan 15, 202711:12 AM11:42 AM2:13 PM2h 31m
Mon, Feb 1, 20279:47 AM10:17 AM3:47 PM5h 30m

Computed for 68.513, -147.291 (AKDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Arctic NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Arctic NWR?

Yes. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (19,637,697 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Arctic NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Arctic NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Arctic NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Arctic NWR located?

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is in North Slope Borough, Alaska, about 145 miles N of Fort Yukon, AK (straight-line). GPS: 68.51287, -147.29057.

What are legal shooting hours at Arctic NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Yukon Flats NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 180 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

9.1M huntable acres

Kanuti NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 187 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.3M huntable acres

Nowitna NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 321 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.9M huntable acres

Koyukuk NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 331 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4M huntable acres

Selawik NWR

Northwest Arctic Borough, AK · 354 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.7M huntable acres

Tetlin NWR

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK · 431 mi SE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

728K huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.