Wetland Management District · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Arrowwood Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Stutsman County, North Dakota, Arrowwood Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 6,255 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 6,260 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
6.3Khuntable acres
6.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Arrowwood WMD 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 Arrowwood WMD

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

The Arrowwood Wetland Management District includes 28 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) totaling 6,162 acres across Foster and Eddy counties in east-central North Dakota.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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 North Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 6,260 (100%)6.3Khuntable acres
  • Open6,260 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 6,260 —

Arrowwood WMD by the numbers

With about 6,260 huntable acres, Arrowwood WMD ranks #19 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #246 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (6,260 acres).

Besides 6,255 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 34,297 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Drift WPA (320 acres, 1 miles E).

When to hunt Arrowwood WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
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

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 North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota Game and Fish Department
  • 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 Arrowwood WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. The fishing opportunities are marginal but are offered in accordance with state seasons.

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

How to get to Arrowwood WMD

Navigate

Destination: Arrowwood Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.26890, -98.85232
DMS
47°16′08.0″N 98°51′08.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Carrington, ND18 mi SE of town
  • Jamestown, ND26 mi N of town
  • Valley City, ND47 mi NW of town
  • Devils Lake, ND58 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • GFK Grand Forks Intl91 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal96 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 Arrowwood WMD

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM8:18 PM13h 25m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM7:50 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM7:17 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:21 AM7:51 AM6:50 PM10h 58m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM5:20 PM10h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM5:01 PM9h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:30 AM8:00 AM4:48 PM8h 48m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:45 AM8:15 AM4:45 PM8h 31m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:52 AM8:22 AM4:54 PM8h 32m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:47 AM8:17 AM5:10 PM8h 52m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:32 AM8:02 AM5:35 PM9h 33m

Computed for 47.269, -98.852 (CDT / 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.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Arrowwood WMD

This district manages 28 named WPAs totaling 6,736 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Swan Lake WPAEddy County1,045
Wallace WPAEddy County913
Haven WPAEddy County653
Larson WPAGriggs County604
Sheyenne WPAEddy County514
Ziebart WPAEddy County314
Barlow WPAFoster County282
Wood WPAEddy County240
Okert WPAFoster County228
Hegland WPAEddy County191
Midgley WPAFoster County180
Zink WPAFoster County162
Bauers WPAFoster County160
Topp WPAFoster County159
Larson WPAEddy County134
Goose Lake WPAEddy County134
Blue Cloud Lake WPAFoster County124
Langley WPAEddy County121
Columbia WPAEddy County110
Haley WPAEddy County96
Anderson WPAEddy County78
Florhaug WPAFoster County70
Nash WPAEddy County51
Hanson WPAEddy County49
Munster WPAEddy County47

Showing the 25 largest of 28. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Arrowwood WMD

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Arrowwood WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Arrowwood WMD?

Yes. Arrowwood Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (6,260 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Arrowwood WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Arrowwood WMD. 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 Arrowwood WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Arrowwood WMD located?

Arrowwood Wetland Management District is in Stutsman County, North Dakota, about 18 miles SE of Carrington, ND (straight-line). GPS: 47.26890, -98.85232.

What are legal shooting hours at Arrowwood WMD?

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

Arrowwood NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 7.6 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

12.7K huntable acres

Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 21 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

40K huntable acres

Chase Lake NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 33 mi SW

1 special
🦌

4.4K huntable acres

Valley City NFH

Barnes County, ND · 44 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Valley City WMD

Barnes County, ND · 45 mi SE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

19.7K huntable acres

White Horse Hill National Game Preserve

Benson County, ND · 50 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.