National Wildlife Refuge · Nevada · FWS Region 8

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge lies in Nye County, Nevada, with about 24,347 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 22,906 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
22.9Khuntable acres
24.3KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Ash Meadows 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 Ash Meadows NWR

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

At Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, spring water bubbles up from underground in the Mojave Desert. These springs create small pools and pebbled streams throughout the refuge.

WaterfowlDucks, 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 Nevada regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 22,906 (94%)Closed: 1,440 (6%)22.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations22,906 ac 94%
  • Closed1,440 ac 6%
Units by size (acres)
Upland Unit
22,557 ac
Closed Unit
1,440 ac
Lower Crystal Marsh
209 ac
Peterson Reservior
60 ac
Crystal Reservior
57 ac
Horseshoe Marsh
24 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Crystal Reservior
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 57 —
Horseshoe Marsh
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 24 —
Lower Crystal Marsh
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 209 —
Peterson Reservior
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 60 —
Upland Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 22,557 —
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,440 —

Ash Meadows NWR by the numbers

With about 22,906 huntable acres, Ash Meadows NWR ranks #4 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Nevada and #104 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 94% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Upland Unit (22,557 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Horseshoe Marsh, covers 24 acres.

1 unit totaling 1,440 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Ash Meadows NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Nevada 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 — Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 Nevada hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nevada Department of Wildlife
  • 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 Ash Meadows NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Ash Meadows NWR.

How to get to Ash Meadows NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.40577, -116.31354
DMS
36°24′20.8″N 116°18′48.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Las Vegas, NV67 mi W of town
  • Mesquite, NV127 mi W of town
  • Bullhead City, AZ131 mi NW of town
  • Needles, CA144 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid69 mi
  • BFL Bakersfield Meadows168 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 Ash Meadows NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM7:15 PM12h 59m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM6:54 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM6:30 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:10 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:37 AM6:07 AM4:50 PM10h 43m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM4:38 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM4:30 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:31 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:26 AM6:56 AM4:39 PM9h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:25 AM6:55 AM4:51 PM9h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:17 AM6:47 AM5:09 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.406, -116.314 (PDT / 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.

Guides for hunting Ash Meadows NWR

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…

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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Ash Meadows NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ash Meadows NWR?

Yes. Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (22,906 acres) during 2026–2027 for 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 Ash Meadows NWR?

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

Where is Ash Meadows NWR located?

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is in Nye County, Nevada, about 67 miles W of Las Vegas, NV (straight-line). GPS: 36.40577, -116.31354.

What are legal shooting hours at Ash Meadows 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

Desert National Wildlife Range

Clark County, NV · 59 mi NE

2 open1 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️

1.4M huntable acres

Pahranagat NWR

Lincoln County, NV · 89 mi NE

3 special4 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.7K huntable acres

Moapa Valley NWR

Clark County, NV · 91 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Blue Ridge NWR

Tulare County, CA · 141 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Havasu NWR

Mohave County, AZ · 162 mi SE

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.7K huntable acres

Pixley NWR

Tulare County, CA · 174 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Nevada →

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