Audubon NWR
McLean County, ND · 3.8 mi E
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣
3.2K huntable acres
Audubon 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
Hunting at Audubon WMD
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.
On any given day, it's hard to predict what waterfowl species a hunter will encounter on the waterfowl production areas (WPAs) of Audubon Wetland Management District.
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 (2)
- Open26,082 ac 99%
- Special regulations160 ac 1%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 26,082 | — | |
| Falkirk WPA Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 160 | — |
Audubon WMD by the numbers
With about 26,242 huntable acres, Audubon WMD ranks #7 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #94 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 (26,082 acres), while the smallest, Falkirk WPA, covers 160 acres.
Besides 26,165 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 145,960 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 Turtle Lake I WPA (534 acres, 9 miles E).
When to hunt Audubon 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
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 Audubon WMD
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
Available species include perch and northern pike. Fishing is marginal and occurs during periods of high water conditions. There are no Audubon Wetland Management District-provided facilities, and vehicle access is limited to designated trails.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Audubon WMD
Navigate
Destination: Audubon Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
47.57800, -101.24708- DMS
47°34′40.8″N 101°14′49.5″W
Nearest towns
- Garrison, ND9.5 mi SE of town
- Minot, ND45 mi S of town
- Bismarck, ND57 mi N of town
- Rugby, ND80 mi SW of town
Closest airports
- MOT Minot Intl47 mi
- BIS Bismarck Municipal61 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 Audubon 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 8:28 PM | 13h 26m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:59 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 7:26 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:59 PM | 10h 57m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:29 PM | 10h 02m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:10 PM | 9h 21m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:41 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:56 PM | 8h 45m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:56 AM | 8:26 AM | 4:54 PM | 8h 28m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 8:02 AM | 8:32 AM | 5:02 PM | 8h 30m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:58 AM | 8:28 AM | 5:18 PM | 8h 50m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:42 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:43 PM | 9h 31m |
Computed for 47.578, -101.247 (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 Audubon WMD
This district manages 86 named WPAs totaling 26,165 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.
| WPA | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Koenig WPA | McLean County | 3,471 |
| Kindschi WPA | Sheridan County | 2,056 |
| Allen Laschkewitsch Weckerly WPA | Sheridan County | 2,048 |
| Hillview WPA | Hettinger County | 1,214 |
| Johnson Lake WPA | Sheridan County | 1,058 |
| Lake Holmes Outlet WPA | McLean County | 681 |
| Turtle Lake II WPA | McLean County | 674 |
| Davis WPA | Sheridan County | 639 |
| Turtle Lake III WPA | McLean County | 608 |
| Tkach WPA | Sheridan County | 593 |
| Panko WPA | McLean County | 561 |
| Turtle Lake I WPA | McLean County | 534 |
| Oster WPA | Sheridan County | 482 |
| Dossenko-Bloneke WPA | McLean County | 479 |
| Goodrich WPA | Sheridan County | 450 |
| Haas WPA | McLean County | 414 |
| Coal Coulee WPA | McLean County | 412 |
| Johns Lake WPA | Sheridan County | 335 |
| Geigle WPA | Sheridan County | 330 |
| Hove Young WPA | McLean County | 322 |
| Bellrose WPA | McLean County | 322 |
| Papke WPA | Sheridan County | 322 |
| Weishaar WPA | McLean County | 321 |
| Butte WPA | McLean County | 321 |
| Indian Hills WPA | Sheridan County | 321 |
Showing the 25 largest of 86. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.
Guides for hunting Audubon 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…
Audubon WMD FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Audubon WMD?
Yes. Audubon Wetland Management District offers hunting in 2 units (26,242 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 Audubon WMD?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Audubon 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 Audubon WMD?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Audubon WMD located?
Audubon Wetland Management District is in McLean County, North Dakota, about 9 miles SE of Garrison, ND (straight-line). GPS: 47.57800, -101.24708.
What are legal shooting hours at Audubon 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
Lake Nettie NWR
McLean County, ND · 12 mi E
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇
2.1K huntable acres
Mclean NWR
McLean County, ND · 37 mi NW
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇
342 huntable acres
Florence Lake NWR
Burleigh County, ND · 47 mi SE
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇
1.6K huntable acres
Shell Lake NWR
Mountrail County, ND · 58 mi NW
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Lake Ilo NWR
Dunn County, ND · 69 mi W
✕1 closed
🎣
Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles
- Turtle Lake I WPA 534 ac · 8.5 mi E
- Weishaar WPA 321 ac · 9.5 mi NE
- Turtle Lake II WPA 674 ac · 11 mi E
- Falkirk WPA 160 ac · 11 mi S
- Hass Wda WPA 273 ac · 11 mi E
- Haugeberg WPA 137 ac · 12 mi N
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.