Wetland Management District · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Audubon Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Audubon Wetland Management District is located in McLean County, North Dakota, with about 26,165 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 open with special regulations, covering about 26,242 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
26.2Khuntable acres
26.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

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
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Audubon WMD

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)

Acreage by status
Open: 26,082 (99%)Special regulations: 160 (1%)26.2Khuntable acres
  • Open26,082 ac 99%
  • Special regulations160 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
26,082 ac
Falkirk WPA
160 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open Open 26,082 —
Falkirk WPA Special regs 160 —

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)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.57800, -101.24708
DMS
47°34′40.8″N 101°14′49.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM8:28 PM13h 26m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:59 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM7:26 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:31 AM8:01 AM6:59 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM5:29 PM10h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:19 AM7:49 AM5:10 PM9h 21m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:41 AM8:11 AM4:56 PM8h 45m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:56 AM8:26 AM4:54 PM8h 28m
Fri, Jan 1, 20278:02 AM8:32 AM5:02 PM8h 30m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:58 AM8:28 AM5:18 PM8h 50m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:42 AM8:12 AM5:43 PM9h 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.

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

Audubon NWR

McLean County, ND · 3.8 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

3.2K huntable acres

Lake Nettie NWR

McLean County, ND · 12 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

2.1K huntable acres

Mclean NWR

McLean County, ND · 37 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

342 huntable acres

Florence Lake NWR

Burleigh County, ND · 47 mi SE

1 special1 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

All refuges in North Dakota →

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