National Wildlife Refuge · Wyoming · FWS Region 6

Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge lies in Albany County, Wyoming, with about 428 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: 2 open under general rules, covering about 1,171 huntable acres.

2 open units
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
1.2Khuntable acres
428FWS-owned acres
6game categories

Bamforth 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 Bamforth NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge is in a high-plains ecosystem known as the Laramie Basin. It is a high-elevation, dry grassland surrounded by mountains in the southern part of the Laramie Plains.

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 Wyoming regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,171 (100%)1.2Khuntable acres
  • Open1,171 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit
703 ac
Migratory Bird Unit
469 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Open 703 —
Migratory Bird Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Open 469 —

Bamforth NWR by the numbers

With about 1,171 huntable acres, Bamforth NWR ranks #6 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Wyoming and #350 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 Hunt Unit (703 acres), while the smallest, Migratory Bird Unit, covers 469 acres.

When to hunt Bamforth NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Wyoming 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 Wyoming hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Wyoming 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 Bamforth NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Bamforth NWR.

How to get to Bamforth NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.37116, -105.74241
DMS
41°22′16.2″N 105°44′32.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Laramie, WY9.0 mi NW of town
  • Cheyenne, WY51 mi W of town
  • Walden, CO52 mi NE of town
  • Fort Collins, CO64 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • CPR Casper/Natrona County112 mi
  • DEN Denver Intl119 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 Bamforth NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:38 PM13h 10m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:14 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:46 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:23 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:59 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:44 PM9h 54m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:35 PM9h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:34 PM9h 13m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:42 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:56 PM9h 30m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:17 PM10h 02m

Computed for 41.371, -105.742 (MDT / 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 Bamforth NWR

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…

Bamforth NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bamforth NWR?

Yes. Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,171 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 Bamforth NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Bamforth 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 Bamforth NWR located?

Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge is in Albany County, Wyoming, about 9 miles NW of Laramie, WY (straight-line). GPS: 41.37116, -105.74241.

What are legal shooting hours at Bamforth 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

Mortenson Lake NWR

Albany County, WY · 12 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Wyoming Toad Conservation Area

Albany County, WY · 12 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Hutton Lake NWR

Albany County, WY · 13 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🐇

1.7K huntable acres

Saratoga NFH

Carbon County, WY · 55 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Arapaho NWR

Jackson County, CO · 62 mi SW

2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Pathfinder NWR

Natrona County, WY · 102 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🐇🎣

16.9K huntable acres

All refuges in Wyoming →

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