National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge lies in Polk County, Oregon, with about 2,518 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 1,068 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
1.1Khuntable acres
2.5KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Baskett Slough 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 Baskett Slough NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Hunters can pursue waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge hosts a high quality, walk-in-controlled youth waterfowl hunt on the third weekend in September. The program is open to youths age 17 and younger.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Oregon regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,068 (40%)Closed: 1,605 (60%)1.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,068 ac 40%
  • Closed1,605 ac 60%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Areas
1,605 ac
Open Wetlands
566 ac
Goose Hunt
503 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Goose Hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 503 Required
Other		 Youth waterfowl hunt
🧒 Yes
Open Wetlands
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 566 Required
Other		 Youth waterfowl hunt
🧒 Yes
Closed Areas
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,605 Required
Other		 Youth waterfowl hunt
🧒 Yes

Baskett Slough NWR by the numbers

With about 1,068 huntable acres, Baskett Slough NWR ranks #10 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oregon and #354 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 40% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Wetlands (566 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Goose Hunt, covers 503 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,605 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Areas). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 2,518 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 150 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Baskett Slough NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Oregon 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Youth waterfowl hunt

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Oregon hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oregon Department of Fish and 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 Baskett Slough NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Baskett Slough NWR.

How to get to Baskett Slough NWR

Navigate

Destination: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.96600, -123.25822
DMS
44°57′57.6″N 123°15′29.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Salem, OR11 mi W of town
  • Corvallis, OR28 mi N of town
  • Tillamook, OR44 mi SE of town
  • Newport, OR45 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl54 mi
  • EUG Eugene Airport59 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 Baskett Slough 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, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:52 PM13h 19m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:26 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:55 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM6:30 PM11h 03m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:03 PM10h 13m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:45 PM9h 36m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM4:34 PM9h 04m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM4:32 PM8h 48m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:20 AM7:50 AM4:40 PM8h 50m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM4:55 PM9h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM5:18 PM9h 45m

Computed for 44.966, -123.258 (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 Baskett Slough 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…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Baskett Slough NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Baskett Slough NWR?

Yes. Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,068 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Baskett Slough NWR?

Yes — Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained mail or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Baskett Slough NWR located?

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge is in Polk County, Oregon, about 11 miles W of Salem, OR (straight-line). GPS: 44.96600, -123.25822.

What are legal shooting hours at Baskett Slough 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

Ankeny NWR

Marion County, OR · 15 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Wapato Lake NWR

Washington County, OR · 32 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

270 huntable acres

Tualatin River NWR

Washington County, OR · 35 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

232 huntable acres

Nestucca Bay NWR

Tillamook County, OR · 37 mi NW

2 open1 closed
🦆🎣

131 huntable acres

Siletz Bay NWR

Lincoln County, OR · 37 mi W

1 open1 special2 closed
🦆🎣

205 huntable acres

William L. Finley NWR

Benton County, OR · 39 mi S

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🎣

5.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Oregon →

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