National Wildlife Refuge · Idaho · FWS Region 1

Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Bear Lake County, Idaho, Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 18,276 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 14 mapped hunt units: 3 open under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 10 closed, covering about 7,316 huntable acres.

3 open units1 with special regs10 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
14hunt units
7.3Khuntable acres
18.3KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

In many places, Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge’s waterfowl hunting would make it a major sporting destination. But in a remote location in Idaho, it is a select hunting area. Often a group of hunters will have the whole place to themselves.

WaterfowlDucks, 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 Idaho regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (14)

Acreage by status
Open: 2,192 (11%)Special regulations: 5,123 (27%)Closed: 11,964 (62%)7.3Khuntable acres
  • Open2,192 ac 11%
  • Special regulations5,123 ac 27%
  • Closed11,964 ac 62%
Units by size (acres)
N Mud Lake
5,123 ac
S Mud Lake
2,708 ac
Bunn Lake
2,607 ac
Bloomington
2,034 ac
Rainbow
1,870 ac
Thomas Fork
1,004 ac
N Dingle
872 ac
Alder
785 ac
Dunford
563 ac
St Charles
561 ac
Red Slough
427 ac
S Dingle
404 ac
Salt Meadow
242 ac
Merkley Lake
81 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Merkley Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Open 81 —
Rainbow
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,870 —
Salt Meadow
Show on map · Directions		 Open 242 —
N Mud Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,123 —
Alder
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 785 —
Bloomington
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,034 —
Bunn Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,607 —
Dunford
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 563 —
N Dingle
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 872 —
Red Slough
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 427 —
S Dingle
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 404 —
S Mud Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,708 —
St Charles
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 561 —
Thomas Fork
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,004 —

Bear Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 7,316 huntable acres, Bear Lake NWR ranks #2 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Idaho and #226 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 38% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is N Mud Lake (5,123 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Merkley Lake, covers 81 acres.

10 units totaling 11,964 acres are closed to hunting (Alder, Bloomington, Bunn Lake, Dunford, and N Dingle, …). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Bear Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Idaho 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 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 Idaho hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Idaho Department of Fish and Game
  • 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 Bear Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters open to fishing include Outlet Canal-A, a channelized portion of the Bear River (two miles long, approximately 12 surface acres). Available species include brown and cutthroat trout, yellow perch and carp. Boat fishing is not allowed.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Bear Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.16598, -111.31732
DMS
42°09′57.5″N 111°19′02.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Soda Springs, ID36 mi SE of town
  • Logan, UT39 mi NE of town
  • Kemmerer, WY48 mi NW of town
  • Brigham City, UT58 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • PIH Pocatello Regional83 mi
  • IDA Idaho Falls Regional100 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 Bear Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM8:01 PM13h 12m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM7:37 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:08 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:06 AM7:36 AM6:45 PM11h 09m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM5:20 PM10h 24m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:05 PM9h 50m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM4:55 PM9h 21m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:16 AM7:46 AM4:54 PM9h 08m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:23 AM7:53 AM5:02 PM9h 09m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:21 AM7:51 AM5:16 PM9h 25m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:09 AM7:39 AM5:37 PM9h 58m

Computed for 42.166, -111.317 (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 Bear Lake 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…

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…

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…

Bear Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bear Lake NWR?

Yes. Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (7,316 acres) during 2026–2027 for 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 Bear Lake NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Bear Lake NWR. 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 Bear Lake NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Bear Lake NWR located?

Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Bear Lake County, Idaho, about 36 miles SE of Soda Springs, ID (straight-line). GPS: 42.16598, -111.31732.

What are legal shooting hours at Bear Lake 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

Cokeville Meadows NWR

Lincoln County, WY · 22 mi SE

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6K huntable acres

Oxford Slough WPA

Franklin County, ID · 35 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

1.9K huntable acres

Grays Lake NWR

Bonneville County, ID · 62 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

4.9K huntable acres

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Box Elder County, UT · 71 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦆🐦🎣

30.2K huntable acres

Seedskadee NWR

Sweetwater County, WY · 78 mi E

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26K huntable acres

Jackson NFH

Teton County, WY · 99 mi N

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Idaho →

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