National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Becharof National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Becharof National Wildlife Refuge lies in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, with about 1,166,105 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 1,166,075 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
1.2Mhuntable acres
1.2MFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Becharof 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 Becharof NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

The 290,000-acre Becharof Lake on the refuge serves as a nursery for the world's second largest run of sockeye salmon. The Bristol Bay commercial fishery takes 6 million fish each year from this tremendous salmon run.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 Alaska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,166,075 (100%)1.2Mhuntable acres
  • Open1,166,075 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge Open 1,166,075 —

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 Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska 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 Becharof NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Access by commercial air is necessary to King Salmon, Port Heiden, Kodiak and Cold Bay, and then charter aircraft to the remote locations of Becharof National Wildlife Refuge.

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

How to get to Becharof NWR

Navigate

Destination: Becharof National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
57.99322, -156.18243
DMS
57°59′35.6″N 156°10′56.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • King Salmon, AK51 mi S of town
  • Dillingham, AK109 mi SE of town
  • Kodiak, AK139 mi W of town
  • Homer, AK201 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • AKN King Salmon Airport50 mi
  • DLG Dillingham Airport111 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 Becharof NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM9:27 PM14h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM8:47 PM12h 56m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:56 AM8:26 AM8:02 PM11h 36m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:27 AM8:57 AM7:23 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 1, 20268:06 AM8:36 AM5:39 PM9h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20268:39 AM9:09 AM5:09 PM7h 60m
Tue, Dec 1, 20269:13 AM9:43 AM4:44 PM7h 01m
Tue, Dec 15, 20269:33 AM10:03 AM4:35 PM6h 32m
Fri, Jan 1, 20279:40 AM10:10 AM4:45 PM6h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 20279:28 AM9:58 AM5:07 PM7h 09m
Mon, Feb 1, 20279:00 AM9:30 AM5:45 PM8h 15m

Computed for 57.993, -156.182 (AKDT / 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.

Becharof NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Becharof NWR?

Yes. Becharof National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,166,075 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Becharof NWR?

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

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Becharof NWR located?

Becharof National Wildlife Refuge is in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, about 51 miles S of King Salmon, AK (straight-line). GPS: 57.99322, -156.18243.

What are legal shooting hours at Becharof 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

Kodiak NWR

Kodiak Island Borough, AK · 116 mi SE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🐦🐇🎣

1.6M huntable acres

Alaska Peninsula NWR

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK · 168 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.5M huntable acres

Togiak NWR

Bethel Census Area, AK · 190 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.3M huntable acres

Kenai NWR

Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK · 260 mi NE

2 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.9M huntable acres

Izembek NWR

Aleutians East Borough, AK · 298 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

315K huntable acres

Yukon Delta NWR

Bethel Census Area, AK · 332 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

20.5M huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

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