National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

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

Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Cascade County, Montana, with about 12,343 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 10 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 6 closed, covering about 5,026 huntable acres.

4 with special regs6 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
10hunt units
5Khuntable acres
12.3KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Benton 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 Benton Lake NWR

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl and upland birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Despite being only 10 miles from the city of Great Falls, Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge receives relatively light hunting pressure.

Youth hunting

A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.

All refuges with youth hunts →
WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridge

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

Hunt units (10)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 5,026 (41%)Closed: 7,316 (59%)5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations5,026 ac 41%
  • Closed7,316 ac 59%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
4,510 ac
VI
1,716 ac
V
1,597 ac
IVc
1,565 ac
III
1,150 ac
II
564 ac
IVa
370 ac
IVb
368 ac
I
353 ac
Pumphouse
148 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
IVc Special regs 1,565 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
Pumphouse Special regs 148 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
V Special regs 1,597 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
VI Special regs 1,716 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
Closed Closed 4,510 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
I Closed 353 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
II Closed 564 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
III Closed 1,150 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
IVa Closed 370 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.
IVb Closed 368 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is held each year.

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 Montana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • 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 Benton Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Benton Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.67841, -111.33502
DMS
47°40′42.3″N 111°20′06.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Great Falls, MT12 mi N of town
  • Helena, MT82 mi NE of town
  • Havre, MT97 mi SW of town
  • Lewistown, MT99 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • GTF Great Falls Intl14 mi
  • BZN Bozeman Yellowstone131 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 Benton Lake 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, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM8:08 PM13h 26m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM7:40 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM7:07 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM6:39 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:09 PM10h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM4:50 PM9h 21m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM4:36 PM8h 45m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:36 AM8:06 AM4:34 PM8h 27m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:43 AM8:13 AM4:42 PM8h 29m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:39 AM8:09 AM4:58 PM8h 49m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:23 AM7:53 AM5:23 PM9h 31m

Computed for 47.678, -111.335 (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.

Benton Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Benton Lake NWR?

Yes. Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (5,026 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and upland birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Benton Lake NWR?

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

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

Where is Benton Lake NWR located?

Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Cascade County, Montana, about 12 miles N of Great Falls, MT (straight-line). GPS: 47.67841, -111.33502.

What are legal shooting hours at Benton 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

Benton Lake WMD

Cascade County, MT · 1.2 mi E

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.8K huntable acres

Charles M. Russell WMD

Fergus County, MT · 99 mi SE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.6K huntable acres

Lake Thibadeau NWR

Hill County, MT · 109 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

24 huntable acres

Creedman Coulee NWR

Hill County, MT · 114 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

84 huntable acres

Swan River NWR

Lake County, MT · 118 mi W

2 special
🦌🦆🎣

1.9K huntable acres

Ninepipe NWR

Lake County, MT · 131 mi W

1 closed
🎣

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Montana →

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