Wetland Management District · Montana · FWS Region 6

Benton Lake Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Cascade County, Montana, Benton Lake Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 15,315 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 under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 12,792 huntable acres.

2 open units1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
12.8Khuntable acres
15.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Benton Lake WMD 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 WMD

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available.

Benton Lake Wetland Management District includes 22 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) spread out over a 10-county area the size of West Virginia. Twenty of these WPAs are open to hunting, and as might be expected, these offer a variety of opportunities.

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 Montana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 12,792 (85%)Closed: 2,190 (15%)12.8Khuntable acres
  • Open12,792 ac 85%
  • Closed2,190 ac 15%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open Moose
10,616 ac
WPA Closed
2,190 ac
WPA Open
2,176 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 2,176 —
WPA Open Moose
Show on map · Directions		 Open 10,616 —
WPA Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,190 —

Benton Lake WMD by the numbers

With about 12,792 huntable acres, Benton Lake WMD ranks #6 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #152 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 85% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open Moose (10,616 acres), while the smallest, WPA Open, covers 2,176 acres.

1 unit totaling 2,190 acres is closed to hunting (WPA Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 15,315 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 124,440 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

4 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Hartelius WPA (320 acres, 10 miles W).

When to hunt Benton Lake WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Montana 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 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 WMD

    Limited fishing opportunities exist on a few waterfowl production areas in the district. Anglers concentrate their efforts on either northern pike or trout fishing. Fishing season is in accordance with state regulations.

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

    How to get to Benton Lake WMD

    Navigate

    Destination: Benton Lake Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

    Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
    Decimal
    47.67719, -111.31022
    DMS
    47°40′37.9″N 111°18′36.8″W

    Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

    Nearest towns

    • Great Falls, MT12 mi N of town
    • Helena, MT83 mi NE of town
    • Havre, MT96 mi SW of town
    • Lewistown, MT98 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 WMD

    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, 20266:30 AM7:00 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 AM4:33 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 47.677, -111.310 (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.

    Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Benton Lake WMD

    This district manages 22 named WPAs totaling 15,315 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

    WPACountyAcres
    Furnell WPAToole County2,006
    Blackfoot WPAPowell County1,926
    Kingsbury Lake WPAChouteau County1,883
    H2-O WPAPowell County1,861
    Kleinschmidt WPAPowell County1,172
    Long Lake WPAToole County953
    Arod Lake WPATeton County879
    Jarina WPAPondera County661
    Ehli WPAToole County608
    Schrammeck Lake WPACascade County429
    Savik WPATeton County408
    Sands WPAHill County379
    Danbrook WPAToole County327
    Blackhurst WPAToole County326
    Hartelius WPACascade County320
    Brumwell WPATeton County270
    Brown WPAToole County266
    Big Sag WPAChouteau County230
    Upsata Lake WPAPowell County123
    Cemetary WPAToole County111
    Peterson WPAGlacier County95
    Dunk WPAToole County82

    Guides for hunting Benton Lake WMD

    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…

    Benton Lake WMD FAQ

    Is hunting allowed at Benton Lake WMD?

    Yes. Benton Lake Wetland Management District offers hunting in 2 units (12,792 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 Benton Lake WMD?

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

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

    Where is Benton Lake WMD located?

    Benton Lake Wetland Management District is in Cascade County, Montana, about 12 miles N of Great Falls, MT (straight-line). GPS: 47.67719, -111.31022.

    What are legal shooting hours at Benton Lake WMD?

    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 NWR

    Cascade County, MT · 1.2 mi W

    4 special6 closed
    🦆🐦🎣

    5K huntable acres

    Charles M. Russell WMD

    Fergus County, MT · 98 mi SE

    1 open1 special
    🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

    6.6K huntable acres

    Lake Thibadeau NWR

    Hill County, MT · 108 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 · 119 mi W

    2 special
    🦌🦆🎣

    1.9K huntable acres

    Ninepipe NWR

    Lake County, MT · 132 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 October 28, 2026.