National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located in Thurston County, Washington, with about 5,598 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules and 4 closed, covering about 571 huntable acres.

2 open units4 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
571huntable acres
5.6KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually 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 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Waterfowl hunting is permitted in designated areas on the Nisqually River Delta during the fall and winter hunt season. The Federal Duck Stamp is required and the State of Washington's hunting season and regulations apply.

Youth hunting

A two-day youth hunt is offered.

All refuges with youth hunts →
WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

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

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Open: 571 (10%)Closed: 5,357 (90%)571huntable acres
  • Open571 ac 10%
  • Closed5,357 ac 90%
Units by size (acres)
Black River
2,506 ac
Closed to Hunting
1,290 ac
Sanctuary
781 ac
Research Natural Area
779 ac
Nisqually River Delta NW
380 ac
Nisqually River Delta
192 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Nisqually River Delta
Show on map · Directions		 Open 192 — 🧒 A two-day youth hunt is offered.
Nisqually River Delta NW
Show on map · Directions		 Open 380 — 🧒 A two-day youth hunt is offered.
Black River
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,506 — 🧒 A two-day youth hunt is offered.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,290 — 🧒 A two-day youth hunt is offered.
Research Natural Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 779 — 🧒 A two-day youth hunt is offered.
Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 781 — 🧒 A two-day youth hunt is offered.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR by the numbers

With about 571 huntable acres, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR ranks #12 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #378 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 10% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Nisqually River Delta NW (380 acres), while the smallest, Nisqually River Delta, covers 192 acres.

4 units totaling 5,357 acres are closed to hunting (Black River, Closed to Hunting, Research Natural Area, and Sanctuary). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 5,598 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 138 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Washington 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, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington 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 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Only boat access is allowed. Available species include sea-run cutthroat trout, flounder, steelhead and Chinook, coho and chum salmon. Public boat launch is at Luhr Beach ramp.

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

How to get to Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR

Navigate

Destination: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.08203, -122.72171
DMS
47°04′55.3″N 122°43′18.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Olympia, WA8.9 mi E of town
  • Tacoma, WA18 mi SW of town
  • Seattle, WA41 mi SW of town
  • Aberdeen, WA52 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • SEA Seattle–Tacoma32 mi
  • PDX Portland Intl103 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 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually 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, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:53 PM13h 25m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:25 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:52 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM6:25 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:56 PM10h 04m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM4:37 PM9h 24m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:05 AM7:35 AM4:24 PM8h 49m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:19 AM7:49 AM4:22 PM8h 32m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM4:30 PM8h 34m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:22 AM7:52 AM4:46 PM8h 53m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM5:11 PM9h 34m

Computed for 47.082, -122.722 (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 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually 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…

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR?

Yes. Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (571 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually 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 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR?

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

Where is Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR located?

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is in Thurston County, Washington, about 9 miles E of Olympia, WA (straight-line). GPS: 47.08203, -122.72171.

What are legal shooting hours at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually 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

Quilcene NFH

Jefferson County, WA · 51 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Grays Harbor NWR

Grays Harbor County, WA · 58 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Abernathy FTC

Cowlitz County, WA · 62 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Wahkiakum County, WA · 66 mi SW

5 open1 special5 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Protection Island NWR

WA · 73 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Willapa NWR

Pacific County, WA · 73 mi SW

5 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

14.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Washington →

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