National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge is located in Kern County, California, with about 14,874 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
14.9KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Bitter Creek 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 Bitter Creek NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 14,874 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed14,874 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 14,874 —

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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Bitter Creek NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Bitter Creek NWR.

How to get to Bitter Creek NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
34.95265, -119.34793
DMS
34°57′09.5″N 119°20′52.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bakersfield, CA34 mi SW of town
  • Santa Barbara, CA42 mi NE of town
  • Ventura, CA47 mi N of town
  • Los Angeles, CA89 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • BFL Bakersfield Meadows37 mi
  • SBA Santa Barbara46 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 Bitter Creek 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, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM7:26 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:06 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM6:42 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM6:23 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM5:04 PM10h 47m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:53 PM10h 22m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM4:46 PM9h 60m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:47 PM9h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM4:55 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:07 PM10h 03m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:26 AM6:56 AM5:24 PM10h 28m

Computed for 34.953, -119.348 (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.

Bitter Creek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bitter Creek NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Bitter Creek NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Bitter Creek NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Bitter Creek NWR located?

Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge is in Kern County, California, about 34 miles SW of Bakersfield, CA (straight-line). GPS: 34.95265, -119.34793.

What are legal shooting hours at Bitter Creek 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

Hopper Mountain NWR

Ventura County, CA · 45 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Kern NWR

Kern County, CA · 57 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

3.2K huntable acres

Pixley NWR

Tulare County, CA · 67 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR

San Luis Obispo County, CA · 72 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Blue Ridge NWR

Tulare County, CA · 96 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Seal Beach NWR

Orange County, CA · 111 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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