National Wildlife Refuge · New Mexico · FWS Region 2

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

Located in Chaves County, New Mexico, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 24,901 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 14,285 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
14.3Khuntable acres
24.9KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Bitter 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 Bitter Lake NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

All portions of the Refuge are closed to waterfowl hunting unless specifically identified. Hunting season for geese and ducks in 2025 begins Oct. 11. The last hunt date is Jan. 31, 2026. 2025-2026 Billy Frank Jr.

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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 14,285 (57%)Closed: 10,575 (43%)14.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations14,285 ac 57%
  • Closed10,575 ac 43%
Units by size (acres)
North Tract
12,269 ac
Middle Tract - Closed
10,575 ac
South Tract
1,186 ac
Middle Tract - Open
831 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Middle Tract - Open Special regs 831 —
North Tract Special regs 12,269 —
South Tract Special regs 1,186 —
Middle Tract - Closed Closed 10,575 —

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 New Mexico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • 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 Bitter Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Bitter Lake NWR.

How to get to Bitter Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.59678, -104.40500
DMS
33°35′48.4″N 104°24′18.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Roswell, NM16 mi NE of town
  • Portales, NM74 mi SW of town
  • Carlsbad, NM82 mi N of town
  • Clovis, NM88 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • LBB Lubbock Preston Smith149 mi
  • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport161 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 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, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:25 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:05 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM6:43 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:25 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM5:06 PM10h 51m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM4:56 PM10h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM4:50 PM10h 06m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:50 PM9h 57m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM4:59 PM9h 58m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:10 PM10h 09m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:24 AM6:54 AM5:27 PM10h 33m

Computed for 33.597, -104.405 (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.

Bitter Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bitter Lake NWR?

Yes. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (14,285 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Bitter Lake NWR?

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

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Chaves County, New Mexico, about 16 miles NE of Roswell, NM (straight-line). GPS: 33.59678, -104.40500.

What are legal shooting hours at Bitter 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

Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center

Chaves County, NM · 28 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

449 huntable acres

Grulla NWR

Roosevelt County, NM · 83 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Muleshoe NWR

Bailey County, TX · 98 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐗

2.8K huntable acres

San Andres NWR

Doña Ana County, NM · 138 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🐗

57.3K huntable acres

Las Vegas NWR

San Miguel County, NM · 141 mi N

2 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

7.3K huntable acres

Bosque del Apache NWR

Socorro County, NM · 143 mi W

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

47.6K huntable acres

All refuges in New Mexico →

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