National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is located in Phillips County, Montana, with about 15,541 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: 1 open under general rules, 2 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 15,375 huntable acres.

1 open unit2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
15.4Khuntable acres
15.5KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Bowdoin 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 Bowdoin NWR

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

The cattails and bulrushes around the wetlands of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge provide nesting and cover for waterfowl, and in the fall they also provide perfect cover for pheasant.

WaterfowlDucks, 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 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 (4)

Acreage by status
Open: 162 (1%)Special regulations: 15,213 (98%)Closed: 167 (1%)15.4Khuntable acres
  • Open162 ac 1%
  • Special regulations15,213 ac 98%
  • Closed167 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
East
8,755 ac
West
6,458 ac
Administrative Area
167 ac
Pearce
162 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Pearce
Show on map · Directions		 Open 162 Required
Special Use Permit		 Fox and Coyote hunting.
East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8,755 Required
Special Use Permit		 Fox and Coyote hunting.
West
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 6,458 Required
Special Use Permit		 Fox and Coyote hunting.
Administrative Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 167 Required
Special Use Permit		 Fox and Coyote hunting.

Bowdoin NWR by the numbers

With about 15,375 huntable acres, Bowdoin NWR ranks #5 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #138 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is East (8,755 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Pearce, covers 162 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 167 acres is closed to hunting (Administrative Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Pearce WPA (448 acres, 3 miles NE).

When to hunt Bowdoin NWR

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 — Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Fox and Coyote hunting.

Type: Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Bowdoin NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Bowdoin NWR.

How to get to Bowdoin NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.40227, -107.66361
DMS
48°24′08.2″N 107°39′49.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Malta, MT9.9 mi E of town
  • Glasgow, MT49 mi W of town
  • Jordan, MT83 mi NW of town
  • Havre, MT93 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • GTF Great Falls Intl183 mi
  • BIL Billings Logan184 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 Bowdoin 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, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:55 PM13h 29m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:26 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:52 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM6:23 PM10h 55m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:53 PM9h 58m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM4:33 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM4:19 PM8h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:25 AM7:55 AM4:16 PM8h 21m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:31 AM8:01 AM4:25 PM8h 23m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM4:41 PM8h 44m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM5:07 PM9h 26m

Computed for 48.402, -107.664 (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.

Guides for hunting Bowdoin 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…

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…

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…

Bowdoin NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bowdoin NWR?

Yes. Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (15,375 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, 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 Bowdoin NWR?

Yes — Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Bowdoin NWR located?

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is in Phillips County, Montana, about 10 miles E of Malta, MT (straight-line). GPS: 48.40227, -107.66361.

What are legal shooting hours at Bowdoin 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

Bowdoin WMD

Phillips County, MT · 3.1 mi W

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

8.3K huntable acres

Hewitt Lake NWR

Phillips County, MT · 9.2 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

720 huntable acres

Black Coulee NWR

Blaine County, MT · 40 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

643 huntable acres

UL Bend NWR

Phillips County, MT · 57 mi S

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55.8K huntable acres

Charles M. Russell NWR

Garfield County, MT · 68 mi SE

1 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

931K huntable acres

Lake Thibadeau NWR

Hill County, MT · 92 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

24 huntable acres

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.