National Wildlife Refuge · Colorado · FWS Region 6

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Moffat County, Colorado, Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 12,112 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Utah. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 10,793 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
10.8Khuntable acres
12.1KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Browns Park 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 Browns Park NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

The rugged country of Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge was once a hideout for horse thieves and cattle rustlers. Outlaws like Butch Cassidy knew they could evade sheriffs in the remote canyons.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory 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 Colorado regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,793 (89%)Closed: 1,320 (11%)10.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,793 ac 89%
  • Closed1,320 ac 11%
Units by size (acres)
White
9,902 ac
No Hunting Zone
1,320 ac
Waterfowl
891 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 891 —
White
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 9,902 —
No Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,320 —

Browns Park NWR by the numbers

With about 10,793 huntable acres, Browns Park NWR ranks #4 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Colorado and #182 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 89% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is White (9,902 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Waterfowl, covers 891 acres.

1 unit totaling 1,320 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Browns Park NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Colorado 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ 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 Colorado hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Colorado Parks 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 Browns Park NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters where fishing is allowed include the Green River and Beaver Creek. The Green River is shallow and is suitable for non-motorized, small, flat-bottom boats, rafts and canoes. Fishing is permitted year-round.

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

How to get to Browns Park NWR

Navigate

Destination: Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.79936, -108.92004
DMS
40°47′57.7″N 108°55′12.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vernal, UT40 mi NE of town
  • Rock Springs, WY57 mi S of town
  • Green River, WY58 mi SE of town
  • Craig, CO74 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • GJT Grand Junction Regional118 mi
  • SLC Salt Lake City Intl160 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 Browns Park 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, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:50 PM13h 09m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM7:27 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:59 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:37 PM11h 12m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM5:13 PM10h 28m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:59 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:49 PM9h 29m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM4:48 PM9h 16m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:09 AM7:39 AM4:57 PM9h 18m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM5:10 PM9h 33m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM5:31 PM10h 05m

Computed for 40.799, -108.920 (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 Browns Park NWR

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…

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…

Browns Park NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Browns Park NWR?

Yes. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (10,793 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Browns Park NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Browns Park 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 Browns Park NWR?

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

Where is Browns Park NWR located?

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is in Moffat County, Colorado, about 40 miles NE of Vernal, UT (straight-line). GPS: 40.79936, -108.92004.

What are legal shooting hours at Browns Park 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

Jones Hole NFH

Uintah County, UT · 16 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Ouray NWR

Uintah County, UT · 56 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Seedskadee NWR

Sweetwater County, WY · 87 mi NW

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26K huntable acres

Colorado River Wildlife Management Area

Mesa County, CO · 119 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Saratoga NFH

Carbon County, WY · 121 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cokeville Meadows NWR

Lincoln County, WY · 134 mi NW

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6K huntable acres

All refuges in Colorado →

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