National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge lies in Garfield County, Montana, with about 393,554 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 931,398 huntable acres.

1 with special regs2 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
931Khuntable acres
394KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Charles M. Russell 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 Charles M. Russell NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

For avid elk hunters, it’s no secret: Elk thrive in the Missouri Breaks country of Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, and they grow large antlers. The habitat here is ideal for elk and, unlike elk elsewhere, these animals don’t migrate.

Youth hunting

Annual youth and deer hunts open two days before the regular state of Montana seasons.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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 (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 931,398 (100%)Closed: 2,252 (0%)931Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations931,398 ac 100%
  • Closed2,252 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
931,398 ac
Administrative
1,286 ac
Elk Viewing
966 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 931,398 — 🧒 Annual youth and deer hunts open two days before the regular state of Montana seasons.
Administrative
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,286 — 🧒 Annual youth and deer hunts open two days before the regular state of Montana seasons.
Elk Viewing
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 966 — 🧒 Annual youth and deer hunts open two days before the regular state of Montana seasons.

Charles M. Russell NWR by the numbers

With about 931,398 huntable acres, Charles M. Russell NWR ranks #1 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #16 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge (931,398 acres, special regulations).

2 units totaling 2,252 acres are closed to hunting (Administrative and Elk Viewing). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 393,554 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,454 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Charles M. Russell 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 — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ 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 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 Charles M. Russell NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include Fort Peck Reservoir (250,000 acres) and the Missouri River. In addition to the Lewistown headquarters, three staffed field stations are on the refuge -- Sand Creek Wildlife Station in Roy, 406-462-5181; Jordan Wildlife Station in…

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

How to get to Charles M. Russell NWR

Navigate

Destination: Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.71857, -106.60634
DMS
47°43′06.9″N 106°36′22.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Jordan, MT31 mi NE of town
  • Glasgow, MT33 mi S of town
  • Malta, MT73 mi SE of town
  • Miles City, MT97 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • BIL Billings Logan161 mi
  • GTF Great Falls Intl223 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 Charles M. Russell 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, 20265:53 AM6:23 AM7:50 PM13h 27m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:21 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:48 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM6:20 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:50 PM10h 01m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM4:31 PM9h 20m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM4:17 PM8h 44m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM4:14 PM8h 27m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:24 AM7:54 AM4:23 PM8h 29m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:20 AM7:50 AM4:39 PM8h 49m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:04 AM7:34 AM5:04 PM9h 30m

Computed for 47.719, -106.606 (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 Charles M. Russell 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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, 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…

Charles M. Russell NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Charles M. Russell NWR?

Yes. Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (931,398 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Charles M. Russell NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Charles M. Russell 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 Charles M. Russell NWR?

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

Where is Charles M. Russell NWR located?

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is in Garfield County, Montana, about 31 miles NE of Jordan, MT (straight-line). GPS: 47.71857, -106.60634.

What are legal shooting hours at Charles M. Russell 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

UL Bend NWR

Phillips County, MT · 63 mi W

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55.8K huntable acres

Bowdoin NWR

Phillips County, MT · 68 mi NW

1 open2 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇

15.4K huntable acres

Bowdoin WMD

Phillips County, MT · 70 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

8.3K huntable acres

Hewitt Lake NWR

Phillips County, MT · 73 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

720 huntable acres

War Horse NWR

Petroleum County, MT · 105 mi SW

3 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Black Coulee NWR

Blaine County, MT · 107 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

643 huntable acres

All refuges in Montana →

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