Wetland Management District · Montana · FWS Region 6

Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Fergus County, Montana, Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 6,432 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 open with special regulations, covering about 6,605 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
6.6Khuntable acres
6.4KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Charles M. Russell WMD 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 WMD

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

Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District includes four waterfowl production areas (WPAs) in eastern Montana. Waterfowl hunting can be excellent on the wetlands in these areas. But hunters should check carefully before planning a trip here.

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 (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 6,344 (96%)Special regulations: 261 (4%)6.6Khuntable acres
  • Open6,344 ac 96%
  • Special regulations261 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
6,344 ac
Clark's Fork WPA
261 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 6,344 —
Clark's Fork WPA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 261 —

Charles M. Russell WMD by the numbers

With about 6,605 huntable acres, Charles M. Russell WMD ranks #11 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #244 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 WPA Open (6,344 acres), while the smallest, Clark's Fork WPA, covers 261 acres.

Besides 6,432 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 560 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Charles M. Russell WMD

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 WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Charles M. Russell WMD

Navigate

Destination: Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.05577, -109.43757
DMS
47°03′20.8″N 109°26′15.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Lewistown, MT0.5 mi SW of town
  • Great Falls, MT93 mi E of town
  • Billings, MT99 mi NW of town
  • Havre, MT104 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • GTF Great Falls Intl95 mi
  • BIL Billings Logan96 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 WMD

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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM8:00 PM13h 25m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM7:32 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM6:59 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM6:32 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM5:03 PM10h 04m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:44 PM9h 24m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:31 PM8h 49m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:26 AM7:56 AM4:28 PM8h 32m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:33 AM8:03 AM4:37 PM8h 34m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:29 AM7:59 AM4:53 PM8h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:13 AM7:43 AM5:17 PM9h 34m

Computed for 47.056, -109.438 (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.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Charles M. Russell WMD

This district manages 6 named WPAs totaling 6,432 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Hansen WPAStillwater County2,806
Hailstone WPAStillwater County1,766
Spidel WPAGolden Valley County775
Tew WPAMusselshell County557
Spidel WPAYellowstone County487
War Horse WPAPetroleum County41

Guides for hunting Charles M. Russell WMD

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 WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Charles M. Russell WMD?

Yes. Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District offers hunting in 2 units (6,605 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 WMD?

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

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

Where is Charles M. Russell WMD located?

Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District is in Fergus County, Montana, about 0 miles SW of Lewistown, MT (straight-line). GPS: 47.05577, -109.43757.

What are legal shooting hours at Charles M. Russell WMD?

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

War Horse NWR

Petroleum County, MT · 46 mi E

3 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Lake Mason NWR

Musselshell County, MT · 52 mi SE

3 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️

8.8K huntable acres

Hailstone NWR

Stillwater County, MT · 73 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️

156 huntable acres

Grass Lake NWR

Stillwater County, MT · 78 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.7K huntable acres

UL Bend NWR

Phillips County, MT · 79 mi NE

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55.8K huntable acres

Benton Lake WMD

Cascade County, MT · 98 mi NW

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Montana →

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