National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

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

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Stutsman County, North Dakota, with about 4,354 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 4,354 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
4.4Khuntable acres
4.4KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Chase 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 Chase Lake NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Permitted hunting categories are big game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

One of the nation's oldest refuges, Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammals

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

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,354 (100%)4.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,354 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,354 —

Chase Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 4,354 huntable acres, Chase Lake NWR ranks #20 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #271 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 Station (4,354 acres, special regulations).

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Major WPA (405 acres, 2 miles NW).

When to hunt Chase Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer

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 North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota Game and Fish Department
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Chase Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Chase Lake NWR.

How to get to Chase Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.00754, -99.44432
DMS
47°00′27.1″N 99°26′39.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Carrington, ND34 mi SW of town
  • Jamestown, ND35 mi W of town
  • Bismarck, ND65 mi E of town
  • Valley City, ND68 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • BIS Bismarck Municipal64 mi
  • ABR Aberdeen Regional118 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 Chase Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM8:20 PM13h 24m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:52 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM7:19 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM6:52 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM5:23 PM10h 05m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM5:04 PM9h 25m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:32 AM8:02 AM4:51 PM8h 50m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:46 AM8:16 AM4:49 PM8h 33m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:53 AM8:23 AM4:57 PM8h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:49 AM8:19 AM5:13 PM8h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:33 AM8:03 AM5:38 PM9h 34m

Computed for 47.008, -99.444 (CDT / 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 Chase Lake 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…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Chase Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Chase Lake NWR?

Yes. Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,354 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Chase Lake NWR?

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

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Stutsman County, North Dakota, about 34 miles SW of Carrington, ND (straight-line). GPS: 47.00754, -99.44432.

What are legal shooting hours at Chase 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

Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 13 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

40K huntable acres

Slade NWR

Kidder County, ND · 18 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇

3K huntable acres

Arrowwood NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 33 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

12.7K huntable acres

Arrowwood WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 33 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.3K huntable acres

Long Lake NWR

Kidder County, ND · 34 mi SW

2 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

23.2K huntable acres

Long Lake WMD

Burleigh County, ND · 44 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

23.7K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

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