National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

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

Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in Modoc County, California, with about 24,209 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 under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 9,970 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
10Khuntable acres
24.2KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Clear 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 Clear Lake NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Hiking is allowed on refuge roads and trails, unless otherwise posted.

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 crane

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

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 4,092 (17%)Special regulations: 5,878 (24%)Closed: 14,438 (59%)10Khuntable acres
  • Open4,092 ac 17%
  • Special regulations5,878 ac 24%
  • Closed14,438 ac 59%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
14,438 ac
U Unit
5,878 ac
Waterfowl Hunt Unit
4,092 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Waterfowl Hunt Unit Open 4,092 —
U Unit Special regs 5,878 —
Closed Closed 14,438 —

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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California Department of Fish 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 Clear Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Clear Lake NWR.

How to get to Clear Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.87899, -121.10118
DMS
41°52′44.4″N 121°06′04.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Tulelake, CA20 mi E of town
  • Alturas, CA40 mi NW of town
  • Klamath Falls, OR42 mi SE of town
  • Lakeview, OR44 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • MFR Rogue Valley–Medford97 mi
  • RDD Redding Regional113 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 Clear Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM7:40 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM7:16 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:48 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM6:24 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:00 PM10h 25m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM4:45 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM4:35 PM9h 23m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM4:34 PM9h 10m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:01 AM7:31 AM4:42 PM9h 11m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:59 AM7:29 AM4:56 PM9h 27m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:17 PM9h 60m

Computed for 41.879, -121.101 (PDT / 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.

Clear Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Clear Lake NWR?

Yes. Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (9,970 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Clear Lake NWR?

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

Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Modoc County, California, about 20 miles E of Tulelake, CA (straight-line). GPS: 41.87899, -121.10118.

What are legal shooting hours at Clear 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

Tule Lake NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 20 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

20.4K huntable acres

Lower Klamath NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 32 mi W

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

31.3K huntable acres

Modoc NWR

Modoc County, CA · 42 mi SE

2 special3 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Bear Valley NWR

Klamath County, OR · 44 mi W

1 special
🦌

4.2K huntable acres

Upper Klamath NWR

Klamath County, OR · 66 mi NW

1 open1 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Klamath Marsh NWR

Klamath County, OR · 76 mi NW

1 open1 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

11.7K huntable acres

All refuges in California →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.