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
Show on map · Directions		 Open 4,092 —
U Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,878 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 14,438 —

Clear Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 9,970 huntable acres, Clear Lake NWR ranks #6 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #193 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 41% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is U Unit (5,878 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Waterfowl Hunt Unit, covers 4,092 acres.

1 unit totaling 14,438 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Clear Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. California 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

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.

Guides for hunting Clear 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…

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…

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 October 28, 2026.