National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Umatilla County, Oregon, Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 439 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules and 3 open with special regulations, covering about 3,124 huntable acres.

2 open units3 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
3.1Khuntable acres
439FWS-owned acres
4game categories

Cold Springs 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 Cold Springs NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Berry and mushroom gathering is allowed for personal consumption only, not for resale or other commercial use.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory 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 Oregon regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Open: 2,016 (65%)Special regulations: 1,108 (35%)3.1Khuntable acres
  • Open2,016 ac 65%
  • Special regulations1,108 ac 35%
Units by size (acres)
Cold Springs Reservoir Closed Area
1,063 ac
Closed Areas
953 ac
Open to Hunting
647 ac
Cold Springs Reservoir Open Area
378 ac
Memorial Marsh
83 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Closed Areas
Show on map · Directions		 Open 953 —
Cold Springs Reservoir Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,063 —
Cold Springs Reservoir Open Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 378 —
Memorial Marsh
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 83 —
Open to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 647 —

Cold Springs NWR by the numbers

With about 3,124 huntable acres, Cold Springs NWR ranks #9 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oregon and #299 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 Cold Springs Reservoir Closed Area (1,063 acres), while the smallest, Memorial Marsh, covers 83 acres.

When to hunt Cold Springs NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Oregon 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ 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 Oregon hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oregon 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 Cold Springs NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed on Cold Springs Reservoir per state of Oregon regulations. The boat launch is open from March 1-September 30. Bank fishing on the south side of the reservoir is permitted year-round. Crappie and bass are the favored targets.

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

How to get to Cold Springs NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.86046, -119.14947
DMS
45°51′37.7″N 119°08′58.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Hermiston, OR6.9 mi E of town
  • Pendleton, OR22 mi NW of town
  • Kennewick, WA24 mi S of town
  • Walla Walla, WA41 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • PSC Tri-Cities (Pasco)28 mi
  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal83 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 Cold Springs 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, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM7:37 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:10 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:39 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:12 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:44 PM10h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:27 PM9h 31m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM4:14 PM8h 58m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM4:12 PM8h 42m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM4:21 PM8h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:04 AM7:34 AM4:36 PM9h 02m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM4:59 PM9h 40m

Computed for 45.860, -119.149 (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 Cold Springs 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…

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…

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…

Cold Springs NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cold Springs NWR?

Yes. Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (3,124 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Cold Springs NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Cold Springs 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 Cold Springs NWR?

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

Where is Cold Springs NWR located?

Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge is in Umatilla County, Oregon, about 7 miles E of Hermiston, OR (straight-line). GPS: 45.86046, -119.14947.

What are legal shooting hours at Cold Springs 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

Mcnary NWR

Walla Walla County, WA · 20 mi NE

2 open11 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.1K huntable acres

Umatilla NWR

Morrow County, OR · 21 mi W

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Mckay Creek NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 26 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🎣

620 huntable acres

Hanford Reach National Monument

Grant County, WA · 58 mi N

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

56.5K huntable acres

Toppenish NWR

Yakima County, WA · 66 mi NW

8 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

881 huntable acres

Columbia NWR

Adams County, WA · 71 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Oregon →

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