National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

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

Located in Klickitat County, Washington, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 6,508 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 with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 2,122 huntable acres.

1 with special regs2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
2.1Khuntable acres
6.5KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Conboy 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 Conboy Lake NWR

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

Firearms are allowed only during authorized hunting activities. They must be unloaded and either dismantled or cased when transporting on refuge roads or waters, unless in compliance with state concealed carry regulations.

WaterfowlDucks, 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 Washington regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,122 (33%)Closed: 4,385 (67%)2.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,122 ac 33%
  • Closed4,385 ac 67%
Units by size (acres)
Closed all
3,615 ac
Open hunt
2,122 ac
Closed hunt
770 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,122 —
Closed all
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,615 —
Closed hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 770 —

Conboy Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 2,122 huntable acres, Conboy Lake NWR ranks #8 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #324 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 33% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open hunt (2,122 acres, special regulations).

2 units totaling 4,385 acres are closed to hunting (Closed all and Closed hunt). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 6,508 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 718 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Conboy Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Washington 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 — Waterfowl, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington 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 Conboy Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Conboy Lake NWR.

How to get to Conboy Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.97169, -121.33015
DMS
45°58′18.1″N 121°19′48.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Yakima, WA58 mi SW of town
  • Vancouver, WA68 mi E of town
  • Portland, OR72 mi NE of town
  • Hermiston, OR99 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal56 mi
  • PDX Portland Intl67 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 Conboy 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, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM7:46 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:19 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:47 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM6:21 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:53 PM10h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:35 PM9h 31m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM4:23 PM8h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:09 AM7:39 AM4:20 PM8h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:16 AM7:46 AM4:29 PM8h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:13 AM7:43 AM4:44 PM9h 01m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:08 PM9h 40m

Computed for 45.972, -121.330 (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 Conboy Lake NWR

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…

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…

Conboy Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Conboy Lake NWR?

Yes. Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (2,122 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Conboy Lake NWR?

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

Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Klickitat County, Washington, about 58 miles SW of Yakima, WA (straight-line). GPS: 45.97169, -121.33015.

What are legal shooting hours at Conboy 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

Spring Creek NFH

Klickitat County, WA · 18 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

38 huntable acres

Willard NFH

Skamania County, WA · 20 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Little White Salmon NFH

Skamania County, WA · 23 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

114 huntable acres

Pierce NWR

Skamania County, WA · 40 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Franz Lake NWR

Skamania County, WA · 44 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Toppenish NWR

Yakima County, WA · 52 mi NE

8 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

881 huntable acres

All refuges in Washington →

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