National Wildlife Refuge · Nebraska · FWS Region 6

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

Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Garden County, Nebraska, with about 46,712 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: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 41,906 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
41.9Khuntable acres
46.7KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Crescent 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 Crescent Lake NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

When many think of sand dunes, they imagine the beach, but it is hard to get much farther from the ocean than Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the Nebraska Panhandle.

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 craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 41,906 (90%)Closed: 4,806 (10%)41.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations41,906 ac 90%
  • Closed4,806 ac 10%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit
26,867 ac
Migratory Bird Hunting Unit
15,039 ac
Closed Unit
4,806 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit Special regs 26,867 —
Migratory Bird Hunting Unit Special regs 15,039 —
Closed Unit Closed 4,806 —

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 Nebraska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
  • 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 Crescent Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The Refuge is open during daylight hours only, but anglers may enter the Refuge one hour before sunrise and remain until one hour after sunset.

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

How to get to Crescent Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.69572, -102.26002
DMS
41°41′44.6″N 102°15′36.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Alliance, NE42 mi SE of town
  • Scottsbluff, NE74 mi E of town
  • North Platte, NE87 mi NW of town
  • Martin, SD105 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • RAP Rapid City Regional168 mi
  • DEN Denver Intl179 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 Crescent Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:43 AM6:13 AM7:24 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM7:00 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM6:32 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:09 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM4:45 PM10h 25m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM4:30 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:20 PM9h 24m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:19 PM9h 11m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM4:28 PM9h 12m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM4:41 PM9h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:02 PM10h 01m

Computed for 41.696, -102.260 (MDT / 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.

Crescent Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Crescent Lake NWR?

Yes. Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (41,906 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Crescent Lake NWR?

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

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

Where is Crescent Lake NWR located?

Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Garden County, Nebraska, about 42 miles SE of Alliance, NE (straight-line). GPS: 41.69572, -102.26002.

What are legal shooting hours at Crescent 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

North Platte NWR

Scotts Bluff County, NE · 73 mi W

2 special2 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

1.5K huntable acres

Lacreek NWR

Bennett County, SD · 103 mi N

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.4K huntable acres

Valentine NWR

Cherry County, NE · 104 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

70.9K huntable acres

Fort Niobrara NWR

Cherry County, NE · 124 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

5.1K huntable acres

John W. and Louise Seier NWR

Rock County, NE · 140 mi E

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

2.4K huntable acres

Rainwater Basin WMD

Phelps County, NE · 178 mi SE

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

24.9K huntable acres

All refuges in Nebraska →

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